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General anaesthesia versus other types of anaesthesia in patients undergoing surgery for treatment of cutaneous melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis Volume 31, numéro 4, July-August 2021

Illustrations


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Tableaux

Auteurs
1 Department of Anaesthesiology, Hospital do Câncer II, National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2 Conective and Bone Tissue Section, Hospital do Câncer II, National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3 Health Technology Assessment Unit, Population Research Division, National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4 Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Intensive Care, Gastroenterology, Petrópolis Medical School, Petrópolis, Brazil
5 Clinical Research Division, National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
6 Neurology Post Graduation Program, Federal, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
* Reprints

Background

General and local anaesthetics alter tumour behaviour in experimental models. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between general anaesthesia and recurrence or survival in patients who received surgery for malignant melanoma.

Materials & Methods

A meta-analysis was performed based on a comprehensive literature search. Controlled and observational studies of patients undergoing surgery for melanoma under general anaesthesia, compared with other types of anaesthesia, were included. The primary outcomes were overall survival and disease-free survival. The secondary outcomes included cancer-specific survival, cost analysis, and adverse events. Risk of bias was assessed. Individual study information was summarized. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. The GRADE approach was used to summarise the certainty of evidence.

Results

Eight studies were included (n = 5,832). The use of general anaesthesia was not associated with any statistical difference in overall survival (p = 0.087; 1 NRS; n= 104; very low certainty of evidence) or disease-free survival (HR: 1.266; 95% CI: 0.904-1.773; p = 0.169; 1 NRS; n = 281; very low certainty of evidence). However, general anaesthesia was associated with worse melanoma-specific survival (HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.22-1.68: p < 0.00001; 3 NRS; n = 4654; low certainty of evidence). Three studies reported increased intraoperative costs associated with the use of general anaesthesia (3 NRT; n = 513; very low certainty of evidence). No study adequately reported other primary or secondary outcomes.

Conclusion

General anaesthesia may reduce melanoma-specific survival in patients undergoing surgery for treatment of cutaneous melanoma. We are uncertain whether general anaesthesia impacts the other reported outcomes.