Analgesic efficacy of the serratus anterior plane block in rib fractures pain: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) was evaluated that in patients with the complaint of rib fracture pain in terms of total analgesic consumption and pain scores. METHOD: Sixty patients with rib fracture and NRS (Numeric Rating Scala) pain scores equal or greater than four were included in randomized controlled study. Patients were randomized to perform SAPB or control group. Primary outcome was total tramadol consumption in 24 h. Secondary outcomes were NRS scores (after Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) application 30 min, first, second, 4 th, 6 th, 12 th, 24 th hour), peripheral oxygen saturation (first and 24 th hour after PCA application), chronic pain. and complications. RESULTS: The total tramadol consumption significantly lower in group S (p = 0.02). NRS scores after 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h were significantly lower in group S than in group C (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.026). The total number of patients who reported of chronic pain at rest and during effort was significantly lower in group SAPB than in group C (p = 0.006). Nine patients in group C were reported of pain, four of whom had pain at rest and five had pain during effort. One patient in group S was reported of pain during effort. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that SAPB, as part of multimodal analgesia in pain management due to rib fractures, is safe and effective in reducing acute pain.

Ultrasonographic measurement of the ligamentum flavum at different angles in the lateral tilt position.

The aim of this study was to take ultrasonographic measurements of the length of the ligamentum flavum (LF), the LF-skin distance and the interspinous distance, which are critical for the application of neuraxial anaesthesia, with volunteers in the sitting position and with lateral tilt of the operating table at different angles to evaluate whether the target structures in neuraxial anaesthesia can be better visualised with the lateral tilt position and to determine whether or not these measurements change at different angles. The study included 29 volunteers. For the measurements, the operation table was first set into the neutral position and the length of the LF, the skin-LF distance and the interlaminar distance were measured at between L1-S1 spaces with a paramedian oblique sagittal approach with a linear ultrasound probe. Then the table was moved into 5°, 10° and 15° lateral tilt positions and the LF, LF-skin distance and the interlaminar distance were measured at the L1-S1 interspaces and recorded. At L2-3, L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 intervertebral interspaces, as the lateral tilt angle increased, so the measured LF length and interlaminar distance was determined to increase, this increase was statistically significant. In the ultrasonographic measurements of the skin-LF distance, at L3-4 and L4-5 intervertebral interspaces, there was a statistically significant increase. With lateral tilt applied to the table, there was determined to be an increase in ultrasonographic measurements of the LF length in the lumbar intervertebral interspaces. Therefore, for neuraxial blocks applied in the sitting position, the procedure may be facilitated with lateral tilt of the operating table.

Effects of vascular morphological features and ultrasound-guided vascular cannulation techniques on the success of femoral artery catheterisation in newborns.

Ultrasound-guided vascular access is a technique that can increase safety as well as technical and procedural success when performing invasive cardiovascular procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two cannulation techniques and vascular morphological properties on the success of femoral artery catheterisation in neonatal patients. We recruited 65 consecutive patients requiring femoral artery catheterisation and randomly divided them into two groups: Group 1, in-plane technique (n = 31) and Group 2, out-of-plane technique (n = 34). We compared the preparation duration, puncture duration, number of punctures, number of arterial punctures, number of unsuccessful interventions, hematoma incidence and vascular morphological characteristics between the groups. The mean age of Group 1 was 17.16 ± 7.04 days, and the mean age of Group 2 was 17.20 ± 7.40 days, with no difference observed between the groups (p > 0.05). Four patients in Group 1 and nine patients in Group 2 developed hematoma (p = 0.172). Hematoma was strongly correlated with the number of venous punctures (r = 0.632; p = 0.001) and the number of needle advancements (r = 0.415; p = 0.001). In terms of artery-vein position, patients whose artery overlapped the vein by > 50% required clearly longer artery cannulation durations than the other patients (p < 0.001). Although the in-plane technique has a steep learning curve, it was found superior in terms of procedure-related factors such as the number of trials, the incidence of hematoma and arterial puncture counts, as it offers advantages such as the ability to evaluate the lumen and a better control of the needle advancement direction.

Low-flow anaesthesia with a fixed fresh gas flow rate.

