Tapentadol Immediate Release (IR) versus Morphine Hydrochloride for Postoperative Analgesia of Patients Undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy-A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the efficacy of tapentadol immediate release (IR) and morphine hydrochloride in the treatment of acute postoperative pain after total abdominal hysterectomy, as well as to examine the frequency of opioid-related side effects in observed patients. Materials and Methods: The prospective observational study was conducted over five months, and it included a total number of 100 patients. The two cohorts had different types of postoperative analgesia, and the effects were observed for 24 h postoperatively, by following the pain scores on NRS (Numerical Pain Scale), contentment with analgesia, and opioid-related side effects. Results: Statistical significance was found when assessing pain 24 h after surgery while coughing, where patients in the tapentadol IR group had significantly higher mean pain scores (p < 0.01). The subjective feeling of satisfaction with postoperative analgesia was statistically significant in the tapentadol IR group (p = 0.005). Vertigo appeared significantly more in patients from the morphine group (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Tapentadol IR (immediate release) and morphine hydrochloride are both effective analgesics used in the first 24 h after total transabdominal hysterectomy. Overall satisfaction of patients with analgesia was good. The frequency of side effects was higher in the morphine group, with statistical significance regarding the vertigo.

Drug-induced diseases in otolaryngology - causes, clinical signs, treatment.

In the daily practice of an otolaryngologist, we encounter cases where the symptoms are not the result of disease but result from pharmacotherapy. In the case of symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, or dizziness, polytherapy may be used as the basis for their occurrence, which, due to the lack of rationality in combining drugs, leads to symptoms that the patient and the doctor very often interpret as a new disease syndrome. The aim of the study is to show and to raise awareness of the fact that the symptoms of hearing organ impairment are frequently drug-related and only a modification of the currently used pharmacotherapy is a rational procedure in such cases. This paper describes 30 cases who developed side effects of polypharmacy in the form of hearing disorders, dizziness, and tinnitus. The causes of drug-related complications were discussed, as well as effective methods of their prevention.

Ocorrência de condições psiquiátricas, uso de psicotrópicos e sua relação com o equilíbrio postural em sujeitos com tontura / Occurrence of psychiatric conditions, use of psychotropic medications and its relationship with postural balance in subjects with dizziness

RESUMO Objetivo analisar a ocorrência do diagnóstico psiquiátrico e o uso de psicotrópicos em sujeitos com queixas vestibulares e relacionar a presença dessas condições aos resultados da vestibulometria. Método estudo quantitativo, observacional, transversal, com 131 pacientes, atendidos em um hospital universitário. Foram submetidos à anamnese, inspeção visual do meato acústico externo, provas de equilíbrio estático e dinâmico, Posturografia dinâmica foam laser e vectoeletronistagmografia computadorizada. Resultados amostra composta por 109 mulheres e 22 homens, com média de idade de 55 anos e nove meses. O tipo de tontura mais frequente foi vertigem, com presença de sintomas neurovegetativos. Observou-se expressiva porcentagem de queixa/diagnóstico psiquiátrico, bem como uso de psicotrópicos, sendo principalmente inibidores seletivos da recaptação da serotonina, seguidos dos benzodiazepínicos. Houve relação entre a presença de condições psiquiátricas e mulheres, alterações do equilíbrio estático e alterações nas posições III e VI do Teste de Organização Sensorial. Na vectoeletronistagmografia, houve relação entre a idade e a presença de nistagmo espontâneo de olhos fechados. Conclusão Constatou-se alta ocorrência de condições psiquiátricas entre pacientes com tontura, com uso de psicotrópicos maior que na população geral. Destaca-se a associação entre ansiedade/depressão e alterações nas posições de sobrecarga visual da posturografia dinâmica foam laser. No entanto, não foi observada relação entre essas condições e alterações nas provas da vectoeletronistagmografia.

