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Daily Report

Daily Anesthesiology Research Analysis

08/21/2025
3 papers selected
3 analyzed

Top perioperative and critical care findings today include: an AI-enabled, clinically implementable ARDS phenotyping tool that dynamically tracks inflammatory states and identifies corticosteroid benefit in hyperinflammatory but harm in hypoinflammatory phenotypes; accelerometry-derived circadian disruption predicting postoperative complications and mortality; and an RCT showing low-dose esketamine plus paravertebral block reduces hyperalgesia and opioid use in non-intubated thoracic surgery.

Summary

Top perioperative and critical care findings today include: an AI-enabled, clinically implementable ARDS phenotyping tool that dynamically tracks inflammatory states and identifies corticosteroid benefit in hyperinflammatory but harm in hypoinflammatory phenotypes; accelerometry-derived circadian disruption predicting postoperative complications and mortality; and an RCT showing low-dose esketamine plus paravertebral block reduces hyperalgesia and opioid use in non-intubated thoracic surgery.

Research Themes

  • Phenotype-guided therapy in ARDS using routine clinical data
  • Preoperative circadian rhythm disruption as a surgical risk biomarker
  • Opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia in non-intubated thoracic surgery

Selected Articles

1. Temporal stability of phenotypes of acute respiratory distress syndrome: clinical implications for early corticosteroid therapy and mortality.

84.5Level IICohort
Intensive care medicine · 2025PMID: 40839098

Using routine clinical variables, an open-source AI classifier reliably identified hyperinflammatory and hypoinflammatory ARDS phenotypes, which were dynamic over 30 days. Target trial emulation showed corticosteroids reduced 30-day mortality in hyperinflammatory ARDS (HR 0.81) but increased mortality in hypoinflammatory ARDS (HR 1.26), with benefit persisting only in patients who remained hyperinflammatory by day 3.

Impact: This work operationalizes ARDS phenotyping using readily available clinical data and links phenotypes to heterogeneous steroid effects, offering a path to precision immunomodulation in ARDS.

Clinical Implications: At the bedside, clinicians can use the AI classifier to monitor ARDS inflammatory phenotypes and tailor corticosteroid use—favoring steroids in hyperinflammatory ARDS while avoiding them in hypoinflammatory ARDS, reassessing phenotype within 72 hours.

Key Findings

  • Clinical-data AI classifier identified 39% hyperinflammatory and 61% hypoinflammatory ARDS with markedly different 30-day mortality (49% vs 24%).
  • Phenotypes were dynamic: 49% of baseline hyperinflammatory cases transitioned to hypoinflammatory by day 30; 7% of hypoinflammatory transitioned to hyperinflammatory.
  • Corticosteroids lowered mortality in hyperinflammatory ARDS (IPW-weighted HR 0.81) but increased mortality in hypoinflammatory ARDS (HR 1.26).
  • Steroid benefit persisted at day 3 only in patients remaining hyperinflammatory (adjusted OR 0.51).

Methodological Strengths

  • Development/validation across six multicenter RCT datasets with open-source implementation.
  • Large external cohort (n=5578), target trial emulation, and Bayesian Markov modeling of temporal transitions.

Limitations

  • Treatment effects inferred from observational emulation are subject to residual confounding.
  • Phenotyping relied on clinical surrogates rather than contemporaneous biomarker panels in the external cohort.

Future Directions: Prospective, phenotype-stratified RCTs of corticosteroids in ARDS; integration of dynamic phenotyping into decision support with predefined reassessment windows.

