The Effects of Hypocapnia and Hypercapnia on Intraoperative Bleeding, Surgical Field Quality, and Surgeon Satisfaction Level in Septorhinoplasty: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Septorhinoplasty (SRP) is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the world for functional and aesthetic purposes. The present study was aimed to compare the effects of hypocapnia and hypercapnia regarding the total amount of intraoperative bleeding, surgical field quality, and surgeon satisfaction level. METHODS: In this randomized prospective clinical study, eighty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II and were 18-45 years old scheduled for septorhinoplasty were randomly allocated to group hypocapnia [end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) 30 ± 2 mmHg] and group hypercapnia (EtCO2 40 ± 2 mmHg). We evaluated the total amount of intraoperative bleeding, the surgical field quality, surgeon satisfaction level, hemodynamics and peri- and postoperative adverse events. RESULTS: Group hypocapnia significantly reduced the total amount of intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.001). The surgical field quality and surgeon satisfaction level in group hypocapnia were significantly better than group hypercapnia (p < 0.001). EtCO2 levels of group hypocapnia were significantly lower than group hypercapnia at all time points (p < 0.001 for all time points). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of heart rate and mean arterial pressure at all time points. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of adverse events CONCLUSIONS: The results of this double-blind randomized clinical trial showed that reducing the amount of intraoperative bleeding for patients with hypocapnia undergoing SRP through known methods (e.g., reverse Trendelenburg head-up position, positive end-expiratory pressure limiting, controlled hypotension, and use of topical vasoconstrictors, corticosteroids, and tranexamic acid) would improve the quality of the surgical field and raise the surgeon satisfaction level. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Clinical and Radiological Evaluation and Follow-Up of Patients with Noncardiac Plastic Bronchitis.

OBJECTIVE: Plastic bronchitis (PB) is a rare disease characterized by obstruction of the airway by fibrinous mucus plugs. The etiology can be idiopathic or secondary to systematic diseases such as congenital heart diseases. Definitive diagnosis is made by pathological examination of the sputum or bronchial sample taken by bronchoscopy. In this study, the clinical status and treatment status of patients with PB were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of the patients diagnosed as PB were reviewed ret- rospectively. Age, gender, clinical symptoms, radiology, bronchoscopic findings, and pathology results were documented. RESULTS: Six patients with PB were included in this study (female:male, 2:4). The median age of the diagnosis was 45 months. The most common symptoms are persistent wet cough and short- ness of breath. The duration of symptoms ranged from 30 to 90 days. Atelectasis was the most common radiological finding. Diagnosis was made with pathological examination of the mucus in all patients. All of the patients were treated with bronchoscopic removal of the mucus, and 4 patients required oral prednisolone therapy. Symptoms and radiological findings resolved completely in all patients. CONCLUSION: Although PB is a rare disease, it should be kept in mind in relation to patients with persistent radiological and clinical respiratory symptoms.

Efficacy of Intravenous Ibuprofen and Paracetamol on Postoperative Pain and Tramadol Consumption After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind Clinical Trial.

