Effect of Vitamin C Infusion on Cerebral Oximetry During General Anesthesia for Carotid Endarterectomy in Diabetic Patients.

Background: There is conflicting information about the effect of vitamin C on brain oxygenation during anesthesia. Objectives: The current study was designed and performed to assess the effect of vitamin C infusion and brain oxygenation with cerebral oximetry on improving brain perfusion during general anesthesia in vascular surgery of diabetic patients. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on patients candidates for endarterectomy under general anesthesia and referred to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, Iran, during 2019 - 2020. Considering inclusion criteria, the patients were divided into placebo and intervention groups. The patients in the placebo group received 500 mL of isotonic saline. In the intervention group, the patients received 1 g of vitamin C diluted in 500 mL of isotonic saline by infusion half an hour before anesthesia induction. Patients' oxygen levels were continuously measured by a cerebral oximetry sensor. The patients were put in a supine position for 10 minutes before and after anesthesia. At the end of the surgery, the indicators considered in the study were evaluated. Results: No considerable difference was observed between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation, regional oxygen saturation, supercritical carbon dioxide, and end-tidal carbon dioxide in total and between the two groups in the three stages before and after anesthesia induction and at the end of surgery (P > 0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference between blood sugar (BS) levels in the study groups (P > 0.05) but in BS levels at three stages before and after anesthesia induction and at the end of the surgery, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The amount of perfusion in the two groups and, therefore, in total at the three stages before and after anesthesia induction and at the end of surgery is not different.

Promethazine hydrochloride reduces children's agitation during ocular examination for trauma.

Examination and intervention are always the causes of agitation, anxiety, and fear in children's lives. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of promethazine hydrochloride in reducing children's agitation during the ocular examination for trauma. In this interventional-clinical trial study, a total of 62 children referred to Al-Zahra Ophthalmology Hospital in Zahedan, Iran, were evaluated in two matched groups (case (n = 31) and control (n = 31)) for an initial examination of ocular trauma. Finally, the intervention was performed (giving placebo or promethazine hydrochloride cough syrup 20 minutes before the initial ocular examination at 0.5 mg/kg), and the demographic information form and researcher-made questionnaire modeled on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) were completed. The obtained results revealed that the mean scores of physical/aggressive behaviors (p ˂ 0.001), physical/nonaggressive behaviors (p = 0.013), verbal/aggressive behaviors (p ˂ 0.001), and hiding behaviors (p ˂ 0.001) were significantly lower in the promethazine hydrochloride-receiving group than the placebo group. These findings demonstrated that promethazine hydrochloride cough syrup facilitated the examination among the pediatric patients who suffered from traumatic ocular injuries. However, further studies in this field need to be carried out through randomized controlled trials.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Genome in Stool and Plasma Samples of Laboratory Confirmed Iranian COVID-19 Patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2), was first discovered in China in late 2019 and quickly spread worldwide. Although nasopharyngeal swab sampling is still the most popular approach identify SARS-CoV-2 carriers, other body samples may reveal the virus genome, indicating the potential for virus transmission via non-respiratory samples. In this study, researchers looked at the presence and degree of SARS-CoV-2 genome in stool and plasma samples from 191 Iranian COVID-19 patients, and looked for a link between these results and the severity of their disease. SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in feces and plasma of COVID-19 patients was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Medical data were collected and evaluated, including Clinical features, demographics, radiological, and laboratory findings of the patients. Plasma samples from 117 confirmed laboratory patients were evaluated and 24 out of 117 patients (20.51%) tested positive for SARS-COV-2 RNA. Besides, 20 out of 74 patients (27.03%) tested positive for SARS-COV-2 RNA in stool samples. There seems to be no relationship between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genome in fecal and plasma samples of Covid-19 patients and the severity of illness. We provide evidence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome presence in stool and plasma samples of Iranian COVID-19 patients.

