Safety and Complications of Sedation Anesthesia during Pediatric Auditory Brainstem Response Testing.

OBJECTIVE: The auditory brainstem response (ABR) test has been widely used in childhood. Although it is a painless procedure, sedation can be needed in pediatric patients. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate safety and complications of sedation anesthesia applied in pediatric patients during ABR testing. METHODS: Medical records of 75 children who underwent ABR testing between 2018 and 2020 were evaluated retrospectively in terms of applicability, safety, and complications of sedation anesthesia. RESULTS: The ages ranged from 3 to 9 (mean 6.2) years. Comorbidity was detected in 20% (n = 15); 3 had multiple comorbidities, and the most common comorbidity was Down syndrome (4%). The drugs used in sedation anesthesia were midazolam in 81.3% (n = 61), a combination of propofol and ketamine in 14.7% (n = 11), and only propofol in 4% (n = 3) of the patients. An additional drug use was needed in 44% (n = 33). The mean procedure time was 40 (range 30-55) min. The mean anesthesia duration was 45 (range 35-60) min. The mean recovery time was 10 (range 5-15) min. Complications related to anesthesia developed in 4 (5.33%) of the patients; respiratory distress, agitation, cough, and nausea-vomiting were seen in one of the patients, respectively. Complications like bradycardia and respiratory or cardiac arrest were not seen at all. CONCLUSIONS: The complication rate of sedation anesthesia performed during ABR testing of pediatric patients is quite low. It may be more beneficial to use combinations of sedation drugs instead of using a single sedation drug. Although sedation anesthesia appears to be safe in general, the potentially life-threatening complications of sedative agents should be remembered, especially in children who have comorbidities.

Effect of various durations of smoking cessation on postoperative outcomes: A retrospective cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative smoking cessation is commonly advised in an effort to improve postoperative outcomes. However, it remains unclear for how long smoking cessation is necessary, and even whether a brief preoperative period of abstinence is helpful and well tolerated. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated associations between various periods of preoperative smoking cessation and major morbidity and death. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: Adults who had noncardiac surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus between May 2007 and December 2013. PATIENTS: A total of 37 511 patients whose smoking history was identified from a preoperative Health Quest questionnaire. Of these patients, 26 269 (70%) were former smokers and 11 242 (30%) were current smokers. Of the current smokers, 9482 (84%) were propensity matched with 9482 former smokers (36%). We excluded patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status exceeding four, patients who did not have general anaesthesia, and patients with missing outcomes and/or covariables. When multiple procedures were performed within the study period, only the first operation for each patient was included in the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between smoking cessation and in-hospital morbidity/mortality. RESULTS: The incidence of the primary composite of in-hospital morbidity/mortality was 6.9% (656/9482) for all former smokers; the incidence was 7.8% (152/1951) for patients who stopped smoking less than 1 year before surgery, 6.3% (118/1977) for 1 to 5 years, 7.2% (115/1596) for 5 to 10 years and 6.9% (271/3457) for more than 10 years. CONCLUSION: Smoking cessation was associated with reduced in-hospital morbidity and mortality which was independent of cessation interval.

Effect of carboxyhemoglobin on postoperative complications and pain in pediatric tonsillectomy patients.

BACKGROUND: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a product of burning solid fuel in stoves and smoking. Exposure to CO may provoke postoperative complications. Furthermore, there appears to be an association between COHb concentrations and pain. We thus tested the primary hypothesis that children with high preoperative carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentrations have more postoperative complications and pain after tonsillectomies, and secondarily that high-COHb concentrations are associated with more pain and analgesic use. METHODS: 100 children scheduled for elective tonsillectomy were divided into low and high carbon monoxide (CO) exposure groups: COHb ≤3 or ≥4 g·dl(-1) . We considered a composite of complications during the 7 days after surgery which included bronchospasm, laryngospasm, persistent coughing, desaturation, re-intubation, hypotension, postoperative bleeding, and reoperation. Pain was evaluated with Wong-Baker Faces pain scales, and supplemental tramadol use recorded for four postoperative hours. RESULTS: There were 36 patients in the low-exposure group COHb [1.8 ± 1.2 g·dl(-1) ], and 64 patients were in the high-exposure group [6.4 ± 2.1 g·dl(-1) ]. Indoor coal-burning stoves were reported more often by families of the high- than low-COHb children (89% vs 72%, P < 0.001). Second-hand cigarette smoke exposure was reported by 54% of the families with children with high COHb, but only by 24% of the families of children with low COHb. Composite complications were more common in patients with high COHb [47% vs 14%, P = 0.0001, OR:7.4 (95% Cl, lower = 2.5-upper = 21.7)], with most occurring in the postanesthesia care unit. Pain scores in postanesthesia care unit and one hour after surgery were statistically significantly lower in the low-exposure group [respectively, P = 0.020 (95%CI, lower = -1.21-upper = -0.80), P = 0.026 (95% CI, lower = -0.03-upper = 0.70)], and tramadol use increased at 4 h (3.5 (interquartile range: 0-8) vs 6 (5-9) mg, P = 0.012) and 24 h (3.5 (0-8) vs 6 (5-9) mg, P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: High preoperative COHb concentrations are associated with increased postoperative complications and pain.

Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Following Cesarean Section: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study Comparing the Effects on Pain Levels of Bupivacaine, Bupivacaine + Dexmedetomidine, and Bupivacaine + Dexamethasone.

Background: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is providing effective postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing cesarean section (CS). This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects on pain levels of bupivacaine alone versus bupivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine and bupivacaine combined with dexamethasone in ultrasound-guided TAP block for postoperative pain after CS. Material and Method: In this randomized controlled trial, 120 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly divided into three groups. At the end of the surgery, an ultrasound-guided TAP block was performed on all patients: bupivacaine 0.5% (Group B), bupivacaine 0.5% + dexmedetomidine (1 µg/kg) (Group BD), and bupivacaine 0.5% + dexamethasone (4 mg) (Group BDx). Postoperatively, all patients were evaluated at 0, 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 h for visual analog scores VASs, tramadol consumption, complications, and patient satisfaction. A p value of < 0.05 is statistically significant. Results: At 0 h, VASs in the sitting and supine positions were significantly higher in the BDx group (0.85 ± 1.61 and 0.85 ± 1.36, respectively) compared to the B group (0.05 ± 0.32 in both positions) and the BD group (0.15 ± 0.48 in both positions) (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). At the 24th hour, VASs in the sitting and supine positions were significantly lower in the BDx group (1.7 ± 1.2 and 1.43 ± 1.05) compared to the B group (2.3 ± 0.68 and 2.2 ± 0.72) and the BD group (2.57 ± 1.01 and 2.28 ± 0.78) (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). At 0 h, the tramadol requirement was highest in the BDx group at 12.5%, while it was not required in the B and BD groups (p = 0.005). At 0 h, the rate of nausea and vomiting was highest in the BDx group at 17.5%, compared to 2.5% in the BD group and 0% in the B group (p = 0.003). Patient satisfaction scores were higher in the dexamethasone group compared to the other groups. This was significant between Group B and Group BDx (p = 0.009 < 0.05). Conclusions: Adding dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided TAP blocks reduces postoperative pain and increases patient satisfaction after cesarean sections. Dexamethasone, due to its delayed onset but extended duration, achieves lower pain scores and higher satisfaction. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings.

Dexmedetomidine: an alternative for epidural anesthesia in tension-free vaginal-tape surgery.

PURPOSE: Anesthetic management of tension-free vaginal-tape (TVT) procedures is sometimes difficult to deal with, especially when surgeons request a cough test. Dexmedetomidine has unique sedative and analgesic properties while having minimal respiratory effects, making it suitable for perioperative use in monitored anesthesia care. We aimed to compare dexmedetomidine and epidural anesthesia in TVT patients. METHODS: Forty-nine women [American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA 1-3)] with genuine stress incontinence confirmed by preoperative bladder function studies were included in this double-blind, randomized study. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group D received 0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine IV applied as bolus over 10 min and continued with 0.5 µg/kg/h infusion, and local anesthesia (lidocaine 2% with epinephrine) performed by the surgeon. Group E received epidural anesthesia with 15 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine + 100 µg fentanyl. Patients were monitored every 5 min for mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, sedation, and intraoperative and postoperative pain. Ability to cough was also evaluated by the surgeon. RESULTS: There was no difference in ability to cough, and this was evaluated by the surgeon as adequate, and there was no difference in scores between groups. Significant decreases in MAP and HR were observed 10 min after the start of surgery in group D compared with group E, and they were significantly decreased until first and second postoperative hours, respectively (p < 0.05). None of the patients had respiratory rate decrease or apnea. Side effects encountered postoperatively were similar. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine can be an alternative to epidural anesthesia in TVT procedure requiring cough test.