During the wash-in period in low flow anaesthesia (LFA), high fresh gas flow is used to achieve the desired agent concentration. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety of fixed 1 L/min fresh gas flow desflurane anaesthesia in both the wash-in and maintenance periods in patients including the obese ones. 104 patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia were included. After endotracheal intubation, fresh gas flow was reduced to 1 L/min and the desflurane vaporizer was set at 18%. The time from opening the vaporizer to end-tidal desflurane concentration reaching 0.7 MAC was recorded (MAC 0.7 time). Throughout the surgery, hemodynamic variables, FIO2, MAC and BIS values were observed. MAC 0.7 time, BIS and MAC values at the start of surgery, number of adjustments in vaporizer settings, desflurane consumption were recorded. The average MAC 0.7 time was 2.9 ± 0.5 min. MAC and BIS values at the start of the surgery were 0.7 (0.6-0.8) and 39 ± 8.5 respectively. No individual patient had a BIS value above 60 throughout the surgery. Hemodynamic variables were stable and FIO2 did not fall below 30% in any patient. The number of adjustments in vaporizer settings was 56. Average desflurane consumption was 0.33 ± 0.05 mL/min. We demonstrated that LFA without use of initial high fresh gas flow during the wash-in period is an effective, safe and economic method which is easy to perform.

Ultrasound-Guided Bilateral Erector Spinae Block Versus Tumescent Anesthesia for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Reduction Mammoplasty: A Randomized Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to compare the tumescent anesthesia method and erector spinae block with respect to postoperative analgesia consumption, pain scores and patient satisfaction, in patients receiving breast reduction surgery under general anesthesia. METHODS: The study included 44 females, aged 20-65 years, who were to undergo breast reduction surgery, without adjunctive liposuction on the breast. Using the closed envelope method, the patients were randomly separated into two groups to receive tumescent anesthesia or erector spinae block (ESB). Patients in the ESB group received the block before general anesthesia by a single anesthetist (G.Ö.). RESULTS: The 24-h tramadol consumption with PCA, which was the primary outcome of the study, was determined to be statistically significantly less in the ESB group (p < 0.001). The NRS scores were compared at 30 min postoperatively and then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h. At all the measured time points, the pain scores of the ESB group were statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001). Additional analgesia was required by one patient in the ESB group and by seven patients in the tumescent group and was applied as 1 g paracetamol. The requirement for additional analgesia was statistically significantly lower in the ESB group (p < 0.024). Patient satisfaction was statistically significantly better in the ESB group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, bilateral ESB performed under ultrasound guidance in breast reduction surgery was more effective than tumescent anesthesia concerning postoperative analgesia consumption and pain scores. ESB could be an appropriate, effective and safe postoperative analgesia method for patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Preoperative Serum Leptin Level Is Associated with Preoperative Pain Threshold and Postoperative Analgesic Consumption in Patients Undergoing Cesarean Section.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the preoperative level of serum leptin in cesarean section (C-section) patients with and without acute labor pain and its association with postoperative analgesic consumption and preoperative pain threshold. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative leptin levels, preoperative pain threshold, postoperative analgesic consumption in the first 24 h, and postoperative pain severity (visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively) in C-section patients with labor pain (emergency C-section; n = 21) and without labor pain (elective C-section; n = 25) were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the demographic characteristics. Leptin levels, postoperative VAS scores, and analgesic consumption were significantly higher in the group with labor pain, while the preoperative pain threshold was lower. Serum leptin levels correlated negatively with pain threshold and positively with postoperative analgesic consumption. Multiple linear regression analyses in our study revealed that the preoperative leptin levels and having an emergency C-section independently affected the postoperative analgesic consumption and preoperative pain threshold, whereas their combined effects on these parameters were statistically not significant. CONCLUSION: Preoperative levels of serum leptin were higher in C-section patients with labor pain than in those without labor pain, and increased serum leptin levels were associated with decreased preoperative pain threshold and increased postoperative analgesic consumption in our study population. Postoperative analgesic requirements may vary among patients, and their requirements might be predicted using preoperative indicators. Serum levels of leptin might be one such indicator and this warrants further studies with larger sample sizes.