Objective: Efficient pain management following arthroscopic shoulder surgery plays a crucial role in decreasing pain intensity, tramadol consumption, and related side effects. This study primarily aimed to examine the analgesic impact of intravenous (IV) ibuprofen and paracetamol on postoperative pain intensity. In addition, as secondary objectives, the study assesses tramadol consumption, determine the global satisfaction score (GSS), analyze hemodynamic parameters, and investigate tramadol-related side effects. Methods: In this study, we enrolled sixty-four patients who were scheduled to undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery and met the inclusion criteria of having American Society of Anesthesiologists scores between 1 and 3 and falling within the age range of 18 to 85 years. All participants were managed using IV patient-controlled analgesia. These patients were then randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to two groups: one receiving paracetamol (n=32), and the other receiving ibuprofen (n=32). Demographic information, visual analog scale (VAS) and GSS data, hemodynamics, tramadol consumption, and tramadol-related side effects were recorded. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding demographics, hemodynamics, GSS scores, and tramadol side effects (respiratory depression, pruritus, urinary retention, and nausea and vomiting). VAS scores of the two groups were similar at postoperative 1st, 6th, and 12th hours. However, group ibuprofen significantly reduced the VAS scores at the postoperative 24th hour (p=0.039). On the other hand, the two groups showed no significant differences in GSS scores. Compared with total tramadol consumption during the postoperative 24-hour period, ibuprofen significantly reduced tramadol consumption (p=0.003). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate a significant reduction in both pain intensity and tramadol consumption when IV ibuprofen was administered 24 hours following arthroscopic shoulder surgery, in comparison with the use of IV paracetamol.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels as an indicator of severity and mortality for COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a multisystemic disease that can cause severe illness and mortality by exacerbating symptoms such as thrombosis, fibrinolysis, and inflammation. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plays an important role in regulating fibrinolysis and may cause thrombotic events to develop. The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between PAI-1 levels and disease severity and mortality in relation to COVID-19. METHODS: A total of 71 hospitalized patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 using real time-polymerase chain reaction tests. Each patient underwent chest computerized tomography (CT). Data from an additional 20 volunteers without COVID-19 were included in this single-center study. Each patient's PAI-1 data were collected at admission, and the CT severity score (CT-SS) was then calculated for each patient. RESULTS: The patients were categorized into the control group (n=20), the survivor group (n=47), and the non-survivor group (n=24). In the non-survivor group, the mean age was 75.3±13.8, which is higher than in the survivor group (61.7±16.9) and in the control group (59.5±11.2), (p=0.001). When the PAI-1 levels were compared between each group, the non-survivor group showed the highest levels, followed by the survivor group and then the control group (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, PAI-1, and disease severity independently predicted COVID-19 mortality rates. In this study, it was observed that PAI-1 levels with >10.2 ng/mL had 83% sensitivity and an 83% specificity rate when used to predict mortality after COVID-19. Then, patients were divided into severe (n=33) and non-severe (n=38) groups according to disease severity levels. The PAI-1 levels found were higher in the severe group (p<0.001) than in the non-severe group. In the regression analysis that followed, high sensitive troponin I and PAI-1 were found to indicate disease severity levels. The CT-SS was estimated as significantly higher in the non-survivor group compared to the survivor group (p<0.001). When comparing CT-SS between the severe group and the non-severe group, this was significantly higher in the severe group (p<0.001). In addition, a strong statistically significant positive correlation was found between CT-SS and PAI-1 levels (r: 0.838, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Anticipating poor clinical outcomes in relation to COVID-19 is crucial. This study showed that PAI-1 levels could independently predict disease severity and mortality rates for patients with COVID-19.

Privacy awareness among healthcare professionals in intensive care unit: A multicenter, cross-sectional study.

This multicenter, cross-sectional study aimed to determine and examine the privacy awareness and patient rights education of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units (ICUs). The primary purpose of this study was to determine the privacy awareness of healthcare professionals working in the ICU. In addition, the secondary aim was to examine the relationship between patient rights education and awareness scores, as well as to question the need for privacy awareness education. The study population consisted of ICU physicians, nurses, and allied health personnel working in university hospitals, training and research hospitals, state hospitals, and private hospitals in Turkey. The data were collected through a questionnaire prepared by the researchers, including a question set about sociodemographics, a question about patient rights education, and the privacy awareness scale (PAS) scores using online Google Forms. In the results of the study conducted among 569 participants, the mean total PAS score was 38.31 ± 2.54. The PAS score was significantly different according to the occupation. The PAS scores of the nurses were higher than physicians and allied health personnel. The PAS scores differed according to whether the participants had received patient rights education. This study found that nurses were the group with the highest PAS scores among healthcare professionals. In addition, the PAS scores of nurses working in private and training and research hospitals were higher than those of other hospital employees. On the other hand, the lowest scores belonged to university hospitals and receiving patient rights education increased the PAS score of the nurses. This study showed that all enrolled healthcare professionals required in-service training to gain privacy awareness.