Efficacy of adding dexmedetomidine to lidocaine to enhance inferior alveolar nerve block in patients with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis: double-blind randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This randomized, double-blind study was to determine whether dexmedetomidine (DEX) helped to improve the inferior alveolar nerve block's (IANB) success in patients with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis (AIP). We hypothesized that adding DEX to lidocaine enhances the anesthetic effect of lidocaine to a satisfactory level by localizing anesthesia in a safer way. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty adult volunteers with AIP in a first or second mandibular molar were randomly assigned to two groups to either receive 1.4 ml 2% plain lidocaine or 1.4 ml 2% lidocaine + 0.4 ml (40 µg) DEX, for standard IANB injection. Access cavity preparation initiated 10-15 min postinjection when the patient reported lower lip numbness and had two negative electric pulp tests (EPTs) with 5-min intervals. Heft-Parker visual analog scale (VAS) was used to report pain in three steps: during caries and dentin removal, access cavity preparation, and canal working-length determinations; EPT and VAS were analyzed by Friedman test; and success rates were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Fisher's exact test using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: Successful anesthesia (defined as no or mild pain during any of steps and no need for additional injection) is obtained in 12% of patients in the lidocaine group, while DEX-lidocaine group increased the success rate of IANB to 72% (p-value = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: DEX significantly increases the anesthetic effect of lidocaine in IANB injection in patients with AIP. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: DEX would be a safe adjunct to lidocaine to increase the success rate in IANB and could be a suitable alternative for conventional vasoconstrictors in sensitive groups.

The Role of Entrustable Professional Activities in Competency-based Medical Education for Anesthesiology Residents: A Pilot Phase.

Background: After graduation, physicians should be able to provide professional and safe services without the need for supervision by their clinical professors, mandating a competency-based medical education (CBME) approach. Objectives: This study aimed to develop a national model of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) based on our experiences in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DACC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU). Methods: The primary EPA design plan was designed in a 10-step model as a career roadmap for the project. The texts were prepared according to a consensus-based approach. On the other hand, the texts were reviewed and revised by a broad team of faculty in a daily workshop. Results: The final product included 14 topics for EPA as the first round of targeting topics for anesthesiology residents. The texts were developed using previous studies and were standardized considering national standards. Conclusions: We described a clear path toward designing and implementing EPAs in anesthesiology residency programs to improve the quality of the graduated residents. Though the basic theory is the same, each country needs its formula for implementing the process.

Mental Health Status among Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: COVID-19, which is an international concern by far, had fundamental impacts on mental health of medical staff. Healthcare workers are the high-risk group to endure the emotional outcomes brought about by the outbreak. This study assesses the mental consequences of healthcare workers during the acute phase of COVID-19 pandemic in Tehran. Method : We conducted a cross-sectional study on healthcare workers from two tertiary referral hospitals in Tehran province. A total of 222 of the staff participated in the study. Our questionnaires comprised Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), which were handed to participants to obtain data on their general mental problems in addition to the psychological impacts of the evolving virus on this particular group. Epidemiologic and sociodemographic information of participants, level of perceiving exposure to disease, and underlying diseases of each of them were gathered during the recruitment period. Results: Results showed high probabilities (98.2%) in mental disorders among healthcare workers. Since our study was done during the initial phase of the pandemic, development of mental issues due to the newly emerged infectious virus was expected. However, we recorded mild (41.4%) to moderate (31.5%) impact of this novel virus. The possibility of having mental problems was much higher in females, assistant nurses, individuals with lower education, and those who provided care for COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: COVID-19 has brought about increased distress among healthcare workers. Noticeably, the forefront group in combating this virus bear the most emotional complications. Thus, efforts should be taken into practice to provide proper psychological support for this vulnerable group.

Residency Education Reform Program in Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care: An Academic Reform Model.

BACKGROUND: Reform in medical education is a basic process in every academic department, especially in residency programs. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the indices of education and research as part of the Medical Education Reform program (MERP) in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DACC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU) for four years. METHODS: MERP in DACC, SBMU was designed and implemented as a modern academic reform model; different outcome measures in education and research were assessed to demonstrate the effects of the reform plan in academic improvements. RESULTS: there were significant improvements regarding education indices (i.e., teaching methods, passing comprehensive exams, mentorship, assessment methods, faculty development, professionalism in medical education, integration in education, and crisis management) and research indices (targeted research activities, innovation in research approaches, increasing the impact of research). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the experiences of DACC, SBMU regarding clinical anesthesiology residency, reform could be achieved using painstaking plans and continuous efforts with tangible documented outcomes. Often, the management period is not durable, and these reforms require meticulous care to sustain.

