Perioperative Sleep Disorder: A Review

Perioperative Sleep Disturbance in Surgical Patients: A Concept Analysis

To investigate and define the concept of perioperative sleep disturbance (PSD) among surgical patients, with the goal of aiding clinical practice and research. Walker and Avant's eight-step approach of concept analysis was applied. A systematic search of English literature was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL, with a time restriction from 2010 to August 2023. Based on the 54 eligible studies, the attributes of PSD in surgical patients were identified as individualized symptom manifestation, difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep, and altered sleep patterns. The antecedents included poor psychological state, inaccurate perception, surgery and/or anesthesia-related physiological changes, and environmental interference. PSD in surgical patients was found to result in physical discomfort, psychological disorder, impaired neurocognitive function, and prolonged recovery. A clearly defined and distinguishable concept of PSD in surgical patients was achieved through concept analysis, which provides a conceptual basis for future development in both clinical practice and related research.

Association of sleep quality on the night of operative day with postoperative delirium in elderly patients: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances in the peri-operative period have been associated with adverse outcomes, including postoperative delirium (POD). However, research on sleep quality during the immediate postoperative period is limited.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the association between sleep quality on the night of the operative day assessed using the Sleep Quality Numeric Rating Scale (SQ-NRS), and the incidence of POD in a large cohort of surgical patients.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

SETTING

A tertiary hospital in China.

PATIENTS

This study enrolled patients aged 65 years or older undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia. The participants were categorised into the sleep disturbance and no sleep disturbance groups according to their operative night SQ-NRS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was delirium incidence, whereas the secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury, stroke, pulmonary infection, cardiovascular complications and all-cause mortality within 1 year postoperatively.

RESULTS

In total, 3072 patients were included in the analysis of this study. Among them, 791 (25.72%) experienced sleep disturbances on the night of operative day. Patients in the sleep disturbance group had a significantly higher risk of developing POD (adjusted OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.82, P  = 0.005). Subgroup analysis revealed that age 65-75 years; male sex; ASA III and IV; haemoglobin more than 12 g l -1 ; intra-operative hypotension; surgical duration more than 120 min; and education 9 years or less were significantly associated with POD. No interaction was observed between the subgroups. No significant differences were observed in the secondary outcomes, such as acute kidney injury, stroke, pulmonary infection, cardiovascular complications and all-cause mortality within 1 year postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

The poor subjective sleep quality on the night of operative day was independently associated with increased POD risk, especially in certain subpopulations. Optimising peri-operative sleep may reduce POD. Further research should investigate potential mechanisms and causal relationships.

TRIAL REGISTRY

chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1900028545.

Does a multimodal prehabilitation program improve sleep quality and duration in patients undergoing colorectal resection for cancer? Pilot randomized control trial

Sleep difficulties are a common symptom in cancer patients at different stages of treatment trajectory and may lead to numerous negative consequences for which management is required. This pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) aims to assess the potential effectiveness of home-based prehabilitation intervention (prehab) on sleep quality and parameters compared to standard care (SOC) in colorectal cancer patients during the preoperative period and up to 8 weeks after the surgery. One hundred two participants (48.3% female, mean age 65 years) scheduled for elective resection of colorectal cancer were randomized to the prehab (n = 50) or the SOC (n = 52) groups. Recruitment and retention rates were 54% and 72%, respectively. Measures were completed at the baseline and preoperative, 4- and 8-week after-surgery follow-ups. Our mixed models' analyses revealed no significant differences between groups observed over time for all subjective and objective sleep parameters. A small positive change was observed in the perceived sleep quality only at the preoperative time point for the prehabilitation group compared to the SOC group, with an effect size d = 0.11 and a confidence interval (CI) between - 2.1 and - 0.1, p = .048. Prehab group patients with high anxiety showed a significant improvement in the rate of change of sleep duration over time compared to the SOC group, with a difference of 110 min between baseline and 8 weeks after surgery (d = 0.51, 95% CI: 92.3 to 127.7, p = .02). Multimodal prehabilitation intervention is feasible in colorectal cancer patients and may improve sleep duration for patients with high anxiety symptoms. Future large-scale RCTs are needed to confirm our results.