Utility of the gastro-laryngeal tube during transesophageal echocardiography: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To validate the utility and performance of the gastro-laryngeal tube (GLT) in terms of cardiologist and patient satisfaction levels, incidence of and attempts at successful transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe placement, perioperative and postoperative hemodynamics, and adverse events related to the TEE procedure. METHODS: In this randomized prospective clinical study, forty-four patients undergoing TEE and aged 20 to 80 years old scheduled for TEE were randomly allocated to two study groups: Group SA (sedation and analgesia) and Group GLT. Cardiologist and patient satisfaction levels, TEE probe placement performance, hemodynamics, adverse events related to the TEE procedure, demographic characteristics, and TEE procedure data were recorded. RESULTS: The cardiologist satisfaction level was significantly higher in Group GLT (P = .011). The TEE probe was successfully placed at the first attempt in all the patients in Group GLT and at the first attempt in 11 patients, at the second attempt in 8 patients, and at the third attempt in 3 patients in Group SA. The TEE probe placement success was significantly higher in Group GLT (P < .001), and TEE probe placement was significantly easier in Group GLT (P < .001). There were no significant differences in patient satisfaction, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, adverse events related to the TEE procedure between the groups. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that GLT use elicited a higher cardiologist satisfaction level and resulted in more successful and easier TEE probe placement. We thus conclude that the use of the recently developed GLT may ensure airway management safety and a comfortable TEE experience.

Lifesaving Treatment of Aortic Valve Staphylococcus aureus Endocarditis: Daptomycin and Early Surgical Therapy.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon infection in children. The recommended treatment for native valve endocarditis secondary to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection is antistaphylococcal penicillins such as nafcillin or oxacillin. If the initial therapy fails in IE, it can lead to catastrophic results. Nowadays, daptomycin is the best alternative antimicrobial agent to treat children with severe infections, when standard antimicrobial therapy does not yield a result. Herein, in this article, we described a case of a 16-year-old boy who had aortic valve S. aureus endocarditis with septic embolization and stroke. The patient was successfully treated only with daptomycin as well as surgical therapy in the early phase of the infection.

Usefulness of oxidative stress marker evaluation at admission to the intensive care unit in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Two critical processes in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic involve assessing patients' intensive care needs and predicting disease progression during patients' intensive care unit (ICU) stay. We aimed to evaluate oxidative stress marker status at ICU admission and ICU discharge status in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We included patients in a tertiary referral center ICU during June-December 2020. Scores of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and clinical severity, radiologic scores, and healthy discharge status were noted. We collected peripheral blood samples at ICU admission to evaluate total antioxidants, total oxidants, catalase, and myeloperoxidase levels. RESULTS: Thirty-one (24 male, 7 female) patients were included. At ICU admission, patients' mean APACHE II score at ICU admission was 17.61 ± 8.9; the mean SOFA score was 6.29 ± 3.16. There was no significant relationship between clinical severity and oxidative stress (OS) markers nor between radiological imaging and COVID-19 data classification and OS levels. Differences in OS levels between patients with healthy and exitus discharge status were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant relationship between oxidative stress marker status in patients with COVID-19 at ICU admission and patients' ICU discharge status.

Comparison of LMA® Gastro™ airway and gastrolaryngeal tube in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a prospective randomized observational trial.