Effects of General Anesthesia Versus Spinal Anesthesia on Serum Cytokine Release After Cesarean Section: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Tissue damage caused by major surgery, such as cesarean section, may lead to a poor host immune response and excessive release of cytokines. These responses may increase the risk of infection, cause postoperative pain, and exert damaging effects on various body organs. OBJECTIVES: Anesthesia methods may affect cytokine production after surgery. This study aimed to compare the serum levels of cytokines in general and spinal anesthesia among women undergoing cesarean section. METHODS: Thirty parturients (ASA class I and II) undergoing cesarean section were randomly assigned into two equal groups of spinal anesthesia and general anesthesia. Blood samples were taken for measuring the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) before induction of anesthesia and 30 minutes after entering the recovery room. RESULTS: In the general anesthesia group, the postoperative serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher than the corresponding preoperative levels. Significant differences were found between the two groups in the preoperative and postoperative levels of TNF-α. Changes in the IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were significantly higher in the general anesthesia group as compared to the spinal anesthesia group. However, there was no significant difference in the IL-6:IL-10 and TNF-α: IL-10 ratios between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: General anesthesia, as compared to spinal anesthesia, significantly increased the IL-6 and TNF-α levels after cesarean section. Therefore, the spinal anesthesia technique may be a better option for patients undergoing cesarean section.

The Effect of Repeated Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (R-DOPS) Assessment Method on the Clinical Skills of Anesthesiology Residents.

BACKGROUND: The ultimate result of patient care is one of the most important outcomes in medical education. Several methods, including the direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS), have been proposed to assess professional competencies in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effects of the Repeated DOPS (R-DOPS) method on the performance of procedural skills in anesthesiology residents. METHODS: The procedural skill performance of anesthesiology residents was assessed using a standard DOPS protocol from May to October 2019. Their scores were then objectively recorded, and the satisfaction rates regarding the 2 DOPS exams were assessed. RESULTS: We found a considerable improvement in anesthesiology residents' procedural skill performance, especially in the anesthesiology residency curriculum's basic items. Besides, anesthesiology residents' satisfaction was significantly improved after the 2nd DOPS. CONCLUSIONS: R-DOPS leads to improved training outcomes, including assessing the procedural skills, time to feedback to trainees, and trainee satisfaction.

The Effect of Propofol Anesthesia on the Pain Severity and Frequency of Migraine Attacks in Patients with Chronic Migraine Headache over a Six Month Follow Up: An Observational Study.

Propofol is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic that is commonly used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Subanesthetic low doses of propofol has also been used to treat intractable migraine attacks in emergency wards with dramatic results. However, there is little information on the long-term efficacy of this drug in migraine headaches. The aim of this nonrandomized prospective observational study was to assess the effect of propofol anesthesia on the pain severity and frequency of migraine attacks in a 6-month follow-up period after anesthesia in patients with migraine headaches. The study was conducted on 51 known cases of migraine ranging in age from 21 to 66 years. Before anesthesia, patients completed a questionnaire including their characteristics, pain intensity of the headache using a visual analog scale, and a number of headache repetitions per month. All patients received propofol as the main anesthetic agent. At the end of anesthesia, the total amount of propofol usage was recorded. Patients were then followed up by telephone in the first, third, and sixth months after anesthesia, and the severity and frequency of the headache were recorded. Pain intensity or pain frequency significantly improved in 22 patients (43.1%), remained unchanged in 24 (47%), and worsened in 5 cases (9.8%) 6 months after anesthesia compared to before the anesthesia. In conclusion, since about half of the patients had significant improvement in the headache, propofol anesthesia may be considered as an acceptable anesthetic method in patients with migraine.

Attitudes of Anesthesiology Residents Toward a Small Group Blended Learning Class.