ABSTRACT Purpose to analyze the occurrence of psychiatric diagnosis and the use of psychotropics medications in subjects with vestibular complaints and to relate the presence of these conditions to the results of vestibulometry. Methods quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study with 131 patients, treated in a university hospital. They were submitted to anamnesis, visual inspection of the external ear canal, static and dynamic balance tests, Foam laser dynamic posturography and Computerized Vectoelectronystagmography. Results sample composed of 109 women and 22 men, with average age of 55 years and nine months. The most common type of dizziness was vertigo, with the presence of neurovegetative signals. A significant percentage of psychiatric complaint/diagnosis was observed, as well as the use of psychotropic medications, mainly serotonin uptake inhibitors, followed by benzodiazepines. There was a relation between the presence of psychiatric complaints with the female gender, alterations of the static balance and alterations in the Sensorial Organization Test positions III and VI. In the Vectoelectronystagmography, there was a relation between age and the presence of spontaneous nystagmus. Conclusion There was a high occurrence of psychiatric complaint/diagnosis among patients with dizziness, with use of psychotropic medications substantially greater than the general population. The evaluation of postural balance revealed an association between anxiety/depression and alterations visual overload positions in the foam laser dynamic posturography. However, no relationship was found between these conditions and alterations in the Vectoelectronystagmography tests.

Anticholinergic and sedative medications and the risk of vertigo or dizziness in the German primary care setting-A matched case-control study from the CONTENT registry.

PURPOSE: To date, there is little information on the utilization of anticholinergic and sedative (AS) medications to vertigo or dizziness (VoD) patients in the German primary care setting. The objective of this study was to evaluate AS medication use and its association with VoD within the German primary care setting. METHODS: Cases with VoD from the CONTENT (CONTinuous morbidity registration Epidemiologic NeTwork) database were 1:1 matched to controls on age, sex, and comorbidities by propensity score matching. AS medication was defined using the fourth level of Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification (ATC) Codes. A prescription of AS medication any time within the study period formed the primary exposure. Multivariable conditional logistic regression examined the association between AS use and VoD. RESULTS: Of a total of N = 151 446 patients, 6971 (4.6%) cases and 6971 corresponding controls were analyzed (mean age (sd): 59.9 years (20.9), 64.2% female). Dizziness and giddiness (ICD-10 Code R42) were diagnosed most prominently (87.2%). AS medication was prescribed on 1072 of 10 552 (10.2%) consultation days with VoD diagnoses. After adjusting for covariates, AS use was significantly and independently associated with VoD, adjusted odds ratio (1.37; 95% CI: 1.18-1.58), compared with no AS use. CONCLUSION: Primary care practitioners should consider AS medication as a risk factor for VoD and avoid prescribing AS medications after a VoD diagnosis. Caution should also be taken when prescribing AS medications to older adults (≥65 years). Systematical calculations of AS medication burden for patients could help acknowledge this issue and raise awareness for prescription habits in primary care.

Vestibular Function Change in a Vasopressin-Induced Hydrops Model.

HYPOTHESIS: A vasopressin-induced endoymphatic hydrops model can represent an acute vertiginous attack in Menière's disease (MD). BACKGROUND: Previous animal models are not appropriate to evaluate the efficacy of new treatments for hydrops because they cannot represent an acute attack of MD. Recently, a new dynamic model was introduced for acute hydrops exacerbation using the vasopressin type 2 receptor agonist, desmopressin (1-deamino-8-D-Arginine vasopressin, VP); however, resulting changes in vestibular function have not been investigated. METHODS: A total of 37 guinea pigs were used. Two to 4 weeks after surgical ablation of endolymphatic sacs in 33 guinea pigs, acute exacerbation of hydrops was induced by a single VP injection in 18 animals (group A). Next, two VP injections at 1 hour interval were administered to investigate the effect of multiple VP doses on vestibular function in the other 15 animals (group B). In the remaining four animals, VP was injected without surgery for the control group (control). Bidirectional sinusoidal harmonic acceleration (SHA) tests of vestibular function were performed. "Type I response" was defined as when the maximum slow-phase velocity (SPV) during left rotation (toward the operated ear) was lower than that during right rotation (toward the normal ear). In contrast, "Type II response" was defined as when maximum SPV at the left rotation was higher than that at the right rotation. Vestibular symmetry scores were analyzed at baseline and after each of two VP injections given 1 hour apart. RESULTS: Vestibular symmetry scores increased at 1 hour after VP injection in all 18 animals in group A (p < 0.001). Two hours after VP injection, symmetry score decreased to the initial score. Two different types of vestibular response were observed after VP. However, the symmetry scores between type I and II responses were not significantly different (p = 0.173). In all 15 animals of Group B, vestibular asymmetry was sustained over 3 hours when two VP injections were given 1 hour apart. In three of Group B, the type of vestibular response changed from type II response to type I response after the 2nd VP injection; however, no animal demonstrated a shift from type I to type II response. CONCLUSION: VP can transiently induce an acute exacerbation of hydrops and asymmetric vestibular dysfunction in guinea pigs. This model could help in studying new treatments for acute hydrops and in explaining the mechanism of bidirectional nystagmus in MD.

