Delayed Post-Traumatic Anisocoria.

Post-traumatic carotid artery dissection is one of the major causes of ischemic stroke in young patients; its diagnosis remains a challenge for clinicians because of its variable clinical presentation. An otherwise healthy 37-year-old man was referred to the intensive care unit of our faculty for the management of multiple trauma because of a car accident. At 11 days from admission, his doctor noticed the advent of anisocoria. A prompt treatment was instituted with anti-platelet and-coagulant agents. The patient had a complete resolution of symptoms. The prognosis was good, and the patient achieved a complete clinical recovery. He was discharged without any sequelae.

Synthetic Cannabinoid 'Bonzai' Intoxication: Six Case Series.

In the language of the streets, 'bonzai', known as '1-naphthalenyl of methanol', also known as JWH-18 group, is a drug belonging to the group of synthetic cannabinoids. At the beginning of 2004, it started to be sold on the internet and it is seen that private markets. It has structurally similar chemical characteristics as delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active substance in marijuana. In 2013, in a study conducted by the European Monitoring Centre of Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), 102 varieties of synthetic cannabinoids were identified; however, more than 200 substances have been reported since 1997. In this study, we report the difficulties in the clinical course, treatment and management of six patients that had a use history of bonzai although it was not detected in blood in a short period of time in the intensive care unit.

Frequency of electrocardiographic changes indicating myocardial ischemia during elective cesarean delivery with regional and general anesthesia: detection based on continuous Holter monitoring and serum markers of ischemia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and to assess the occurrence of myocardial ischemia during elective cesarean delivery with either regional or general anesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, single-blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Large referral hospital. PATIENTS: 40 ASA physical status I and II term parturients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were divided randomly into two groups as follows: the regional anesthesia group (group 1, n = 20) and the general anesthesia group (group 2, n = 20). MEASUREMENTS: In each case, continuous ECG was done using a 7-lead Holter monitor in the operating room, continuing for 24 hours after surgery. All Holter traces were analyzed by a study-blinded cardiologist. Blood samples were collected preoperatively (baseline) and at one, 5, and 24 hours postoperatively. Serum troponin T, creatinine kinase-MB, and myoglobin levels were measured. MAIN RESULTS: Two patients in group 1 (10%) and one patient in group 2 (5%) showed one mm ST-segment depression for two to 5 minutes. In all 40 cases, troponin T levels were in the normal range at all time points studied. In both groups, mean serum creatinine kinase-MB and myoglobin levels at one and 5 hours postoperatively were significantly higher than at baseline (P < 0.05). These high CK-MB and myoglobin levels were returned to normal ranges at the end of the study period; none of these women showed ST-segment changes. CONCLUSION: The ST-segment changes are not frequent in healthy women undergoing elective cesarean delivery during either regional or general anesthesia, and we found no evidence of myocardial injury.

A comparison of analgesic efficacy of tramadol and pethidine for management of postoperative pain in children: a randomized, controlled study.

Prevention of postoperative pain in children is one of the most important objectives of the anesthesiologist. Opioids have been used as an analgesic for postoperative pain in children for many years. Tramadol has both opioid and monoaminergic agonist actions. The aim of the study was to determine if the analgesic potency and occurrence of adverse effects of tramadol differ from pethidine when administered to children. A total of 110 healthy children, aged 2-12 years, scheduled for elective lower abdominal surgery were randomized to receive either pethidine 1 mg/kg (Group I, n = 60) or tramadol 2 mg/kg (Group II, n = 50) for postoperative pain after anesthesia induction. Pain intensity, adverse effects, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded at regular intervals. The mean pain scores on postoperative 24 h were significantly greater with tramadol than with pethidine. Sedation scores, heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed no significant differences between the groups. We conclude that pethidine and tramadol are effective in providing analgesia in pediatric patients, but pethidine provided better postoperative analgesia than tramadol. Changes in blood pressure, heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation were minimal and were similar in both drugs.