BACKGROUND: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has been used to evaluate the residents' competency; however, the thriving of residents needs especial training methods and techniques. Small group learning has been used for this propose. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the attitudes of CA-1 to CA-3 anesthesiology residents toward level-specific small-group blended learning. METHODS: Anesthesiology residents from Department of Anesthesiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran participated in this cross-sectional attitude assessment descriptive-analytical study throughout the 2nd academic semester (May-October 2019). They took part in a level-specific small-group blended learning program and filled out an attitude assessment questionnaire. The questionnaire included eight closed questions and was filled out anonymously. RESULTS: The residents believed that this program made important contributions to their theory training and clinical skills of anesthesia; while created a greater sense of solidarity. In addition, nearly the majority of the respondents did not believe that participating in the classes made interference in their clinical duties or was a difficult task. Instead, the majority of residents believed that these classes were in favor of reducing their burnout. The reliability of the questionnaire based on Cronbach's Alpha was 0.885. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthesiology residents are in favor of small-group learning, especially when considering their clinical setting and the degree of burnout they tolerate.

Attitudes of the Third-Year Clinical Anesthesiology Residents Toward an Independent Clinical Practice Rotation in COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 was a worldwide pandemic with international health emergencies and great challenges; health care personnel shortage and physician burnout is a potential major challenge that should be planned and managed; especially in those countries with a high COVID-19 occurrence. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the attitudes of 3rd-year anesthesiology residents toward an independent one month-length clinical care course for patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A closed self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess the attitudes of 3rd-year clinical anesthesiology residents. A self-administered closed questionnaire was developed. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to measure the reliability of the questionnaire; added with a factor analysis process. RESULTS: All 19 clinical anesthesiology residents took part in the study, with a 100% response rate. Cronbach's alpha for the reliability of the questionnaire was 0.678. The eigenvalue for 8 factors was equal to 1; however, further assessment led us to 7 factors. CONCLUSIONS: This one-month period could improve the competencies of the 3rd year clinical anesthesiology residents based on their viewpoints. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing health and social problem worldwide, 3rd-year anesthesiology residents could help the health system to recover health care delivery faults regarding manpower; a promising point for crisis preparedness in the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, there were many constructive results for the clinical anesthesiology residents regarding their training and clinical service delivery.

Improving the Training Process of Anesthesiology Residents Through the Mentorship-Based Approach.

BACKGROUND: Although mentoring has been accepted as an effective and nourishing component in medical learning, known mentoring programs for the residents are lacking in most countries. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the mentoring program for anesthesiology residents at Shahid Beheshti University, an examination was designed to explore the styles of mentoring programs, as well as the aims and outcome followed by such programs. METHODS: In October 2016, Anesthesiology Department of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences enrolled all the nine educational wards in "mentorship program". Twelve members of the faculty were chosen to be mentor. This program contained: (a) Creating online groups for reporting, feedbacks, and problem-solving, (b) integrating each chapter of textbooks for studying program each month, (c) establishing formative and summative assessments (i.e., PMP, OSCE, multiple choice exams), (d) role-playing for stress management of level 4 residents. Our main objective was to provide the residents with the provision of mentors. The goals of our programs were: Arrange a safe environment to encourage and foster reflection, promote self-care and wellness, guide special development, provide a resource for residents pursuing control, enrich team constructing and problem-solving skills, and promotion in career counseling of anesthesia residents at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences enrolled in this program from 2014 to 2017. We retrospectively compared 2 periods before (2014 - 2015) and after (2016 - 2017) of monthly examination and educational conference. RESULTS: In the academic stage from 2014 - 2015, the overall first-time license rate for the IBA written QE was 7 of 14 (50%) and in the period of 2016 - 2017, the general rate was 11 of 14 (78%) and in the period of 2017 - 2018, it was 12 of 14 (85%). For each extra year experiencing the program, the odds ratio for passing IBA written QE was 1.7 (P < 0.05). The median Iranian Board of Anesthesiology In-Training Examination (IBAITE) percentile was considerably greater in period 2 than period 1 (P < 0.05). Also, there was a significant correlation between IBAITE score and first-time passing rates for the IBA written QE (0.55, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated the clinical mentorship program as an effective method in improving theoretical, clinical, and professional achievement of anesthesiology residents. Programmed mentorship could significantly improve the educational goal achievements for anesthesiology residents. Mentoring programs are needed to be more used; however, need to be assessed and evaluated, especially regarding the professional aspects of education. Medical schools could subsequently be assessed regarding the number and quality of their running mentorship programs as a quality improvement tool.