Effects of Acupuncture-Point Stimulation on Perioperative Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

Background

Perioperative sleep disorders exert a severe adverse impact on postoperative recovery. Recently, some observational studies reported that acupuncture-point stimulation (APS) provided benefits for promoting perioperative sleep quality. However, the effects of APS on perioperative sleep disorders following general anesthesia have not been thoroughly assessed by any systematic study and meta-analysis. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to reveal the effects of APS on perioperative sleep disorders.

Methods

Eight databases (Chinese: CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wanfang; English: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were thoroughly searched to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that indicated a link between APS and the occurrence of perioperative sleep disorders. We applied RevMan 5.4 (Cochrane Collaboration) and Stata 16.0 (Stata Corp) to conduct our meta-analysis. In addition, the trial sequential analysis (TSA) tool was utilized to estimate the validity and reliability of the data.

Results

In this study, nine RCTs with 719 patients were conducted. Compared to the control group, APS significantly improved perioperative subjective sleep quality (SMD: -1.36; 95% CI: -1.71 to -1.01; P < 0.00001). Besides, it increased perioperative TST (preoperative period MD = 24.29, 95% CI: 6.4 to 42.18, P = 0.0008; postoperative period MD = 45.86, 95% CI: 30.00 to 61.71, P < 0.00001) and SE (preoperative MD = 3.62, 95% CI: 2.84 to 4.39, P < 0.00001; postoperative MD = 6.43, 95% CI: 0.95 to 11.73, P < 0.00001). The consequence of trial sequential analysis further confirmed the reliability of our meta-analysis results.

Conclusion

According to the currently available evidence, APS could effectively improve perioperative sleep quality and play an essential role in decreasing the incidence of perioperative sleep disorders.

New-Onset Sleep Disorders before Cardiac Surgery May Indicate an Increased Risk of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

PURPOSE

We aimed to determine if sleep disorders before cardiac surgery indicate an increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF).

METHODS

In this study, 238 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in our center were included. Patients were separated into the preoperative sleep disorder group and the control group. The primary endpoint was the incidence of POAF, and the secondary endpoints were the incidence of postoperative stroke, duration of invasive ventilation, length of intensive care unit, and hospitalization stay. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression were used for adjusting potential confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 165 (69.3%) patients had sleep disorders before surgery, and 73 well-matched pairs were generated. A higher incidence of POAF was found in the preoperative sleep disorder group (16.4% versus 5.5%, p = 0.034). In multivariable logistic regression, preoperative sleep disorders were correlated to a higher risk of POAF (odds ratio = 4.627, 95% confidence interval: 1.181-18.123, p = 0.028). In the subgroup of patients without long-term sleep disorders, those who experienced preoperative sleep disorders had a higher incidence of POAF (16.1% versus 4.3%, p = 0.024), meanwhile, no difference was found in the subgroup of long-term sleep disorders.

CONCLUSION

New-onset sleep disorders before cardiac surgery may indicate a higher incidence of POAF.

Artificial intelligent patient-controlled intravenous analgesia improves the outcomes of older patients with laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer from July 2019 to May 2021 were selected. The patients were assigned to Ai-PCIA group and control group. Ai-PCIA group received postoperative analgesia management and effect evaluation through intelligent wireless analgesia system + postoperative follow-up twice a day, while control group received analgesia management and effect evaluation through ward physician feedback + postoperative follow-up twice a day. The pain numerical score (NRS), Richards-Campbell Sleep Scale (RCSQ), and adverse outcomes were collected and compared.

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients (20 females and 40 males with average (78.26 ± 6.42) years old) were included. The NRS scores at rest and during activity of the Ai-PCA group at 8, 12, and 24 h after the operation were significantly lower than that of the control group (all P < 0.05). The RCSQ score of Ai-PCA group was significantly higher than that of control group on the 1st and 2nd days after operation (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of dizziness and nausea, vomiting, and myocardial ischemia (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Ai-PCIA can improve the analgesic effect and sleep quality of older patients after laparoscopic radical resection, which may be promoted in clinical analgesia practice.

Presurgical sleep and pain behaviors predict insomnia symptoms and pain after total knee arthroplasty: a 12-month longitudinal, observational study

OBJECTIVE

Up to 40% of individuals who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) experience some degree of pain following surgery. Presurgical insomnia has been identified as a predictor of postsurgical pain; however, modifiable presurgical behaviors related to insomnia have received minimal attention. The objective of the present study was to develop a 2-item sleep and pain behavior scale (SP2) to investigate a maladaptive sleep and pain behavior and is a secondary analysis of a larger, parent study.