The Preseptic Period and Inflammatory Markers in the Prediction of the Course of Sepsis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to find a simple and easily accessible scoring system that could predict the development of sepsis in the preseptic period. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 161 patients with a basal sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) value of 2 or more. The sepsis group (n=83) comprised patients with infection reported in culture results; the control group (n=78) comprised patients not showing evidence of infection in blood, urine, and phlegm cultures; samples were taken on three consecutive days. RESULTS The patients in both groups were divided into subgroups of non-survivor and survivor patients. The preseptic and septic SOFA score, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and procalcitonin (PRC) and lactate (Lac) values were determined to be statistically significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the control group. When the values related to sepsis were examined, a strong relationship was determined between sepsis and SOFA score, PRC values, and Lac values in the preseptic period and a weak relationship with NLR. In the model formed using multiple regression analysis with defined cutoff values for the preseptic and the septic periods, we found that in the septic period, a diagnosis of sepsis could be made with 83.8% accuracy. The diagnostic value of the same parameters evaluated in the preseptic period was 77.9%. CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic value of the combination of Lac, PRC, SOFA, and NLR were found to be similar in the preseptic period as the sepsis period; thus these combined values could safely be used for the early diagnosis of sepsis.

Effects on QTc Interval of 2 Different Doses of Spinal Anesthesia in Inguinal Hernia Operations.

BACKGROUND Cardiac arrhythmia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, through examination of the effects on the QTc interval of different doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine, we investigated the relationship with arrhythmia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 60 patients were separated into 2 groups: spinal block was applied with 10 mg bupivacaine to Group S1 and with 15 mg to Group S2. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) values were recorded before the spinal block and at 5 and 30 min after the block and at 60 min postoperatively. By recording the time of the spinal sensory block to reach T10 dermatome (Anaesth T) and the duration of the surgical procedure (Surg T.), the QTc intervals were calculated. RESULTS The demographic data were similar in both groups. A statistically significant difference was determined between the S1 and S2 groups between the baseline and the 30 mins after spinal block QTc intervals (p=0.001). No statistically significant difference in HR values was determined between the groups at baseline, 5 min after spinal block, and 1 h after surgery (all p>0.05), but at 30 min after spinal block value there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.010). No statistically significant difference was determined in MAP values between the groups at baseline and 1 h after surgery (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The QTc interval lengthened in a dose-dependent manner after spinal anesthesia was applied with different doses of bupivacaine, but the doses used did not cause any severe arrhythmia.

Efficacy of bispectral index monitoring for prevention of anestheticawareness and complications during oocyte pick-up procedure

Background/aim: This study was planned by considering that the use of bispectral index (BIS) monitoring ensures sufficient depth of anesthesia and avoids anesthetic awareness and patient movement in the oocyte pick-up (OPU) procedure.Materials and methods: Ninety-eight patients undergoing OPU were randomly divided into 2 groups as the control group (n = 48) and BIS group (n = 50). After propofol and remifentanil induction, the control group was given additional propofol according to reaction response, while the BIS group was given propofol at BIS values of 60 and above with the aim that BIS values be 40?60. Total procedure time, recovery time, patient movement, additional propofol consumption, total number of oocytes, and awareness during anesthesia were recorded. Results: Demographic data were similar in the two groups (P > 0.05 for all). The recovery time in the BIS group was significantly shorter compared to the control group (P < 0.001) while additional propofol consumption was found to be significantly lower (P < 0.001). Baseline BIS values fell compared to all other times after induction significantly (P < 0.001). No patient had anesthesia awareness.Conclusion: During the OPU procedure BIS monitoring is considered to prevent anesthesia awareness, intraoperative movement, and complications caused by insufficient anesthetic use as it ensures optimal doses of anesthetic agents used and early recovery.

An obstruction not to forget: Pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie syndrome): Single center experience.

PURPOSE: Colonic pseudo obstruction disease commonly seen in the elderly, immobile patient group can cause serious mortality and morbidity. Our objective in this retrospective study is to share our clinical experience by evaluating patients with Ogilvie syndrome who were followed and treated in our clinic. METHODS: Eleven cases with the diagnosis of Ogilvie syndrome followed up and treated between September 2010 and April 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. All the patients that had no symptoms of acute abdominal pain were initiated conservative treatment. Colonoscopic decompression was attempted for patients whose clinical pictures were not recovered. Patients underwent operation if they developed peritoneal irritation symptoms during these procedures and of their number of white blood cells seriously increased during the follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients were treated for Ogilvie syndrome. 6 of the patients underwent surgical treatment, and 5 were treated medically. Mortality developed in two patients. The main cause of mortality was a delay in diagnosis and additional severe underlying diseases. Seven patients were given Neostigmine. Of these, 2 patients required surgery and 3 patients responded to Neostigmine. CONCLUSION: Ogilvie syndrome is a rare cause of ileus of the colon. It is more common particularly in old patients with additional problems. If the disease is suspected and diagnosed early, unnecessary surgical interventions can be prevented with medical treatment choices.