Two new phenolic compounds and some biological activities of Scorzonera pygmaea Sibth. & Sm. subaerial parts.

Phytochemical composition of ethyl acetate fraction and total phenolic content, in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activities of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of the ethanol extract obtained from the subaerial parts of Scorzonera pygmaea Sibth. & Sm. (Asteraceae) were investigated. Nine compounds; scorzopygmaecoside (1), scorzonerol (2), cudrabibenzyl A (3), thunberginol C (4), scorzocreticoside I (5) and II (6), chlorogenic acid (7), chlorogenic acid methyl ester (8), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (9) were isolated and identified using spectroscopic methods. All substances were isolated for the first time from this species. Compounds 1 and 2 are new. The fractions showed high antioxidant capacity correlated with their phenolic content and no significant antimicrobial activity against tested bacteria and fungi. COX inhibition test was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity and all the fractions showed low inhibition in comparison with indomethacin.

Intraoperative core temperature and infectious complications after colorectal surgery: A registry analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Moderate hypothermia (e.g., 34.5 °C) causes surgical site infections, but it remains unknown whether mild hypothermia (34.6 °C-35.9 °C) causes infection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between intraoperative time-weighted average core temperature and a composite of serious wound and systemic infections in adults having colorectal surgery over a range of near-normal temperatures. DESIGN: Retrospective, single center study. SETTING: The operating rooms of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from January 2005 to December 2014. PATIENTS: Adult patients having colorectal surgery at least 1 h in length who received both general anesthesia and esophageal core temperature monitoring. INTERVENTION(S): Time weighted average intraoperative core temperature. MEASUREMENTS: Our primary outcome was a composite of serious infections obtained from a surgical registry and billing codes. Average intraoperative esophageal temperatures and the composite of serious 30-day complications were assessed with logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounding factors. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 7908 patients were included in the analysis. A 0.5 °C decrease in time-weighted average intraoperative core temperature ≤ 35.4 °C was associated with an increased odds of serious infection (OR = 1.38, P = .045); that is, hypothermia below 35.4 °C progressively worsened infection risk. Additionally, at higher core temperatures, the odds of serious infection increased slightly with each 0.5 °C increase in average temperature (OR = 1.10, P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: Below 35.5 °C, hypothermia was associated with increased risk of serious infectious complications. Why composite complications increased at higher temperatures remains unclear, but the highest temperatures may reflect febrile patients who had pre-existing infections. Avoiding time-weighted average core temperatures <35.5 °C appears prudent from an infection perspective, but higher temperatures may be needed to prevent other hypothermia-related complications.

Association between higher BMI and postoperative pain and opioid consumption in pediatric inpatients - A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Childhood and adolescent obesity increased in recent decades, and caregivers face an increasing number of obese pediatric surgical patients. Some clinical and pharmacogenetic data suggest that obese patients have altered pain sensitivity and analgesic requirements. OBJECTIVE: To test the primary hypothesis that increased BMI in pediatric patients is associated with increased pain during the initial 48 postoperative hours. Secondarily, we tested whether BMI is associated with increased opioid consumption during the same period. DESIGN: Retrospective single-center cohort study. SETTING: Pediatric surgical wards in a tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: A total of 808 opioid naïve patients aged 8 to 18 years having elective non-cardiac surgery with hospital stay of at least 48 h in the Cleveland Clinic between 2010 and 2015. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: Using U.S. Centers for Disease Control definitions for childhood weight classifications, we retrospectively evaluated the association between body mass index (BMI) percentile and time-weighted average pain scores and opioid consumption. We used multivariable linear regression to test for an association with postoperative pain scores, and multivariable gamma regression to test for an association with postoperative opioid consumption (in mg morphine equivalents Kg-1). RESULTS: BMI was not associated with postoperative pain after general, orthopedic, or neuro-spinal surgeries. Pain increased by 0.07 [98.75% CI: (0.01, 0.13), Padj < 0.05] points per 5 percentile increase in BMI after neuro-cranial surgery. Higher BMI was associated with a decrease in postoperative opioid consumption (mean change [95% CI] -2.12% [-3.12%, -1.10%] in morphine equivalents Kg-1 per 5 percentile increase in BMI, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We found no clinically important increase in pain scores or opioid consumption in association with higher BMI in patients 8 to 18 years of age recovering from elective non-cardiac surgery.