METHODS

Patients (N = 109) completed SP2 at baseline and 12 months and questionnaires assessing sleep and pain at baseline (pre-TKA), 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months post-TKA. SP2 demonstrated adequate preliminary psychometric properties.

RESULTS

As hypothesized, even after controlling for baseline insomnia, pain, anxiety and other covariates, baseline SP2 predicted insomnia symptom severity at 6 weeks (β = 2.828), 3 (β = 2.140), 6 (β = 2.962), and 12 months (β = 1.835) and pain at 6 weeks (β = 6.722), 3 (β = 5.536), and 6 months (β = 7.677) post-TKA (P < .05). Insomnia symptoms at 6-weeks post-TKA mediated the effect of presurgical SP2 on pain at 3 (95% CI: 0.024-7.054), 6 (95%CI: 0.495-5.243), and 12 months (95% CI: 0.077-2.684).

CONCLUSIONS

This provides preliminary evidence that patients who cope with pain by retiring to their bed and bedroom have higher rates of post-surgical insomnia and pain and supports efforts to target this maladaptive sleep and pain behavior to reduce postsurgical pain.

Associations between perioperative sleep patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with intracranial tumors: a correlation study

Objective

Although the quality of perioperative sleep is gaining increasing attention in clinical recovery, its impact role remains unknown and may deserve further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the associations between perioperative sleep patterns and clinical outcomes among patients with intracranial tumors.

Methods

A correlation study was conducted in patients with intracranial tumors. Perioperative sleep patterns were assessed using a dedicated sleep monitor for 6 consecutive days. Clinical outcomes were gained through medical records and follow-up. Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to evaluate the associations between perioperative sleep patterns and clinical outcomes.

Results

Of 110 patients, 48 (43.6%) were men, with a median age of 57 years. A total of 618 days of data on perioperative sleep patterns were collected and analyzed. Multiple linear regression models revealed that the preoperative blood glucose was positively related to the preoperative frequency of awakenings (β = 0.125; 95% CI = 0.029-0.221; P = 0.011). The level of post-operative nausea and vomiting was negatively related to perioperative deep sleep time (β = -0.015; 95% CI = -0.027--0.003; P = 0.015). The level of anxiety and depression was negatively related to perioperative deep sleep time, respectively (β = -0.048; 95% CI = -0.089-0.008; P = 0.020, β = -0.041; 95% CI = -0.076-0.006; P = 0.021). The comprehensive complication index was positively related to the perioperative frequency of awakenings (β = 3.075; 95% CI = 1.080-5.070; P = 0.003). The post-operative length of stay was negatively related to perioperative deep sleep time (β = -0.067; 95% CI = -0.113-0.021; P = 0.005). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was positively related to perioperative sleep onset latency (β = 0.097; 95% CI = 0.044-0.150; P < 0.001) and negatively related to perioperative deep sleep time (β = -0.079; 95% CI = -0.122-0.035; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Perioperative sleep patterns are associated with different clinical outcomes. Poor perioperative sleep quality, especially reduced deep sleep time, has a negative impact on clinical outcomes. Clinicians should, therefore, pay more attention to sleep quality and improve it during the perioperative period.

Clinical trial registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2200059425.

Neurometabolic and structural alterations of medial septum and hippocampal CA1 in a model of post-operative sleep fragmentation in aged mice: a study combining 1H-MRS and DTI

Post-operative sleep disturbance is a common feature of elderly surgical patients, and sleep fragmentation (SF) is closely related to post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). SF is characterized by sleep interruption, increased number of awakenings and sleep structure destruction, similar to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Research shows that sleep interruption can change neurotransmitter metabolism and structural connectivity in sleep and cognitive brain regions, of which the medial septum and hippocampal CA1 are key brain regions connecting sleep and cognitive processes. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a non-invasive method for the evaluation of neurometabolic abnormalities. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) realizes the observation of structural integrity and connectivity of brain regions of interest in vivo. However, it is unclear whether post-operative SF induces harmful changes in neurotransmitters and structures of the key brain regions and their contribution to POCD. In this study, we evaluated the effects of post-operative SF on neurotransmitter metabolism and structural integrity of medial septum and hippocampal CA1 in aged C57BL/6J male mice. The animals received a 24-h SF procedure after isoflurane anesthesia and right carotid artery exposure surgery. 1H-MRS results showed after post-operative SF, the glutamate (Glu)/creatine (Cr) and glutamate + glutamine (Glx)/Cr ratios increased in the medial septum and hippocampal CA1, while the NAA/Cr ratio decreased in the hippocampal CA1. DTI results showed post-operative SF decreased the fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter fibers in the hippocampal CA1, while the medial septum was not affected. Moreover, post-operative SF aggravated subsequent Y-maze and novel object recognition performances accompanied by abnormal enhancement of glutamatergic metabolism signal. This study suggests that 24-h SF induces hyperglutamate metabolism level and microstructural connectivity damage in sleep and cognitive brain regions in aged mice, which may be involved in the pathophysiological process of POCD.