Investigation of ototoxicity of artesunate as add-on therapy in patients with metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer: new audiological results from a prospective, open, uncontrolled, monocentric phase I study.

PURPOSE: Artesunate (ART) has been used for a long time in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and has been considered safe. The present phase I study aimed to determine the daily dose of ART that is well tolerated as add-on therapy in patients with breast cancer for 4 weeks of therapy. Ototoxicity could be a potential safety concern in settings different from malaria. Therefore, comprehensive audiological assessment was essential. METHODS: The ARTIC M33/2 study was a prospective, open, uncontrolled, monocentric phase I dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ART in patients with advanced breast cancer. Patients received either 100, 150 or 200 mg oral ART daily for a test phase of 4 weeks as add-on therapy to their ongoing oncological treatment. For the investigation of the safety of ART for hearing, an audiological assessment was performed with each patient before the intake of ART and after 4 weeks of therapy. RESULTS: Twenty-three female patients were included in the study. During the test phase, four patients had adverse events (AEs) of the auditory system possibly related to the intake of ART. However, none of these AEs was classified as severe AE (SAE) and did not require treatment interruption. Four patients had AEs concerning the vestibular system (vertigo) during the test phase, one of which was classified as SAE. However, the SAE was fully reversible after discontinuation of ART. CONCLUSION: None of the audiological results after 4 weeks of therapy with ART showed any dose-limiting auditory toxicity. However, audiological monitoring in further clinical studies with prolonged use of oral ART in doses up to 200 mg daily is warranted. The ARTIC M33/2 study is registered at eudract.ema.europa.eu with the Number 2007-004432-23 and at clinicaltrials.gov with the Number NCT00764036.

Chemical labyrinthectomy for the worse ear of adult Nigerians with bilateral Meniere's disease: preliminary report of treatment outcomes.

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of variable titration, low-dose intratympanic gentamycin (ITG) into the worse affected ear of patients with bilateral Meniere's disease (MD). It is a prospective analytic case series conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital in a developing economy and a tertiary care otologic private ENT clinic. Patients with MD who failed or are intolerant to medical treatment were recruited based on the criteria of definite MD and bilateral ear involvement. 0.75 cc of low-dose (40 mg/ml) buffered gentamycin was injected into the worse affected ear and patients followed up every 2 months, and the regime repeated only if subjective vertigo persists. The patient's age, sex, duration of MD symptom, ear first affected, ear selected for ITG, pure tone threshold at each visit, duration of caloric response (in seconds) for the injected ear, status of tinnitus in both ipsilateral (injected) and contralateral ears, total number of injections before last follow-up, and time since last follow-up are entered into the study protocol and analyzed. Nine patients with a mean age of 45 years and mean duration of symptoms of 59 months were treated. The mean total number of injections was 2.8 with a mean follow-up period of 34 months. Three cases showed drop in pure tone average threshold (2.5-7.5 dB) while an increase in threshold was noted in six cases (2.5-5 dB). All cases demonstrated decrease in duration of response to iced water caloric stimulation in ipsilateral ear, and 4/9 of contralateral ear. The variable titration method using low-dose intratympanic gentamycin directed at worse ear of adult Nigerians with bilateral Meniere's disease appears to be highly effective. More studies are needed.

Treatment of vertigo and postural instability using visual illusions.

BACKGROUND: Ototoxicity caused by medication can lead to debilitating symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo and postural instability. There is no current 'gold standard' treatment available. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old male, with bilateral loss of vestibular function caused by gentamicin toxicity after surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis, complained of dizziness, difficulty in walking and an increased risk of falling. Physical examination showed a positive head thrust test suggesting bilateral loss of vestibular function. RESULTS: The patient underwent a specific motion-based virtual reality enhanced protocol for peripheral vestibular disease. He showed a great improvement, with a 50 per cent reduction in his Dizziness Handicap Inventory score. CONCLUSION: Computer-aided rehabilitation programmes might represent an important advance in gait and posture training.