Transdermal nicotine patch failed to improve postoperative pain management.

BACKGROUND: A single 3 mg intranasal dose of nicotine has been reported to have analgesic properties. We designed placebo-controlled study to test the hypothesis that transdermal nicotine (TDN) administered over a 3-day period would decrease postoperative pain and opioid analgesic usage and improve the recovery process after lower abdominal surgery. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy procedures were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (1) control group received inert (sham) patches 1 h before and for 2 days after surgery, or the (2) nicotine group received TDN 30 (21 mg nicotine) patches 1 h before induction of anesthesia and for two additional days after surgery. The anesthetic technique was identical in both groups, and the postoperative assessments included verbal rating scales for pain and sedation, IV patient-controlled analgesia morphine usage, quality of recovery assessment, recovery of bowel function, resumption of normal activities, and patient satisfaction with their pain management. Follow-up evaluations were performed at 1 and 3 mo after the operation to assess late recovery events. RESULTS: Postoperative patient-controlled analgesia morphine usage and pain scores while supine or sitting up, intraoperative fentanyl use, oral analgesic consumption, return of bowel sounds, and passage of flatus did not differ between the two groups. Although ambulation and hospitalization times, as well as quality of recovery scores, did not differ, resumption of oral intake was delayed in the nicotine group. Discharge eligibility scores were higher in the nicotine group at 48 and 72 h compared with the control group, but the time to return to work was 19 days in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative administration of a high-dose TDN patch did not improve postoperative pain control or decrease the analgesic requirement after pelvic gynecological surgery. Despite delayed resumption of oral intake, more patients in the nicotine group were ready for discharge at 48 and 72 h after surgery. However, times to resuming activities of daily living were similar in both groups.

Treatment of colorectal injuries in the civil war and the factors affecting mortality.

AIM: Colorectal injuries are one of the most common causes of mortality in war. Mainstay treatment of these injuries include primary repair or stoma creation. METHODS: Clinical data of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. Time from injury to hospital admission, method of treatment, the colorectal area affected, injury severity score ISS, hemodynamic instability, and mortality rate were determined. RESULTS: Of the 61 patients included in the study. Mean time from injury to hospital admission was 160±19 minutes. The injury was in the right colon in 24 patients 39.3%, in the left colon in 18 29.5%, and in the rectum in 19 31.2% patients. Median ISS value of 61 patients was 16, IQR 5. Mortality and complication rates were higher in patients with hemodynamic instability and stoma requirement was also higher in this group p<0.05. Total mortality occurred in 15 24.5% patients. Of these, 10 66.6% patients had hemodynamic instability. DISCUSSION: Hemodynamic instability is the most important factor affecting the mortality and the treatment method in wartime colorectal injuries. CONCLUSION: We believe that in victims of war with colorectal injuries, surgical intervention before the development of hemodynamic instability may reduce the rate of mortality and stoma requirement. KEY WORDS: Colorectal injury, Firearm injury, Hemodynamic instability, Stoma.

Acetaminophen reduces acute and persistent incisional pain after hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Acetaminophen is effective for acute surgical pain, but whether it reduces persistent incision pain remains unknown. We tested the primary hypothesis that patients given perioperative acetaminophen have less incisional pain three months after surgery. Our secondary hypotheses were that patients randomized to acetaminophen have less postoperative pain and analgesic consumption, and better functional recovery at three months. METHODS: 140 patients having abdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to: 1)intravenous acetaminophen (4 g/day for 72 postoperative hours); or, 2) saline placebo. The primary outcome was incisional pain visual analog scale (VAS) at three months after surgery. The secondary outcomes were (1, 2) postoperative VAS scores while laying and sitting and (3) total patient-controlled intravenous tramadol consumption during the initial 24 hours, (4) DN4 questionnaires and (5) SF-12 at three months after surgery. RESULTS: The persistent incisional pain scores at three months were significantly lower in acetaminophen (median [Q1, Q3]: 0 [0, 0]) as compared with saline group (0 [0, 1]) (P = 0.002). Specifically, 89%, 9%, and 2% of acetaminophen patients with VAS pain score at three months of 0, 1, and 2 or more, as compared with 66%, 23%, and 10% in the saline group (odds ratio: 2.19 (95% CI: 1.33, 3.59), P = 0.002). Secondly, postoperative pain scores both laying and sitting were significantly lower in the acetaminophen group. Acetaminophen group had significantly better DN4 score and mental health related but not physical health related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that acetaminophen reduces the risk and intensity of persistent incisional pain. However, there are other mechanisms by which acetaminophen might reduce persistent pain. KEY WORDS: Anesthesia, acetaminophen, Persistent surgical pain, Postoperative acute pain.