Effect of intraoperative remimazolam on postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients after total joint arthroplasty: a randomized control trial

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of intraoperative remimazolam sedation on postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients after total joint arthroplasty.

METHODS

Between May 15, 2021 and March 26, 2022, 108 elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years) who received total joint arthroplasty under neuraxial anesthesia were randomized into remimazolam group (a loading dose of 0.025-0.1 mg/kg and followed by an infusion rate of 0.1-1.0 mg/kg/h till end of surgery) or routine group (sedation was given on patient's requirement by dexmedetomidine 0.2-0.7 μg/kg/h). Primary outcome was the subjective sleep quality at surgery night which was evaluated by Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). Secondary outcomes included RCSQ scores at postoperative first and second nights and numeric rating scale pain intensity within first 3 days after surgery.

RESULTS

RCSQ score at surgery night was 59 (28, 75) in remimazolam group which was comparable with 53 (28, 67) in routine group (median difference 6, 95% CI - 6 to 16, P = 0.315). After adjustment of confounders, preoperative high Pittsburg sleep quality index was associated worse RCSQ score (P = 0.032), but not remimazolam (P = 0.754). RCSQ score at postoperative first night [69 (56, 85) vs. 70 (54, 80), P = 0.472] and second night [80 (68, 87) vs. 76 (64, 84), P = 0.066] were equivalent between two groups. Safety outcomes were comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative remimazolam did not significantly improve postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. But it is proved to be effective and safe for moderate sedation in these patients.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER AND REGISTRY URL

ChiCTR2000041286 ( www.chictr.org.cn ).

Association between preoperative anxiety and postoperative delirium in older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common postoperative complication associated with multiple adverse consequences on patient outcomes and higher medical expenses. Preoperative anxiety has been suggested as a possible precipitating factor for the development of POD. As such, we aimed to explore the association between preoperative anxiety and POD in older surgical patients.

METHODS

Electronic databases including MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Embase.com), Web of Science Core Collection, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL Complete; via EBSCOhost) and clinical trial registries were systematically searched to identify prospective studies examining preoperative anxiety as a risk factor for POD in older surgical patients. We used Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Cohort Studies to assess the quality of included studies. The association between preoperative anxiety and POD was summarized with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included (1691 participants; mean age ranging between 63.1-82.3 years). Five studies used a theoretical definition for preoperative anxiety, with the Anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) as the instrument being most often used. When using dichotomized measures and within the HADS-A subgroup analysis, preoperative anxiety was significantly associated with POD (OR = 2.17, 95%CI: 1.01-4.68, I² = 54%, Tau² = 0.4, n = 5; OR = 3.23, 95%CI: 1.70-6.13, I² = 0, Tau² = 0, n = 4; respectively). No association was observed when using continuous measurements (OR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.93-1.05, I² = 0, Tau² = 0, n = 4), nor in the subgroup analysis of STAI-6 (six-item version of state scale of Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 0.93-1.24, I² = 0, Tau² = 0, n = 2). We found the overall quality of included studies to be moderate to good.

CONCLUSIONS

An unclear association between preoperative anxiety and POD in older surgical patients was found in our study. Given the ambiguity in conceptualization and measurement instruments used for preoperative anxiety, more research is warranted in which a greater emphasis should be placed on how preoperative anxiety is operationalized and measured.

