Dexmedetomidine and Magnesium Sulfate: A Good Combination Treatment for Acute Lung Injury?

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and dexmedetomidine (dex) in a model of acute lung injury (ALI). We determined whether concomitant administration decreased the inflammatory effects of hydrochloric acid (HCl)-induced ALI in a synergistic manner. Materials and Methods: In this study, 42 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into six groups: Group S (saline), Group SV (saline + mechanical ventilation), Group HCl (HCl), Group Dex (Dex), Group Mag (MgSO4), and Group DM (Dex + MgSO4). All groups except Group S were mechanically ventilated prior to HCl-induced ALI. Saline or HCl was administered via tracheostomy. Prior to treatment, HCl was administered to Group HCl, Group Dex, Group Mag, and Group DM to induce ALI. Dex and MgSO4 were administered intraperitoneally. The rats were monitored for 4 h after treatment to measure oxidative stress parameters in blood, and prolidase enzyme activity. Lung tissue damage were determined via histopathology. Results: A significant increase in heart rate and rapid desaturation was observed in HCl-administered groups. Treatment administration decreased the pulse values. Increased saturation values and decreased oxidative stress indices were observed in groups that were subsequently administered​ Dex and MgSO4. Serum prolidase activity increased significantly in Group HCl. Severe pathological findings were detected following HCl-induced ALI. Group Mag showed greater improvement in the pathology of HCl-induced ALI than did Group Dex. Administration of both Dex and MgSO4 did not improve the pathological scores. Conclusions: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Dex and MgSO4 ameliorated the detrimental effects of HCI-induced ALI. However, adverse effects on hemodynamics and lung damage were observed when the two drugs were administered together.

Effect of Anaesthesia Method on Preoperative Anxiety Level in Elective Caesarean Section Surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the effect of the anaesthesia method on preoperative anxiety in parturients scheduled to undergo elective caesarean surgery was investigated. METHODS: After Dicle University Ethics Committee approval, 100 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II parturients, aged between 18 and 45 years, were included in this study from 2011 to 2012 at the Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology. The parturients were divided into two groups, with 50 patients in each group: general anaesthesia (GA) and spinal anaesthesia (SA). Patients were evaluated during the preoperative visit. Demographic data and STAI TX-1 form to measure preoperative anxiety were recorded. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in maternal age, gestational age, level of education and number of children (p>0.05). The average anxiety score was significantly higher in the SA group than in the GA group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, spinal anaesthesia is associated with a higher preoperative anxiety level than general anaesthesia in obstetric patients. Therefore, it is necessary to take prevention against preoperative anxiety for the patients undergoing caesarean section surgeries under spinal anaesthesia.

Anesthesia Management in Patients With Choanal Atresia.

BACKGROUND: In this study, the anaesthetic management of newborn and infant patients who underwent surgery for choanal atresia between 2009 and 2016 is discussed in the light of recently published literature. METHODS: The diagnoses, demographic data, anaesthetic risk and duration, additional anomalies, airway management, and complications that arose in 41 patients with choanal atresia who were operated on between 2009 and 2016 were evaluated retrospectively by examining their medical and anaesthesia records. RESULTS: The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group I-bilateral choanal atresia and Group II-unilateral choanal atresia. Of the 41 patients included in the study, 24 (58.53%) were in the bilateral group, and 17 (41.46%) were in the unilateral group. Fifteen (34.1%) of the patients were male, and 26 (59.1%) of the patients were female. The mean age of the 24 patients in Group I was 25.86 days (3-72), and the mean age of the 17 patients in Group II was 171.08 days (81-365). Additional congenital anomalies were present in 13 of the patients in the bilateral choanal atresia group and 3 of the patients in the unilateral choanal atresia group.Seven patients from Groups I and 2 patients from Group II were determined to have difficult airways. The laryngoscopic images from these patients were classified as grades 3 and 4 according to the Cormack-Lehane classification system. When the durations of anesthesia in the groups were compared, the duration of anesthesia in Group I was found to be significantly longer (Table 3). Anesthesia-related complications were observed in 9 patients (37.5%) from the bilateral choanal atresia group and in 4 patients (2.3%) from the unilateral atresia group. Steroids were used as prophylactics in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital anomalies and their associated risks, as well as intubation and ventilation problems and the complications that might arise, must be considered in addition to anesthetic management when repairing choanal atresia in newborn and infant patients.

