En octubre de 2018, la Revista Cubana de Anestesiología y Reanimación (RCAR) se insertó en el sistema de acceso abierto para las publicaciones científicas, lo cual permitió que, en este último año, los resultados de las investigaciones publicadas estuviesen disponibles para un mayor número de usuarios. Así se dio el primer paso hacia la ciencia abierta (CA). Múltiples son los artículos publicados1,2,3,4,5 que abordan el tema en cuestión y su importancia para la sociedad, especialmente para la comunidad de investigadores. En este editorial solo se hará referencia a los aspectos fundamentales que, como anestesiólogos, profesores e investigadores, se deben conocer y que ayudaran a la comprensión paulatina e inserción en el proceso. Una vez iniciado este camino no hay retroceso, ya que la CA constituye sin dudas el presente y futuro de las revistas científicas como método para expandir las investigaciones de calidad y credibilidad.

Introduction: Worldwide, the frequency of malnutrition in intensive care units is high and continues to be a cause of increased morbidity only surpassed by sepsis. This frequency increases hospital costs due to delayed injuries healing, suture dehiscence, septic complications, failure to separate mechanical ventilation, critical patient myopathy, and high mortality. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Methods: A descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional research was carried out during the period from January to December 2017, in the multipurpose intensive care unit of Orlando Pantoja Tamayo General Teaching Hospital. The sample was 85 patients selected by the simple random method. The variables used were biochemical, anthropometric, immunological, age, sex, need for mechanical ventilation, discharge status, and group of diseases. Results: The average age was 57.9 years (min: 20 years, max: 89. DS: 17.9), patients with hospital stay of 1-7 days (70.6%) [min: 1, max: 17 predominated. DS: 3.41]. mechanical ventilation was used in 37.6%, 11.8% of patients died, and the cardiovascular disease group prevailed in 49.4%. Conclusions: No association between nutritional status was found, based on the nutritional control index, with hospital stay or status at discharge, but with the need for mechanical ventilation.

Introduction: Anesthesia administration techniques in thoracic surgery have undergone great evolution and greater scientific foundation. Total intravenous anesthesia based on analgesia favors the perioperative period without pain and recovery without complications. Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of two techniques of total intravenous anesthesia in elective thoracic surgery with remifentanil as an analgesic base. Methods: Prospective and causiexperimental study carried out at Dr. Salvador Allende Clinical-Surgical Teaching Hospital, in the period from January 2013 to January 2015, with 45 patients scheduled for elective thoracic surgery, who were divided into two groups according to the hypnotic drug used. Group A: propofol/remifentanil, and group B: midazolam/remifentanil. Hemodynamic variables were evaluated at different times during the intraoperative period. Oxygenation variables (PaO2 and SaO2) during unipulmonary ventilation and anesthetic recovery times. Results: Patients older than 60 years predominated in the two groups, with a physical status of ASA III. There were no differences in arterial oxygenation between the groups. There was a decrease in systolic blood pressure in group A without significant differences. The recovery of anesthesia was significantly more delayed in group B. Conclusions: The total intravenous anesthesia technique with remifentanil as an analgesic base associated with propofol was safe and effective in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

Introduction: Bradyarrhythmias are serious heart diseases that cause severe hemodynamic disorders. Bringing the patient to normal cardiac output may imply that a pacemaker be implanted. Objective: To describe some clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients who received the technique of implanting a pacemaker. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with 36 patients who needed a temporary pacemaker, admitted to the intensive care unit of Orlando Pantoja Tamayo General Teaching Hospital in Contramaestrem, in the period from October 2015 to May 2019. The variables used were age group and sex, causes of arrhythmias, and personal pathological history, most used medications prior to admission, time of usage of the temporary pacemaker, and the need for permanent implantation. Results: The male sex and ages 80 and older predominated, the most frequent atrioventricular conduction disorder was the third-degree atrioventricular block. The average time of temporary pacemaker usage was between two and six days. Conclusions: Early implantation in this municipal institution significantly improved patient survival.

Introduction: The air leak test around the endotracheal tube is not invasive. It is relatively easy to perform and provides an indication of the permeability of the upper airway. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the air leak test around the endotracheal tube, qualitatively and quantitatively measured, for the safety of extubation. Method: A descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out with patients of any gender scheduled for surgical intervention by laryngeal microsurgery, surgery for endotoxic goiter, maxillofacial surgery, and those with a history of difficult intubation that required more than three attempts at intubation and/or the usage of drivers or guides. The sample consisted of 52 patients who met the selection criteria. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating measures for qualitative variables, while for quantitative variables, Pearsons chi-square (x2) was used. Results: The group with more frequency was represented by those under 40 years. The male sex prevailed. The 7.5 tube was the most used (50%). The results of the concordance between the qualitative and quantitative test according to the presence or absence of air leak around the tube was 90.4%, respectively. Complications based on the tests were scarce. Conclusions: Both tests are useful tools for the diagnosis of airway obstruction during extubation. The qualitative modality proved to be as effective as the quantitative and easier to reproduce for the operators in the study.