Pretreatment of the ROS Inhibitor Phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone Alleviates Sleep Deprivation-Induced Hyperalgesia by Suppressing Microglia Activation and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity in the Spinal Dorsal Cord

Sleep deprivation, a common perioperative period health problem, causes ocular discomfort and affects postsurgical pain. However, the mechanism of sleep deprivation-induced increased pain sensitivity is elusive. This study aims to explore the role of ROS in sleep deprivation (SD)-induced hyperalgesia and the underlying mechanism. A 48-h continuous SD was performed prior to the hind paw incision pain modeling in mice. We measured ROS levels, microglial activation, DNA damage and protein levels of iNOS, NLRP3, p-P65 and P65 in mouse spinal dorsal cord. The involvement of ROS in SD-induced prolongation of postsurgical pain was further confirmed by intrathecal injection of ROS inhibitor, phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN). Pretreatment of 48-h SD in mice significantly prolonged postsurgical pain recovery, manifesting as lowered paw withdrawal mechanical threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency. It caused ROS increase and upregulation of iNOS on both Day 1 and 7 in mouse spinal dorsal cord. In addition, upregulation of NLRP3 and p-P65, microglial activation and DNA damage were observed in mice pretreated with 48-h SD prior to the incision. Notably, intrathecal injection of PBN significantly reversed the harmful effects of SD on postsurgical pain recovery, hyperalgesia, microglial activation and DNA damage via the NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, ROS increase is responsible for SD-induced hyperalgesia through activating microglial, triggering DNA damage and enhancing NLRP3 inflammasome activity in the spinal dorsal cord.

Improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores on first postoperative night achieved by propofol anesthesia in patients undergoing ambulatory gynecologic surgery

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbance on the first postoperative night commonly develops for patients after day surgeries. The choice of either total intravenous anesthesia by propofol or total inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane has become an issue for preventing sleep disturbance.

AIM

To compare sleep quality on the first postoperative night for female patients after total intravenous anesthesia by propofol and total inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane.

METHODS

We enrolled 61 American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) class I-II outpatients who underwent minor gynecologic surgeries by either propofol or sevoflurane anesthesia. Sleep quality of the very night was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) on the next day, and PSQI scores were compared by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired t-test pre-operatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS

For the propofol group, the mean postoperative global PSQI score (3.3 ± 1.3) was lower than the mean preoperative global PSQI score (4.9 ± 2.3) (P < 0.001); for the sevoflurane group, the mean postoperative global PSQI score (6.5 ± 2.8) was higher than the mean preoperative global PSQI score (5.5 ± 3.2) (P = 0.02). Eighty percent of patients receiving propofol anesthesia subjectively reported improved sleep quality, but only 17% of patients receiving sevoflurane anesthesia reported improved sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

Sleep quality assessed by the PSQI is better improved in ASA class I-II female patients receiving propofol anesthesia other than sevoflurane anesthesia for undergoing minor gynecologic surgeries.

Effects of Melatonin Treatment on Perioperative Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

Perioperative sleep disorders have attracted much attention due to their high prevalence and severe harm, and the current treatment methods are insufficient. Some randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have produced controversial results on whether melatonin can improve perioperative sleep quality. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin treatment on perioperative sleep quality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A systematic search of six databases was performed to identify RCTs investigating melatonin and perioperative sleep. The outcomes analyzed were subjective sleep quality, sleep latency (SL), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), the behavior of awakenings and daily naps, and the incidence of poor sleep quality. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 16 software was used for the meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis, and trial sequential analysis was conducted using TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta software. This study was registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022311378).

RESULTS

10 studies containing 725 participants were included. Melatonin improved postoperative subjective sleep quality (SMD: -0.30; 95% CI: [-0.47, -0.14]; P = 0.0004) but not preoperative sleep quality (MD: -2.76; 95% CI: [-10.44, 4.91]; P = 0.48). In the postoperative period, 6mg dose had the best efficacy (SMD: -0.31; 95% CI: [-0.57, -0.04]; P = 0.02). Melatonin increased postoperative TST (P = 0.02) and SE (P = 0.002) and decreased the incidence of postoperative poor sleep quality (P = 0.002) but had no effect on SL (P = 0.11), the number and duration of awakenings (P = 0.28; P=0.55), and the number and duration of daily naps (P = 0.26; P = 0.38). The trial sequential analysis showed that the accumulated Z value crossed both the traditional boundary value and the TSA boundary value, further confirming the stability of the result of the meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

Melatonin treatment can improve postoperative sleep quality. A 6mg daily dose of melatonin may have a better beneficial effect, which needs further exploration. This study supports the application of melatonin for improving postoperative sleep quality.