PURPOSE: Inflammatory phenotypes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can predict patient outcomes and potentially response to treatment. The aim was to assess whether inflammatory phenotypes can be characterized over time using clinical surrogate data and used to guide therapy with corticosteroids. METHODS: Individual patient data and biomarkers from six multicenter randomized controlled trials (development, n = 1207; validation, n = 2751) were analyzed to establish an open-source AI Clinical Classifier ( https://bostonmontpelliercare.shinyapps.io/AIClarity ) for inflammatory phenotypes of ARDS using routine clinical data. Then, patients from a retrospective cohort (investigation, n = 5578) underwent classification from baseline to day 30. A discrete-time Bayesian Markov model assessed temporal stability at 3-day intervals. A target trial emulation and longitudinal logistic regression assessed corticosteroid effect on 30-day mortality depending on phenotype. RESULTS: The AI Clinical Classifier identified 2169 (39%) hyperinflammatory and 3409 (61%) hypoinflammatory patients. 1053 (49%) and 826 (24%) patients died within 30 days, respectively (p < 0.001). Over 30 days, 49%(1072/2169) of hyperinflammatory patients at baseline transitioned to hypoinflammatory, and 7%(229/3409) of hypoinflammatory patients at baseline transitioned to hyperinflammatory (p < 0.001). Phenotypes predicted response to corticosteroids, with lower mortality in hyperinflammatory patients (IPW-weighted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.81 [0.67-0.98], p = 0.033), and higher mortality in hypoinflammatory patients (IPW-weighted HR: 1.26 [1.06-1.50], p = 0.009). At day 3, a positive response to corticosteroids only persisted among patients who remained hyperinflammatory (adjusted odds ratio = 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.80, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Characterization of inflammatory ARDS phenotypes using clinical surrogate data allows physicians to monitor patients throughout the course of the disease and guide clinical treatment. Corticosteroids may be beneficial in hyperinflammatory ARDS and harmful in hypoinflammatory ARDS.

2. Diminished rest-activity rhythm is associated with postoperative complications and mortality: A prospective cohort study of UK Biobank participants.

70Level IICohort
European journal of anaesthesiology · 2025PMID: 40838705

Among 5,654 UK Biobank participants undergoing major surgery, a lower preoperative circadian relative amplitude measured via 7-day wrist accelerometry was associated with higher 30-day complications or 90-day mortality. There was a dose-response relationship (aOR 1.23 per SD decrease), and those >2 SD below the mean had approximately double the risk (aOR 2.16).

Impact: Objective, scalable accelerometry-derived circadian metrics provide a novel, modifiable biomarker to preoperatively risk-stratify surgical patients.

Clinical Implications: Preoperative assessment could incorporate 7-day wrist accelerometry to identify circadian disruption and consider targeted optimization (sleep hygiene, light therapy, melatonin timing, scheduling) in high-risk patients.

Key Findings

  • Low preoperative relative amplitude group had higher adverse outcomes (9.8% vs 3.7%; absolute risk difference 6.1%; P<0.001).
  • Dose-response: each SD decrease in relative amplitude increased risk by 23% (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06–1.42).
  • Relative amplitude >2 SD below mean doubled adverse outcome risk (aOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.25–3.73).

Methodological Strengths

  • Large cohort with objective 7-day accelerometry exposure assessment.
  • Adjusted multivariable modeling demonstrating dose-response relationships.

Limitations

  • Observational design with potential residual confounding and selection biases inherent to UK Biobank.
  • Circadian measures occurred within 1 year prior to surgery, potentially diluting immediacy of exposure.

Future Directions: Interventional trials targeting circadian enhancement (e.g., timed light, activity, melatonin) in patients with low relative amplitude to test causality and improve outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythm disruption, as a modifiable risk factor, has been increasingly recognised for its potential impact on adverse health outcomes, particularly in surgical populations where its implications warrant further investigation. OBJECTIVES: To investigate associations between postoperative outcomes and preoperative rest-activity rhythm metrics from accelerometry. DESIGN: A cohort analysis of UK Biobank participants undergoing major surgery within 1 year of accelerometer monitoring. SETTING: UK Biobank, a large population-based cohort in the United Kingdom. PATIENTS: These were 5654 adults (37 to 73 years) completing 7-day preoperative wrist accelerometry. EXPOSURE: Rest-activity rhythm relative amplitude was analysed both as a continuous variable and as a categorical variable. For the categorical analysis, a low relative amplitude group was defined as more than 2 standard deviations below the cohort mean: all other participants served as the high relative amplitude group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary composite outcome included 30-day postoperative complications and 90-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for comorbidities, demographics and surgical risk factors. RESULTS: Participants with a low relative amplitude (n = 225) demonstrated significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes compared with the remainder of the participants (n = 5429), with an absolute risk difference of 6.1% (9.8 vs. 3.7%), P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed a dose-response relationship: each standard deviation decrease in relative amplitude increased risk by 23% {adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06 to 1.42]}. The low amplitude group had double the risk of adverse outcomes compared with the remainder of the participants: adjusted OR: 2.16 (95% CI, 1.25 to 3.73). CONCLUSIONS: A lower preoperative circadian relative amplitude is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Accelerometry-based circadian monitoring may provide a novel, cost-effective strategy for preoperative risk stratification.