The protective effects of dexmedetomidine on the liver and remote organs against hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.

AIM: To investigate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury and hepatic IR induced remote organ injury. METHODS: Forty Wistar albino rats were divided into the following four groups: sham, dexmedetomidine, IR, and IR + dexmedetomidine. Hepatic ischemia was created by the Pringle maneuver for 30 min followed by a 30 min reperfusion period in the IR and IR + dexmedetomidine groups. The dexmedetomidine and IR + dexmedetomidine groups were administered dexmedetomidine (100 µg/kg, single dose) intraperitoneally after the anesthesia insult. Blood samples and hepatic, renal, and lung tissue specimens were obtained to measure serum and tissue total oxidative activity (TOA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), paraoxonase (PON-1), and oxidative stress index (OSI) after 60 min in all groups. RESULTS: According to the biochemical analyses of the samples taken from the serum and the liver, lung, and kidney tissues, when comparing the sham group and the IR group, TOA and OSI values were higher in the IR group, while TAC and PON-1 values were lower (p < 0.05). It was observed that TOA and OSI values were significantly lower, while TAC and PON-1 values increased with dexmedetomidine treatment (p < 0.05). In addition, dexmedetomidine ameliorated hepatic histopathological changes inducing IR, but there were no significant histopathological changes in the remote organs. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that dexmedetomidine markedly reduced the oxidative stress in serum, liver, and remote organs induced by hepatic IR injury, and ameliorated the histopathological damage in the liver.

Changes in cuff pressure of endotracheal tube during laparoscopic and open abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate endotracheal tube cuff pressure alteration in patients during laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. METHODS: Forty patients with ASA I-II physical status, who were scheduled for elective laparoscopic (group I) or open abdominal surgery (group II) were enrolled in the study. Tracheal intubation was always performed by an experienced anesthesiologist. The endotracheal tube cuff was inflated with air through a 10-ml syringe. The cuff was connected to a manometer. The endotracheal cuff pressure was registered every 5 min after tracheal intubation. At the time of discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and 12 h after tracheal extubation, patients were asked about their laryngotracheal condition by an independent observer who was uninformed of the patient allocation groups. We investigated laryngotracheal complaints such as sore throat, dysphasia, and hoarseness. RESULTS: The endotracheal cuff pressures in group I were significantly higher than those in the group II at all time points studied (P < 0.05). The endotracheal cuff pressures exceeded the critical pressure of 30 cmH(2)O after 5 min in the group I (intra-abdominal pneumoperitoneum was started). The incidence of sore throat was higher in group I than in group II in the PACU and at 12 h. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the CO(2) pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position used during laparoscopy increase endotracheal cuff pressure and lead to discomfort in the postoperative patient. Measurement of endotracheal cuff pressure is a simple and inexpensive procedure and should be applied in patients under going laparoscopic surgery.

Effectiveness of nucleoplasty applied for chronic radicular pain.

BACKGROUND: Over the last several decades there has been a general trend toward reduction and minimalization in surgical treatment of chronic back pain, since open surgery brings complications in small and contained disc herniations instead of achieving expected success. Attention has been focussed on percutaneous nucleoplasty due to the limited success of other minimally invasive methods, as well due to their associated complications. However, there have been few studies in the English literature with a follow-up period of more than 1 year. MATERIAL/METHODS: Patients with chronic disc herniations having more significant radicular leg pain, who did not respond to non-invasive treatment methods and for whom open surgery was not an option were selected for percutaneous nucleoplasty application. Upon intervention, patients were prospectively questioned by an independent physician regarding pain, physical improvement, and operation satisfaction at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months. Pain was evaluated with VAS, and physical improvement was evaluated based on the Oswestry Disability Index. RESULTS: Mean VAS that was 8.7±1.1 before the procedure was determined to be 3.4±1.9 at 24 months follow-up. At the latest follow-up, 87.5% of the patients reported a 30% or higher decrease in their pain. While Oswestry scores were 76.1±10.2 in the beginning, they went down to 33.9±14.9 at the end of 2 years. The percent of those stating "good" and "excellent" satisfaction was 66% (23 persons) on the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: While it is once more shown that nucleoplasty is a safe method, it is also shown that its effectiveness continues at the end of 2 years.