The effect of lavender aromatherapy on the level of intraoperative anxiety in caesarean case under spinal anesthesia: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative anxiety can be reduced by aromatherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lavender aromatherapy in reducing intraoperative anxiety in patients undergoing caesarean section (CS) under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: This study was two-armed and randomized controlled trial. A total of 96 patients who were scheduled for CS were randomly divided into two groups: the aromatherapy (A) group (n=48), comprising patients who were randomized to receive lavender aromatherapy with mask oxygen after the birth of the baby, and the control (C) group (n=48), comprising patients who inhaled carrier oil. During the preoperative period, baseline anxiety levels and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I) scale. After birth, two drops of oil were inhaled in an oxygen mask for 5 min. After 5 min, the Ramsey Sedation Scale was evaluated, and patients with a score of 1 received 2 mg of intravenous midazolam for sedation. The STAI-I and VAS pain scores were re-evaluated at the third postoperative hour. RESULTS: The primary outcome was the significant reduction in the need for midazolam brought about by lavender aromatherapy, and the secondary outcomes included postoperative third-hour STAI-I scores, intraoperative complications and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy, which reduced the need for intraoperative anxiolytics, can be offered as an alternative for pregnant women who undergo CS under spinal anesthesia.

The effect of transversus abdominis plane block application on postoperative analgesia quality and patient satisfaction after varicocele surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Postoperative pain management is an important aspect of anesthesia care and multimodal analgesic techniques are generally recommended. Objective: To compare the effect of spinal anesthesia + transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block application on postoperative analgesia quality and patient satisfaction with spinal anesthesia + intrathecal morphine (ITM) application. Methods: A total of 70 patients were randomly separated into 2 groups as spinal anesthesia + TAP block (TAP block group, n = 34) and spinal anesthesia + ITM group (ITM group, n = 36). The groups were compared in respect of age, body mass index values, and visual analog scale (VAS) values at 0 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h, and patient satisfaction was scored by Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Management at 24 h. Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.52 ± 6.50 years in the TAP block group and 30.11 ± 5.62 years in the ITM group, with no statistically significant difference determined. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of VAS values at 0 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h. When the factors affecting postoperative patient satisfaction were evaluated, feeling fatigue after the surgery (r = -0.811, P = 0.001) and postoperative complications such as nausea, vomiting, and itching (r = -0.831, P = 0.001) were found to have a negative effect on patient satisfaction. Conclusion: Due to low complication rates, TAP block is an effective application for postoperative analgesia management in varicocele operations that increases patient satisfaction postoperatively.

The effects of active warming on perioperative inadvertent hypothermia in patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery under local anesthesia.

Purpose: Perioperative inadvertent hypothermia (PIH) is the decrease in core temperature below 36°C. We aimed to assess whether PIH develops in patients operated under local anesthesia (ULA) for vitreoretinal surgery in the operating room and investigate active warming efficacy. Methods: Seventy-two patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 contained unwarmed patients (n = 36), and Group 2, warmed patients (n = 36). The core temperatures, heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the patients were measured at the beginning of surgery, after 20 min, 40 min, 1 h, at the end of the operation, and during the postoperative period. Results: PIH incidence was 44.6% in Group 1, whereas no hypothermia was observed in Group 2. Patient temperatures at 20 min (P = 0.001), 40 min (P < 0.001), 1 h (P < 0.001), the end of the operation (P < 0.001), and the postoperative period (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. Patient HRs at the end of the operation and during the postoperative period were significantly lower in Group 2 (P = 0.005) than in Group 1 (P < 0.001). The intraoperative 40th (P = 0.044) and 60th (P < 0.001) minutes, end of operation (P < 0.001), and postoperative MAP (P < 0.001) values of Group 1 were significantly higher than those of Group 2. Conclusion: PIH may develop in patients operated ULA, especially with a low ambient temperature. Actively warming may help prevent the harmful effects of PIH.