3. The Effects of Low-Dose Esketamine Combined with Paravertebral Block on Postoperative Hyperalgesia and Enhanced Recovery in Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

66.5Level IRCT
Drug design, development and therapy · 2025PMID: 40837277

In a double-blind RCT of 82 NIVATS patients, low-dose esketamine infusion added to standardized T4/T6 paravertebral blocks increased mechanical pain thresholds at 6 hours, reduced intraoperative opioid use by 71.4%, and improved QoR-40 recovery scores versus control.

Impact: Provides randomized evidence for an opioid-sparing, antihyperalgesic strategy tailored to NIVATS, aligning with ERAS principles.

Clinical Implications: Consider low-dose esketamine infusion alongside paravertebral blocks in NIVATS to attenuate hyperalgesia, minimize intraoperative opioids, and enhance early recovery.

Key Findings

  • Esketamine group had significantly higher mechanical pain thresholds at 6 hours postoperatively versus control (central region difference; peripheral assessed up to 48 h).
  • Intraoperative opioid (sufentanil) use was reduced by 71.4% with esketamine plus paravertebral block.
  • Quality of recovery (QoR-40) scores improved in the esketamine group; fewer rescue analgesic requirements were observed.

Methodological Strengths

  • Prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled design with standardized paravertebral block.
  • Objective primary outcome using pressure algometry across multiple time points.

Limitations

  • Single-center study with modest sample size limits generalizability.
  • Short follow-up (to 48 h for hyperalgesia) and no long-term outcomes; some secondary outcomes may be underpowered.

Future Directions: Multicenter RCTs comparing dose regimens, assessing long-term pain, function, and opioid exposure, and testing generalizability to intubated VATS and open thoracotomy.

PURPOSE: Non-intubated video-assisted thoracic surgery (NIVATS) reduces airway trauma but may lead to postoperative hyperalgesia and opioid dependence, contradicting enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles. We hypothesized that combining low-dose esketamine with a paravertebral block (PVB) may mitigate hyperalgesia, decrease opioid requirements, and improve recovery quality in NIVATS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective single-center, double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) enrolled 82 patients undergoing uniportal NIVATS. Patients were randomized into two groups: esketamine (0.25 mg/kg pre-induction + 0.15 mg/kg/h intraoperatively) and control. Both groups received ultrasound-guided T4 and T6 PVB (with 0.375% ropivacaine). The primary outcome was mechanical pain threshold (MPT; central/peripheral), quantified preoperatively and at 0.5-48 h postoperatively using pressure algometry after laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal. Secondary outcomes included quality of recovery-40 (QoR-40) scores, intraoperative sufentanil/norepinephrine use, postoperative rescue analgesia use, and other related complications. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the esketamine group exhibited significantly higher MPT at 6 h postoperatively (central: 2.77 ± 0.80 vs 2.17 ± 0.59 kgf/cm², CONCLUSION: Low-dose esketamine combined with PVB attenuates postoperative hyperalgesia, reduces intraoperative opioid use by 71.4%, and enhances recovery in NIVATS, offering a clinically effective opioid-sparing strategy for ERAS protocols.