Vertiginous syndrome associated with incorrect anesthesia technique to block the maxillary nerve via the greater palatine canal: case report and anatomic correlation with cadaveric parts / Síndrome vertiginoso asociado a técnica anestésica incorrecta para bloquear el nervio maxilar vía canal palatino mayor: reporte de caso y correlación anatómica en piezas cadavéricas

The anesthetic technique through the greater palatine canal seeks to block the maxillary nerve in the pterygopalatine fossa and anesthetize a large area, including the pulp and periodontium of the arch in question. After applying this technique in a patient, it failed to obtain the expected result. The patient began to experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting and the sensation of fluid in the ear. She was evaluated in both the emergency room of the Hospital Parroquial de San Bernardo and at a private clinic without accurate diagnosis. Only symptomatic treatment was provided. The next day she was discharged with reduced symptoms, which disappeared completely during the day. We propose the hypothesis of a diffusion of the anesthetic solution into the middle and inner ear through the auditory tube. This diffusion would explain the vestibular symptoms and the absence of anesthesia in the expected areas. We carried out an anatomic correlation in cadavers, following the path of a needle from the palatal mucosa to the pharyngeal opening of auditory tube. We conclude that the vertiginous syndrome could be due to an incorrect application of the technique, with the needle entering the auditory tube and spreading the anesthetic solution into the middle ear.

La técnica anestésica vía canal palatino mayor tiene como objetivo abordar al nervio maxilar en la fosa pterigopalatina, anestesiando un gran territorio, incluyendo la pulpa y periodonto de la hemiarcada correspondiente. Después de haber aplicado esta técnica en una paciente y no obteniendo el resultado esperado, esta comenzó a experimentar vértigo, náuseas, sensación de líquido en el oído y vómitos. Fue evaluada en el servicio de urgencias del Hospital Parroquial de San Bernardo y en una Clínica Privada, sin lograr un diagnóstico preciso y realizando solo un tratamiento sintomático. Al día siguiente fue dada de alta con baja sintomatología, la cual desapareció totalmente durante el día. Se propone la hipótesis de una difusión del anestésico hacia el oído medio e interno mediante el tubo auditivo. Esto explicaría por un lado la sintomatología vestibular y por otro la ausencia de anestesia en los dientes y territorios esperados. Además se realizó una correlación anatómica en cadáveres, utilizando 8 hemicabezas conservadas y siguiendo el posible trayecto de la aguja desde la mucosa palatina hasta el orificio faríngeo de la tuba auditiva. Se concluyó que el síndrome vertiginoso experimentado por la paciente se pudo deber a una técnica fallida al nervio maxilar vía canal palatino mayor con ingreso de la aguja al tubo auditivo, difundiendo el anestésico hacia el oído medio.

Delayed onset of rotatory self-motion perception, dysdiadochokinesia and disturbed eye pursuit caused by low-dose pregabalin.

A 30-year-old woman with chronic foot pain after an orthopaedic surgery and chronic neck pain presented to the emergency department (ED) with a history of self-rotatory vertigo with unsteadiness. She had started low-dose pregabalin, 25 mg two times a day 9 months before experiencing symptoms with the dose gradually increased to 150 mg two times a day over this period. Clinical examination revealed difficulty performing eye pursuit with left eye and dysdiadochokinesia of the left arm. Owing to a suspicion of multiple sclerosis she underwent cerebral MRI, which was normal. Pregabalin was tapered over 2 months with a complete disappearance of the symptoms. We concluded that symptoms were due to pregabalin treatment.

Neurologic complications of renal transplant.

OBJECTIVES: Neurologic problems have a major effect on the survival and quality of life in renal transplant recipients. This study sought to review the incidence and character of neurologic complications after renal transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 319 renal transplant recipients admitted to the Transplant Outpatient Clinic were reviewed retrospectively for neurologic complications. RESULTS: Of the 319 transplant recipient patients reviewed, 124 patients (39%) were women and 193 patients (61%) were men. The mean patient age was 41 ± 11 years, and the transplanted kidney was received from deceased donors in 161 patients (51%) and living donors in 158 patients (49%). There were 50 patients (16%) who had neurologic complications, most commonly herpes zoster infection associated with immunosuppressive medication. Only 1 patient, who had glioblastoma multiforme, died. Treatment included corticosteroids in 296 patients (93%) and calcineurin inhibitors (including tacrolimus) in 111 patients (35%). CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic complications are common after renal transplant. Most complications are associated with immunosuppressive medications.