Acetaminophen Reduces acute and persistent incisional pain after hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Acetaminophen is effective for acute surgical pain, but whether it reduces persistent incision pain remains unknown. We tested the primary hypothesis that patients given perioperative acetaminophen have less incisional pain three months after surgery. Our secondary hypotheses were that patients randomized to acetaminophen have less postoperative pain and analgesic consumption, and better functional recovery at three months. METHODS: 140 patients having abdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to: 1)intravenous acetaminophen (4 g/day for 72 postoperative hours); or, 2) saline placebo. The primary outcome was incisional pain visual analog scale (VAS) at three months after surgery. The secondary outcomes were (1, 2) postoperative VAS scores while laying and sitting and (3) total patient-controlled intravenous tramadol consumption during the initial 24 hours, (4) DN4 questionnaires and (5) SF-12 at three months after surgery. RESULTS: The persistent incisional pain scores at three months were significantly lower in acetaminophen (median [Q1, Q3]: 0 [0, 0]) as compared with saline group (0 [0, 1]) (P = 0.002). Specifically, 89%, 9%, and 2% of acetaminophen patients with VAS pain score at three months of 0, 1, and 2 or more, as compared with 66%, 23%, and 10% in the saline group (odds ratio: 2.19 (95% CI: 1.33, 3.59), P = 0.002). Secondly, postoperative pain scores both laying and sitting were significantly lower in the acetaminophen group. Acetaminophen group had significantly better DN4 score and mental health related but not physical health related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that acetaminophen reduces the risk and intensity of persistent incisional pain. However, there are other mechanisms by which acetaminophen might reduce persistent pain. KEY WORDS: Anesthesia, acetaminophen, Persistent surgical pain, Postoperative acute pain.

Scientific Publication Performance of Turkish Anaesthesia Clinics in High Impact Factor International Journals Between 2005 and 2014: A Bibliometric Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: International scientific publication productivity is a tangible indicator for the accuracy of scientific policies. The quality of scientific publications is not increasing despite the fast increase in the publication count in Turkey. The international publication activities of Turkish anaesthesia clinics have not been previously explored. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the high quality scientific productivity of Turkish anesthesia clinics within the last 10 years. METHODS: We searched for studies conducted by anaesthesiologists in Turkey within the last 10 years and published in journals listed under the medical subject categories of anaesthesiology and critical care using 'Thomson Reuters InCites' and PubMed databases. We recorded publication year, subject, method, citation count and origin of each paper and conducted descriptive analyses. RESULTS: There were 630 papers meeting our inclusion criteria. Among those, 525 (83%) were studies on anaesthesia, 66 (10%) were studies on critical care and 39 (6%) were studies on pain. The average citation count was 9.90. There were 376 controlled/randomized controlled trials, 98 observational studies, 66 laboratory studies, 64 case series/reports, 5 reviews and 21 letters to the editor. Studies were conducted by universities (82.4%), by training and research hospitals (15.56%), by state and military hospitals (0.63%) and by physicians in private practice (1.27%). Baskent University had the highest publication count, Istanbul University had the highest citation count and Trakya University had the highest publication count per faculty teaching staff. CONCLUSION: The high-impact scientific productivity of Turkish anesthesia clinics is in a downward trend in the last 10 years, and the average citation count is lower than the global average.

