Comparing the prophylactic effects of oral gabapentin, pregabalin, and celecoxib on postoperative pain management in orthopedic surgery of the lower extremity: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity pain after orthopedic surgery is so frequent that has led to many treatment modalities. This study aims to compare the prophylactic effects of oral gabapentin, pregabalin, and celecoxib on reducing postsurgical pain of the lower extremity orthopedic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 120 patients were randomly divided into four groups using block design randomization. 1 h before spinal anesthesia, the studied groups received 300 mg oral gabapentin; 75 mg oral pregabalin; 200 mg oral celecoxib; and starch as placebo. The severity of postoperative pain (using visual analog scale), mean arterial pressure, heart rate, opioid consumption dose, and drug side effects were recorded for six times (each 60 min up to two times and then every 6 h for the next four times). Chi-square, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and ANOVA repeated measure tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Significant reduction of pain severity was observed only at the first time measurement between pregabalin and placebo groups (P: 0.014). Patients in the pregabalin group required lower dose of opioid compared to placebo group during admission in surgical ward. There were no significant differences concerning pain reduction, opioid administration, and side effects between pregabalin, gabapentin, and celecoxib groups. CONCLUSION: Taking 75 mg oral pregabalin before lower extremity orthopedic surgery can attenuate postoperative pain, especially during the 1st h postoperation as well as less opioid consumption and much more patients' satisfaction.

Dose-dependent augmentation of cardiac systolic function with the selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil: a first-in-man study.

BACKGROUND: Decreased systolic function is central to the pathogenesis of heart failure in millions of patients worldwide, but mechanism-related adverse effects restrict existing inotropic treatments. This study tested the hypothesis that omecamtiv mecarbil, a selective cardiac myosin activator, will augment cardiac function in human beings. METHODS: In this dose-escalating, crossover study, 34 healthy men received a 6-h double-blind intravenous infusion of omecamtiv mecarbil or placebo once a week for 4 weeks. Each sequence consisted of three ascending omecamtiv mecarbil doses (ranging from 0·005 to 1·0 mg/kg per h) with a placebo infusion randomised into the sequence. Vital signs, blood samples, electrocardiographs (ECGs), and echocardiograms were obtained before, during, and after each infusion. The primary aim was to establish maximum tolerated dose (the highest infusion rate tolerated by at least eight participants) and plasma concentrations of omecamtiv mecarbil; secondary aims were evaluation of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics, safety, and tolerability. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01380223. FINDINGS: The maximum tolerated dose of omecamtiv mecarbil was 0·5 mg/kg per h. Omecamtiv mecarbil infusion resulted in dose-related and concentration-related increases in systolic ejection time (mean increase from baseline at maximum tolerated dose, 85 [SD 5] ms), the most sensitive indicator of drug effect (r(2)=0·99 by dose), associated with increases in stroke volume (15 [2] mL), fractional shortening (8% [1]), and ejection fraction (7% [1]; all p<0·0001). Omecamtiv mecarbil increased atrial contractile function, and there were no clinically relevant changes in diastolic function. There were no clinically significant dose-related adverse effects on vital signs, serum chemistries, ECGs, or adverse events up to a dose of 0·625 mg/kg per h. The dose-limiting toxic effect was myocardial ischaemia due to excessive prolongation of systolic ejection time. INTERPRETATION: These first-in-man data show highly dose-dependent augmentation of left ventricular systolic function in response to omecamtiv mecarbil and support potential clinical use of the drug in patients with heart failure. FUNDING: Cytokinetics Inc.

Premedication Propofol Dose to Prevent Emergency Delirium.

Objective: One of the most common complications in general anesthesia is the Emergence delirium (ED). Many agents have been studied for prevention of ED, among which propofol has been successfully used. However, there is no information about the optimal dosage of this agent considering the ultimate outcome and the adverse effects; therefore, aimed to assess in this study. Method : 70 children undergoing general anesthesia using propofol, fentanyl, and atracurium were assessed. Participants were allocated randomly to treatment with either propofol 1 mg/kg (n = 35) or 0.5 mg/kg (n = 35) by the end of the anesthesia. The Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) Scale, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale, and the University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS) were assessed by 10-minute intervals. Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay and adverse effects were registered and compared as well. Results: Duration of PACU stay (P < 0.001), PAED (P = 0.001), and UMSS (P = 0.003) were remarkably lower among low-dose propofol-treated children in the assessment at the 30th minute, while there were no significant differences in FLACC scores between the groups (P > 0.05). Apnea was found in a patient (2.85%) treated with high-dose propofol and decreased oxygen saturation was demonstrated in 5 (14.28%) and 2 (5.71%) participants in high- versus low-dose propofol. None of the patients experienced postoperative nausea and vomiting. Conclusion: Based on the current study, propofol 0.5 mg/kg by the end of anesthesia could efficiently prevent ED incidence and reduce time of PACU stay and adverse effects compared to a high dose of 1 mg/kg.