Oxaliplatin-induced hepatocellular injury and ototoxicity: a review of the literature and report of unusual side effects of a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent.

After extensive literature review utilizing PubMed and Medline searches, we present a rare case of oxaliplatin-induced grade 3/4 hepatocellular injury and ototoxicity. The patient is a 46-year-old female diagnosed with stage IIIC (pT3N2bM0) adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. PET/CT prior to surgery and chemotherapy was negative for distant metastatic disease and baseline liver-associated enzymes were within normal limits. Following sigmoidectomy, patient began adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-florouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX-6). Cycle 1 was complicated only by refractory nausea. However, cycle 2 was complicated by vertigo with refractory nausea, tinnitus, and marked elevation in liver enzymes in a hepatocellular pattern. Extensive workup was negative and the etiology of her symptoms and grade 3/4 hepatocellular injury was hypothesized to be the result of oxaliplatin. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase decreased after two additional weeks off therapy and during cycle 3 in which oxaliplatin was held. She had no evidence of 5-florouracil toxicity. On cycle 4, oxaliplatin was restarted at 50% dose; symptoms and liver-associated enzymes remained stable. However, oxaliplatin was increased up to 75% full dose for cycle 5 with reported vertigo, tinnitus, nausea, and return of elevation in liver-associated enzymes. Oxaliplatin is a chemotherapy agent widely used in the treatment of many malignancies including colon cancer. Side effects include peripheral neuropathy, gastrointestinal toxicity, neutropenia, grade 1/2 hepatocellular injury, and hepatic vascular lesions. However, grade 3/4 hepatocellular injury and ototoxicity are extremely rare with the administration of oxaliplatin. Therefore, we present the unusual chemotherapy side effects.

Vértigo con nistagmo vertical por administración de morfina intratecal y reversión con naloxona / Vertigo and vertical nystagmus associated with intrathecal morphine administration and resolution by naloxone

La anestesia regional combinada es utilizada frecuentemente como herramienta para el tratamiento del dolor postoperatorio. Los efectos secundarios de los opioides utilizados por esta vía son similares a los que se presentan luego de la administración sistémica. La aparición de vértigo con nistagmo vertical es un efecto adverso muy pocas veces descripto con el uso de morfina por vía intratecal, epidural o endovenosa. Comunicamos el caso de un paciente que presentó esta complicación en el postoperatorio de una nefrectomía parcial, luego de la administración de morfina intratecal, con resolución completa mediante el uso de naloxona endovenosa.

Combined regional anesthesia is frequently used as a tool for management of postoperative pain. The profile of side effects of the opioids used via this route is similar to those occurring after systemic administration. The onset of vertigo with vertical nystagmus is an adverse effect rarely described after the use of intrathecal, epidural or intravenous morphine. We report the case of a patient who presented this complication in the postoperative period of a partial nephrectomy, after the administration of intrathecal morphine, with complete resolution by intravenous naloxone.

[Canakinumab, a monoclonal antibody against IL-1ß, with potential utility in different inflammatory processes]. / Canakinumab, un anticuerpo monoclonal frente a IL-1ß, con utilidad potencial en distintos procesos inflamatorios.

Canakinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeted at IL-1ß which has shown to be effective in the control the symptoms of patients affected by CAPS and other autoinflammatory diseases. Its effect is rapid and sustained. In clinical trials conducted up until now, the most common adverse effects reported with the use of this drug have been different types of infections, migraines and vertigo.

Medication-related dizziness in the older adult.

With increased medication use among the older adult population, adverse drug events and polypharmacy can be significant causes of dizziness in the elderly. The evidence evaluated in this review is helpful in clinical practice but requires an additional detailed investigation into the agents discussed to understand the risk/benefit ratio associated with medications. Examples of medications highly associated with dizziness in older adults and discussed in this review include cardiovascular and central nervous system agents. Several other medication classes associated with dizziness are among the medications most commonly used by older patients.

[Intraocular hyperintense structure in MRI in a female patient with vertigo]. / Intraokulare hyperintense Struktur in der MRT bei einer Patientin mit Schwindel.

We present the case of a 77-year-old female patient who complained of dizziness. Consequently, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was performed to rule out an intracranial tumor. The examination revealed an intraocular structure with signal hyperintensity in the left eye. The patient was referred to our clinic to screen for an intraocular tumor. Ophthalmological findings together with the medical history unmasked the "tumor" as residual perfluorodecaline vesicles.