The effect of ondansetron on analgesic efficacy of acetaminophen after hysterectomy: A randomized double blinded placebo controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine that perioperative ondansetron reduces the analgesic efficacy of acetaminophen. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded study. PATIENTS: 120 patients ASA I-II who underwent abdominal hysterectomy. INTERVENTIONS: All the patients were given 1g acetaminophen at skin closure. Patients were divided into two groups; ondansetron HCl (8mg, 2ml IV) (Group I, N=60) and saline (2ml IV) (Group II, N=60) at the skin closure. MEASUREMENT: Postoperative pain scores (VAS) while resting in bed and sitting, total opioid consumption were noted. MAIN RESULTS: Patients randomized to ondansetron had significantly worse pain scores upon arrival to the recovery unit [by 1.7 (99.7% CI: 0.75, 2.59) cm] and at 1h [by 1.3 (0.5, 2.1) cm] while resting in bed. Pain scores while sitting were also significantly greater in ondansetron group at arrival in PACU by 0.6 (99.7% CI: 0.1, 1.0) cm. Thereafter, pain scores did not differ significantly. Median total opioid (tramadol) consumption was 441 [Q1, Q3: 280, 578] mg in the ondansetron group and 412 [309, 574] mg in the placebo group, P=0.95. CONCLUSIONS: Ondansetron significantly decreased the analgesic effect of acetaminophen during the initial postoperative period. Our results thus confirm that acetaminophen analgesia is partially mediated by serotonin receptors. However, the reduction was of marginal clinical importance and short-lived.

Transversus abdominis plane block as a component of multimodal analgesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare intercostal-iliac transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and oblique subcostal TAP (OSTAP) blocks for multimodal analgesia in patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical study. SETTING: Operating room, postoperative recovery area, and ward. PATIENTS: In total, 60 laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients (43 women, 17 men, American Society of Anesthesiologists grades I-II) were enrolled from the general surgery department of our tertiary care center. INTERVENTION: The patients were assigned to 1 of the 3 groups. Group 1 received TAP blocks (n=20), group 2 received OSTAP blocks (n=20), and group 3 patients were used as controls and received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) only (n=20). After the induction of anesthesia, blocks were performed bilaterally in study groups 1 and 2, using 20mL of lidocaine (5mg/mL). PCA with intravenous tramadol was routinely provided for all patients during the first 24hours. MEASUREMENTS: The intraoperative use of remifentanil, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores, demand for PCA, and total analgesic consumption were recorded. MAIN RESULTS: The patients in the control group had greater analgesic demands and analgesic consumption than did those in groups 1 and 2. However, patients in the OSTAP group had lower VAS scores than did those in groups 1 and 3. RESULTS: The demand for analgesia was greater in the control group than in groups 1 and 2. Moreover, lower VAS scores were recorded in the OSTAP group than in groups 1 and 3 and were positively correlated with total PCA consumption among all patients. However, postoperative VAS scores were negatively correlated with the total intraoperative consumption of remifentanil at 24hours. CONCLUSIONS: TAP and OSTAP blocks improved postoperative analgesia in patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which resulted in lower VAS scores and reduction in total analgesic consumption.

Assessment of the perioperative period in civilians injured in the Syrian Civil War.

BACKGROUND: wars and its challenges have historically afflicted humanity. In Syria, severe injuries occurred due to firearms and explosives used in the war between government forces and civilians for a period of over 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the study included 364 cases, who were admitted to Mustafa Kemal University Hospital, Medicine School (Hatay, Turkey), and underwent surgery. Survivors and non-survivors were compared regarding injury site, injury type and number of transfusions given. The mortality rate found in this study was also compared to those reported in other civil wars. RESULTS: the mean age was 29 (3-68) years. Major sites of injury included extremities (56.0%), head (20.1%), abdomen (16.2%), vascular structures (4.4%) and thorax (3.3%). Injury types included firearm injury (64.4%), blast injury (34.4%) and miscellaneous injuries (1.2%). Survival rate was 89.6% while mortality rate was 10.4%. A significant difference was observed between mortality rates in this study and those reported for the Bosnia and Lebanon civil wars; and the difference became extremely prominent when compared to mortality rates reported for Vietnam and Afghanistan civil wars. CONCLUSION: among injuries related to war, the highest rate of mortality was observed in head-neck, abdomen and vascular injuries. We believe that the higher mortality rate in the Syrian Civil War, compared to the Bosnia, Vietnam, Lebanon and Afghanistan wars, is due to seeing civilians as a direct target during war.