A randomized pilot study of electro-acupuncture treatment for hysterosalpingography pain relief and related anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of acupuncture on reducing pain and anxiety related to hysterosalpingography (HSG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 patients planned to undergo HSG were randomly separated into 3 groups; the acupuncture group (n=36), intramuscular diclofenac sodium group (n=35), and control group (n=37). In the acupuncture group, electro-acupuncture was applied to specified points for 20 mins before the procedure. In the intramuscular diclofenac sodium group, an intramuscular injection of 75 mg diclofenac sodium was applied 30 mins before the procedure. No analgesics were administered to the patients in the control group before intervention. Pain was evaluated with a Visual Analog scale (VAS) and anxiety with the State-trait Anxiety inventory -state (STAI-S), preoperatively and at specified times postoperatively. RESULTS: The VAS scores at 1 and 5 minutes after HSG were similar in acupuncture group and intramuscular diclofenac sodium group, and significantly lower than in the control group. At 30 mins postoperatively, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups in respect of the VAS scores. The STAI-S scores at 1 hour preoperatively were similar in all the groups (p=0.563). In the comparisons of the STAI-S values at preoperative 5 mins, following acupuncture in acupuncture group and the diclofenac injection in intramuscular diclofenac sodium group, and at postoperative 30 mins, the acupuncture group values were determined to be statistically significantly lower than those of the other groups (p<0.001, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has similar effects on the reduction of pain as other analgesics and reduces anxiety. It can therefore be used in HSG in suitable clinics.

Retrospective Evaluation of Anesthetic Management in Cesarean Sections of Pregnant Women with Placental Anomaly.

BACKGROUND: In this study, patients who underwent cesarean section and had placenta previa and placenta accreta were examined and compared in terms of haemorrhagic indicators and perioperative anesthetic management. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in a university hospital in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. It included 95 pregnant women who had placental anomaly and underwent cesarean section between December 15, 2014, and February 15, 2016. RESULTS: The pregnant women were divided into two groups: Group P (previa) (n = 67) and Group A (accreta) (n = 28). The types of anesthesia administered were general anesthesia (GA), which was administered to 50 patients (74.6%) in Group P and 27 patients (96.4%) in Group A, and spinal anesthesia (SA), which was administered to 17 patients (25.4%) in Group P and one patient (3.6%) in Group A.. The mean blood loss was 685.82 ± 262.82 in Group P and 1582.14 ± 790.71 in Group A, and the given amount of crystalloid was higher in Group A with an average of 1628.57 ± 728.19 ml. The use of erythrocyte and fresh frozen plasma solution was higher in Group A than Group P. Eleven patients were intubated and taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Group A. Postoperative mechanical ventilation duration was significantly higher in Group A (75.14 ± 43.84 h) (p < 0.001). ICU stay was longer in Group A with 2.80 ± 1.13 days. (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The intraoperative management and the availability of postoperative ICU conditions are important in placental anomalies cases. The communication between operation team with regard to the development of a standard protocol for these cases will be of great benefit in reducing morbidity and mortality.

Comparison of quadratus lumborum block and caudal block for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair and orchiopexy surgeries: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caudal epidural anesthesia is a widely used popular technique for postoperative analgesia but it has potential side effects and duration of analgesia is short. Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) was found to be an effective method for postoperative analgesia in lower abdominal surgeries. In this double-blind prospective randomized trial, we aimed to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacies of QLB and the caudal block in pediatric patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair and orchiopexy surgeries under general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After approval was obtained from the ethics committee, in this prospective randomized double-blind trial, 53 patients under general anesthesia undergoing inguinal hernia repair and orchiopexy surgeries randomly received caudal block or QLB. Demographic data, postoperative analgesic requirement, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scores at 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours, parent satisfaction scores and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The study included 52 patients, after excluding one patient because of a failed caudal block. There were no significant differences between the groups based on demographic data (p>0.05). The number of patients who required analgesics in the first 24 hours was significantly lower in QLB group (p=0.001). Postoperative 4, 6, 12 hours FLACC scores were significantly lower in the QLB group (p<0.001, p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Parent satisfaction scores were higher in the QLB group (p=0.014). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, QLB can provide much more effective analgesia than caudal block without adjuvants in multimodal analgesia management of children undergoing inguinal hernia repair and orchiopexy surgeries. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03294291.

Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block for postoperative analgesia in a pediatric patient.

The quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a newly described block providing successful, safe, and long-lasting analgesia with the guidance of ultrasound. The QLB allows local anesthetic to spread posterior to the quadratus lumborum muscle and expand beyond the middle layer of the thoracolumbar fascia and paravertebral space. We present our experience with the use of an unilateral QLB to provide postoperative analgesia in a 3-year-old pediatric patient weighing 14 kg who underwent a unilateral inguinal hernia repair. His family was satisfied with the general status and pain cessation in the patient.