Introduction: Cancer is the second cause of death worldwide and in Cuba. Its treatment strategy involves oncospecific drugs and surgery. Every day, the number of patients who undergo surgery increases, which leads to a perioperative period and the administration of multiple anesthetic medications. Objective: To describe the main factors related to anesthesia and that, during the perioperative period, influence oncological recurrence. Development: Surgical stress and general anesthesia, with the subsequent neuroendocrine and inflammatory response, by themselves, limit the immune response and alter the balance between the metastatic potential of the tumor and the antimetastatic defense, which represents a plausible mechanism for increased metastasis and oncological relapse. Conclusions: The proliferation of cancer and tumor relapse in the surgical context associated with anesthesia is a relatively new issue and it is therefore necessary to carry out studies with greater scope that validate this phenomenon. However, the immunosuppressive effect produced by perioperative stress, as well as anesthetic drugs such as opioids and halogenated drugs, can be the key to explaining this phenomenon. Total intravenous opioid-free general anesthesia and adequate regional analgesia contribute to diminish this effect.

Introduction: The therapeutic block of the stellate ganglion is a procedure for relieving chronic pain of the upper limbs, head, and neck. It is currently performed with more adjuvant local anesthetics, but in Cuba only local anesthetics are used for this block. Objective: To compare recent information about the relevance of using local anesthetics with adjuvants to stimulate the updating of their practice nationally, according to the routines and the outcomes of this expertise in the international setting. Methods: More than 150 scientific reports were reviewed online, referring to this technique worldwide, regarding drug use and therapeutic outcomes, in databases in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Development: The anesthetic block requires knowledge about pharmacology and practical skills to perform it. The need for local anesthetics and adjuvants varies, and depends on the patient and type of block. Opioids are also used to treat chronic pain, alone or with local anesthetics. Reasonable benefits are also published regarding the use of ketamine and steroids in combination with local anesthetics. Conclusion: The most intense and lasting therapeutic outcomes obtained by applying more adjuvant local anesthetic suggest updating these practices nationally.

Introduction: Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a hemolytic anemia of frequent occurrence, in which there are qualitative or quantitative defects of some erythrocyte membrane proteins that lead to the formation of sphere-shaped red blood cells, which are osmotically fragile, and that are selectively trapped and destroyed in the spleen, with variable and more frequent incidence in patients with European descent. Objective: To describe the clinical and anesthesiological behavior of a pediatric patient with a diagnosis of hereditary microspherocytosis electively programmed for a surgical procedure. Development: A clinical case of a school-age patient with a diagnosis of hereditary microspherocytosis was presented. The patient underwent conventional elective total splenectomy. Pain was as the main sign on palpation to the left hypochondrium. The case was conducted with total intravenous anesthesia, with good surgical clinical results, using propofol at a rate of 3 mcg/mL and ketamine at 0.2 mg/mL. The strategy was based on five key aspects: avoid hypoxia, hypothermia, acidosis, reduce blood loss, as well as proper control of postoperative pain. Associated with the above-mentioned, close monitoring is essential, as these patients may manifest hemolytic and aplastic crisis. Conclusions: The perioperative management of the patient with hereditary spherocytosis depends on the severity of the clinical status, the anemia and its repercussion, and the degree of hemolysis. Total intravenous anesthesia is a safe technique for the treatment of patients with hereditary spherocytosis.

Introduction: The approach to the subarachnoid space was described by Quincke in 1891. It is now a common practice to perform subarachnoid neuroaxial anesthesia in obstetric patients. The complications described, associated with this, are several. Within these, the paralysis of the abducens nerve or sixth pair is not frequent and sometimes is not related to the puncture, since it occurs days after the event. Objective: To review the information related to the complication of paralysis of the sixth pair. Case presentation: A 33-year-old female patient, a physician, with a personal history of migraine, a history of epidural neuroaxial anesthesia without complications, who underwent combined epidural-spinal anesthesia for performing a cranial segment cesarean section and bilateral partial salpingectomy. The transoperative period runs with hemodynamic stability. There was headache three days after surgery, which was attributed to the migraine history and the patient was treated, without evaluation by anesthesiology, with dipyrone. At 10 days after surgery, the eyes are diverted and diplopia is manifested, paralysis of the sixth pair is diagnosed. She was treated by neurology and several differential diagnoses were proposed. Imaging studies are negative. She was treated with vitamins and remission occurred at six weeks. Conclusions: The diagnosis of this complication is necessary, since the relationship with anesthesia may go unnoticed and, therefore, its treatment may be poorly conducted.

Introduction: Paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that emerging from the extra-adrenal autonomic paraganglia and it may occur in several parts of the body. Paraganglioma is also named extra-adrenals pheochromocytomas. Roughly 90 % of these tumors are benign and can be excised through surgery whereas 10 % of them are malignant and cause distant metastasis. Paragangliomas are closely linked to pheochromocytomas because they cannot be differentiated at cell level and often share the same clinical manifestations such as hypertension, episodic headache, sweating and tachycardia. The diagnosis of these tumors is important because of risk of becoming malignant, the implications of other related neoplasias and the possibility of making genetic studies to detect other cases in the same family. Objective: To expose about epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests and perioperative management of these tumors by a presentation of a clinical case. Case Report: Female 56 years old, clinical history of 2 years of uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, who presented with headache, palpitations and feeling of warm. She was diagnosed with a pararrenal mass suspected of paraganglioma associated with catecholamine hypersecretion, confirmed by histopathology. Conclusions: The treatment of these tumors requires a more complete surgical resection possible since the prognosis depends. Surgical management of pheochromocytoma needs special perioperative requirements. The anesthesiologist must observe this surgery, establish the risks of the phase pre-intra and postoperative.