[Assessment of the perioperative period in civilians injured in the Syrian Civil War]. / Avaliação do período perioperatório em civis feridos na Guerra Civil Síria.

BACKGROUND: Wars and its challenges have historically afflicted humanity. In Syria, severe injuries occurred due to firearms and explosives used in the war between government forces and civilians for a period of over 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 364 cases, who were admitted to Mustafa Kemal University Hospital, Medicine School (Hatay, Turkey), and underwent surgery. Survivors and non-survivors were compared regarding injury site, injury type and number of transfusions given. The mortality rate found in this study was also compared to those reported in other civil wars. RESULTS: The mean age was 29 (3-68) years. Major sites of injury included extremities (56.0%), head (20.1%), abdomen (16.2%), vascular structures (4.4%) and thorax (3.3%). Injury types included firearm injury (64.4%), blast injury (34.4%) and miscellaneous injuries (1.2%). Survival rate was 89.6% while mortality rate was 10.4%. A significant difference was observed between mortality rates in this study and those reported for the Bosnia and Lebanon civil wars; and the difference became extremely prominent when compared to mortality rates reported for Vietnam and Afghanistan civil wars. CONCLUSION: Among injuries related to war, the highest rate of mortality was observed in head-neck, abdomen and vascular injuries. We believe that the higher mortality rate in the Syrian Civil War, compared to the Bosnia, Vietnam, Lebanon and Afghanistan wars, is due to seeing civilians as a direct target during war.

Comparison of sugammadex and conventional reversal on postoperative nausea and vomiting: a randomized, blinded trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the new selective binding agent sugammadex causes less postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) than the cholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2 patients scheduled for extremity surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to neostigmine (70 µg/kg) and atropine (0.4 mg per mg neostigmine) or sugammadex 2 mg/kg for neuromuscular antagonism at the end of anesthesia, when 4 twitches in response to train-of-four stimulation were visible with fade. MEASUREMENTS: We recorded PONV, recovery parameters, antiemetic consumption, and side effects. MAIN RESULTS: Nausea and vomiting scores were lower in the sugammadex patients upon arrival in the postanesthesia care unit (med: 0 [min-max, 0-3] vs med: 0 [min-max, 0-3]; P < .05), but thereafter low and comparable. Postoperative antiemetic and analgesic consumption were similar in each group. Extubation (median [interquartile range], 3 [1-3.25] vs 4 [1-3.25]; P < .001) first eye opening (4 [3-7.25] vs 7 [5-11]; P < .001), and head lift (4 [2-7.25] vs 8 [11-25]; P < .001) in minutes were shorter in patients given sugammadex. Postoperative heart rates were significantly lower in all measured times patients given neostigmine. CONCLUSIONS: Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking antagonism with sugammadex speeds recovery of neuromuscular strength but only slightly and transiently reduces PONV compared with neostigmine and atropine.

Effects of lornoxicam on the physiology of severe sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of intravenous lornoxicam on haemodynamic and biochemical parameters, serum cytokine levels and patient outcomes in severe sepsis. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with severe sepsis were included, and were randomly assigned (20 per group) to receive either lornoxicam (8 mg administered intravenously every 12 hours for six doses) or placebo. For both groups the following were recorded: haemodynamic parameters (heart rate, mean arterial pressure), nasopharyngeal body temperature, arterial blood gas changes (pH, partial oxygen tension, partial carbon dioxide tension), plasma cytokine levels (IL-1beta, IL-2 receptor, IL-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha), biochemical parameters (lactate, leucocytes, trombocytes, creatinine, total bilirubin, serum glutamate oxalate transaminase), length of stay in the intensive care unit, duration of mechanical ventilation and mortality. All measurements were obtained at baseline (before the start of the study) and at 24, 48 and 72 hours from the start of lornoxicam/placebo administration. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the intravenous lornoxicam and placebo groups in major cytokines, duration of ventilation and length of intensive care unit stay, and inspired fractional oxygen/arterial oxygen tension ratio (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In these patients with severe sepsis, we found intravenous lornoxicam to exert no effect on haemodynamic and biochemical parameters, cytokine levels, or patient outcomes. Because of the small number of patients included in the study and the short period of observation, these findings require confirmation by larger clinical trials of intravenous lornoxicam, administered in a dose titrated manner.