Efficacy of the Evaluation of Inflammatory Markers for the Reduction of Negative Appendectomy Rates.

Unnecessary appendectomy can cause complications; ways of reducing negative appendectomy rates (NAR) using biochemical and imaging methods are desirable. We retrospectively examined 640 patients who underwent appendectomy for suspected AA. Patients with histologically confirmed appendicitis were designated the positive appendectomy group (n = 565), whereas those with unconfirmed appendicitis were designated the negative appendectomy group (n = 75). The positive appendectomy group was subdivided into the non-perforated (n = 511) and perforated (n = 54) appendectomy groups according to pathology reports. We compared the age, sex, lymphocyte count, neutrophil percentage, pathologic positivity or negativity for appendicitis, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) of the patients. When the perforated, non-perforated, and negative appendectomy groups were compared, the highest CRP level, NLR, and PLR were evident in the perforated appendectomy group (p = 0.001), whereas the lowest neutrophil percentage was found in the non-perforated appendectomy group (p = 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified neutrophil percentage, CRP value, and NLR as independent variables and demonstrated that AA could be diagnosed with 88.9 % accuracy using the cutoff values determined. In patients with suspected AA, particularly in rural areas with limited access to advanced imaging modalities, the evaluation of neutrophil percentage, CRP level, and NLR, in combination with the findings of a physical examination, may aid diagnosis and reduce NAR.

The Knowledge of Eye Physicians on Local Anesthetic Toxicity and Intravenous Lipid Treatment: Questionnaire Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge of ophthalmologists regarding local anesthesia toxicity syndrome (LATS) and intravenous lipid emulsion used in treatment, and to raise awareness of this issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire comprising 14 questions about demographics, local anesthesia (LA) use, toxicity, and treatment methods was administered to ophthalmologists at different hospitals. RESULTS: The study included 104 ophthalmologists (25% residents, 67.3% specialists, 7.7% faculty members) with a mean age of 35.71±6.53 years. The highest number of participants was from state hospitals (65.4%), and 34.6% of the physicians had been working in ophthalmology for more than 10 years. Seventy-six percent of the participants reported using LA every day or more than twice a week, but 56.7% had received no specific training on this subject. No statistically significant difference was observed between different education levels and the rates of training (p=0.419). Bupivacaine was the most preferred LA and the majority of respondents (97.1%) did not use a test dose. Allergy (76%) and hypotension (68.3%) were the most common responses for early findings of LATS, while cardiac arrest (57.4%) and hepatotoxicity (56.4%) were given for late findings. The most common responses concerning the prevention of LATS included monitorization (72.4%) and use of appropriate doses (58.2%). Symptomatic treatment was selected by 72.4% of respondents and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and antihistamine treatment by 58.8%. Of the ophthalmologists in the study, 62.5% had never encountered LATS. The use of 20% intravenous lipid emulsion therapy for toxicity was known by 65% of the physicians, but only 1 participant stated having used it previously. CONCLUSION: The importance of using 20% lipid emulsion in LATS treatment and having it available where LA is administered must be emphasized, and there should be compulsory training programs for ophthalmologists on this subject.

Quadratus Lumborum Block Versus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Children Undergoing Low Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Truncal blocks have a place within multimodal analgesia techniques in abdominal surgery. The quadratus lumborum block is a new abdominal truncal block used for somatic analgesia of both the upper and lower abdomen. In this prospective, double-blind, randomized study, we aimed to compare quadratus lumborum block and transversus abdominis plane block in pediatric patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery. METHODS: Fifty-three children undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair or orchiopexy surgery were randomized into 2 groups: transversus abdominis plane block and quadratus lumborum block. All blocks were performed under general anesthesia before surgery. Pain levels were assessed using an FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale. RESULTS: The study included 50 patients, after excluding 3 patients who were not eligible. The number of patients who required analgesia in the first 24 hours postoperatively was significantly lower in the quadratus lumborum block group (P < 0.05). In the quadratus lumborum block group, the postoperative 30-minute and 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 12-, and 24-hour FLACC scores were lower compared with those of the transversus abdominis plane block group (P < 0.05). Parent satisfaction scores were higher in the quadratus lumborum block group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that in pediatric patients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair or orchiopexy the quadratus lumborum block provided longer and more effective postoperative analgesia compared with the transversus abdominis plane block. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: The trial was registered prospectively at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02715999).