Coronary stenting in patients with medically resistant vasospasm.

Formally described by Prinzmetal and colleagues in 1959, variant angina represents a syndrome of resting angina that results from severe coronary artery vasospasm associated with ST elevation. The majority of patients respond to nitrates or calcium channel blockers. However, medical treatment-resistant vasospasm can occur in up to 20% of cases, thus requiring further interventions. We present a rare instance of coronary vasospasm associated with complete heart block resistant to medical therapy that was successfully treated with stenting. This case example is followed by a detailed review of the literature with regard to percutaneous or surgical coronary revascularization of patients with medically resistant vasospasm.

ST-segment elevation in lead aVR greater than that in lead V(1) secondary to diffuse myocardial ischemia from prolonged hypotension.

The prediction of significant left main or diffuse three-vessel coronary artery disease is crucial in patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome. ST-segment elevation in aVR has been reported to be associated with left main coronary artery obstruction or severe diffuse coronary artery disease in acute coronary syndrome. Herein we report another cause for this ECG finding, that is diffuse ischemia not due to left main coronary artery obstruction or diffuse coronary artery disease but secondary to prolonged hypotension.

The role of hemodialysis machines dedication in reducing Hepatitis C transmission in the dialysis setting in Iran: a multicenter prospective interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant problem among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD). We conducted a prospective multi-center study to evaluate the effect of dialysis machine separation on the spread of HCV infection. METHODS: Twelve randomly selected dialysis centers in Tehran, Iran were randomly divided into two groups; those using dedicated machines (D) for HCV infected individuals and those using non-dedicated HD machines (ND). 593 HD cases including 51 HCV positive (RT-PCR) cases and 542 HCV negative patients were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of HCV infection in the D group was 10.1% (range: 4.6%- 13.2%) and it was 7.1% (range: 4.2%-16.8%) in the ND group. During the study conduction 5 new HCV positive cases and 169 new HCV negative cases were added. In the D group, PCR positive patients were dialyzed on dedicated machines. In the ND group all patients shared the same machines. RESULTS: In the first follow-up period, the incidence of HCV infection was 1.6% and 4.7% in the D and ND group respectively (p = 0.05). In the second follow-up period, the incidence of HCV infection was 1.3% in the D group and 5.7% in the ND group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study the incidence of HCV in HD patients decreased by the use of dedicated HD machines for HCV infected patients. Additional studies may help to clarify the role of machine dedication in conjunction with application of universal precautions in reducing HCV transmission.

Successful removal of an entrapped and kinked catheter during right transradial cardiac catheterization by snaring and unwinding the catheter via femoral access.

Since its introduction by Campeau in 1989, the transradial approach for coronary angiography has gained significant popularity among interventional cardiologists due to its lower access site complication rates, cost-effectiveness, and shorter hospital course. Although the transradial approach is much safer than the transfemoral approach, it has its own inherent rare complications including radial artery occlusion, thrombosis, nonocclusive radial artery injury, vasospasm, and compartment syndrome. Herein, we present an unusual case of entrapment and kinking of a catheter in the radial artery, which was successfully removed by using a gooseneck snare via the transfemoral route. The distal and proximal tips were then simultaneously rotated in opposite directions, allowing for the unkinking and removal of the catheter. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this rare complication.

Prophylactic intragraft injection of nicardipine prior to saphenous vein graft percutaneous intervention for the prevention of no-reflow: a review and comparison to protection devices.

No-reflow is a failure to restore normal coronary flow despite appropriate treatment of coronary obstruction. It is most commonly seen during interventions in saphenous vein grafts and is associated with poor outcome. The cause of no-reflow is complex and multifactorial. Various mechanisms including vasospasm and distal embolization of debris released during the intervention have been explained as the cause of no-reflow. Treatment to prevent or reverse no-reflow includes, but is not limited to, protective devices and intracoronary vasodilators. Intracoronary nicardipine seems to be the best option in preventing no-reflow regarding its minimal systemic side effects, modest negative inotropic and chronotropic effects, duration of action and feasibility of use. The goal of this manuscript is to review the effects of prophylactic intragraft nicardipine injection for prevention of no-reflow during saphenous vein graft intervention.