Investigation of the effect of ultrasonography-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block on postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores in patients undergoing hepatectomy: a prospective, randomized, controlled study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: There is still a debate about what constitutes effective and safe postoperative analgesia in hepatectomy surgery. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block may be an important part of multimodal analgesia application in hepatectomy surgery. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block combined with intravenous (iv) patient-controlled analgesia (iv PCA), in comparison with iv PCA alone, in hepatectomy surgery. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Randomized prospective single-blinded study in a tertiary university hospital. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for elective hepatectomy surgery were included in the study. Patients were randomized into the ESP group or the control group. In the ESP group, bilateral ESP block was performed preoperatively and iv PCA was used. In the control group, only iv PCA was used. Numerical rating scale (NRS) scores at rest and coughing, analgesic requirements and occurrences of nausea and vomiting were recorded. RESULTS: Intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption, rescue analgesia requirement and resting and dynamic NRS scores were significantly lower in the ESP group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of the presence of dynamic pain after the first postoperative hour. While all patients in the control group had nausea and vomiting, 24% of the patients in the ESP group did not have nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSION: This study showed that ESP block can be used as a part of multimodal analgesia, with the benefit of reducing opioid consumption and postoperative nausea and vomiting in hepatectomy surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12620000466943.

The effect of low dose ionizing radiation exposure on dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis and ischemia modified albumin levels: an observational study / Efeito da exposição à radiação ionizante de baixa dose na homeostase dinâmica de tiol-dissulfeto e níveis de albumina modificada por isquemia: estudo observacional

Abstract Background: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of low dose ionizing radiation exposure on thiol/disulfide homeostasis and ischemia modified albumin levels. The secondary objective is to compare thiol/disulfide homeostasis and ischemia modified albumin levels among the personnel exposed to low dose ionizing radiation in anesthesia application areas, in and out of the operation room. Methods: The study included a total of 90 volunteers aged between 18 and 65 years old, with 45 personnel working in a setting with potential for radiation exposure (Exposed Group) and 45 personnel in a setting without radiation exposure (Control Group). Their native thiol, total thiol, disulphide, albumine and IMA levels were measured. Exposed group included personnel who were exposed to radiation outside the operating room - Operation room (−) Group and inside the operating room - Operation room (+) Group. Results: Albumin, native and total thiol levels were significantly lower in the participants exposed to radiation in the anesthesia application area; no statistically significant difference was found in terms of disulfide and ischemia modified albumin levels. In the Operation room (−) Group exposed to radiation, native thiol and total thiol values were significantly lower compared to the Operation room (+) Group. Conclusion: Awareness of being in danger of oxidative stress should be established in personnel exposed to radiation in the anesthesia application area following low dose ionizing radiation exposure, and the necessary measures should be taken.

Resumo Justificativa: O objetivo principal do estudo foi investigar o efeito de exposição à radiação ionizante de baixa dose nos níveis de homeostase tiol/dissulfeto e de albumina modificada por isquemia. O objetivo secundário foi comparar os níveis de homeostase tiol/dissulfeto e albumina modificada por isquemia entre indivíduos expostos à radiação ionizante de baixa dose nas áreas de procedimentos anestésicos, dentro e fora da sala de cirurgia. Método: O estudo incluiu um total de 90 voluntários com idades entre 18 e 65 anos, 45 profissionais que trabalhavam em ambiente de exposição potencial a radiação (Grupo Exposto) e 45 profissionais que trabalhavam em ambiente sem exposição à radiação (Grupo Controle). Foram medidos os níveis de tiol nativo, tiol total, dissulfeto, albumina e albumina modificada por isquemia. O Grupo Exposto era constituído por profissionais expostos a radiação fora da sala de cirurgia - Grupo sala de cirurgia (-) e na sala de cirurgia - Grupo sala de cirurgia (+). Resultados: Os níveis de albumina, tiol nativo e total foram significantemente mais baixos nos participantes expostos à radiação em área de realização de anestesia, e nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significante foi encontrada para os níveis de dissulfeto e albumina modificada por isquemia. No Grupo exposto sala de cirurgia (-), os valores de tiol nativo e tiol total foram significantemente mais baixos quando comparados ao Grupo sala de cirurgia (+). Conclusões: Os profissionais expostos à radiação em área de realização de anestesia devem ser conscientizados quanto ao perigo do estresse oxidativo após exposição à radiação ionizante de baixa dose e medidas cabíveis devem ser instituídas.