BACKGROUND: New generation airway devices with different designs have been developed as an alternative to endotracheal intubation in order to avoid adverse events associated with sedation in endoscopic procedures and to provide patent airway. We aimed to compare two supraglottic airway devices (SGADs), the LMA® Gastro™ airway and gastrolaryngeal tube (GLT), in terms of airway efficiency, performance during procedure and adverse events in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: A hundred-three ERCP patients without high risk of aspiration were included. Patients were randomly allocated to the LMA Gastro and GLT groups. The primary study outcomes were the comparison of the two SGADs in terms of oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP). Secondary study outcome was SGADs-related adverse events. RESULTS: Procedures were completed with SGADs in fifty patients in each group. The rate of successful insertion at first attempt was 72% in GLT and 96% in LMA Gastro (P=0.004). The mean OLP of LMA Gastro Group (31.8 cmH2O) was significantly higher than that of the GLT Group (26.5 cmH2O), (P=0.0001). However, endoscopists' satisfaction was higher in GLT (P=0.0001). Mucosal damage and sore throat were lower in LMA Gastro Group. CONCLUSIONS: LMA® Gastro™ had a higher OLP than GLT. However, GLT was better for endoscopist satisfaction, as it provides more satisfying maneuverability. As to secondary outcome advers events were lower in LMA® Gastro™. The lower complication rates associated with the device and providing a more patent airway also highlighted the apparent clinical efficacy of LMA® Gastro™ than GLT, in ERCP.

Comparative efficacy and life quality effects of surgical stripping, radiofrequency ablation, and cyanoacrylate embolization in patients undergoing treatment for great saphenous vein insufficiency.

OBJECTIVES: To compare traditional surgery with two minimally invasive endo-venous procedures in terms of their long-term effect on the quality of life in great saphenous vein insufficiency (GSV). METHOD: This prospective observational study included 217 patients that underwent surgical stripping (n = 62), radiofrequency ablation (n = 70), or cyanoacrylate embolization (n = 85) for the treatment of GSV insufficiency. Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) assessments were made, 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire and Chronic Venous Insufficiency quality of life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) were administered, before and 1 year after the treatments. RESULTS: Surgical stripping group had significantly higher closure rates than the other groups (p < 0.05). At 12 months, decrease in VCSS scores was less pronounced in the cyanoacrylate embolization group when compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05). Improvement in CIVIQ-14 scores was better in the radiofrequency ablation group when compared to the cyanoacrylate embolization group (p < 0.05). Surgical stripping or radiofrequency ablation groups performed better on several domains of SF-36, when compared to the cyanoacrylate embolization group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical stripping and radiofrequency ablation seem to provide a better quality of life results at one year in patients undergoing treatment for GSV insufficiency.

Demonstration of analgesic effect of intranasal ketamine and intranasal fentanyl for postoperative pain after pediatric tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Tonsillectomy is one of the oldest and most commonly performed surgical procedure in otolaryngology. Postoperative pain management is still an unsolved problem. In this study, our aim is to demonstrate the efficacy of intranasal ketamine and intranasal fentanyl for postoperative pain relief after tonsillectomy in children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This randomized-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effects of intranasal ketamine and intranasal fentanyl in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy performed in 63 children were randomized into three groups. Group I received: Intravenous paracetamol (10 mg/kg), Group II received intranasal ketamine (1.5 mg/kg ketamine), Group III received intranasal fentanyl (1.5 mcg/kg). The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) and Wilson sedation scale scores were recorded at 15, 30, 60 min, 2 h, 6hr, 12 h and 24 h postoperatively. Patients were interviewed on the day after surgery to assess the postoperative pain, nightmares, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting and bleeding. RESULTS: Intranasal ketamine and intranasal fentanyl provided significantly stronger analgesic affects compared to intravenous paracetamol administration at postoperative 15, 30, 60 min and at 2, 6, 12 and 24 h in CHEOPS (p < 0.05). Sedative effects were observed in three patients in the intranasal ketamine administration group. No such sedative effect was seen in the groups that received intranasal fentanyl and intravenous paracetamol in Wilson Sedation Scale (p < 0.05). Cognitive impairment, constipation, nausea, vomiting and bleeding were not observed in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: This study showed that either intranasal ketamine and intranasal fentanyl were more effective than paracetamol for postoperative analgesia after pediatric tonsillectomy. Sedative effects were observed in three patients with the group of intranasal ketamine. There was no significant difference in the efficacy of IN Ketamine and IN Fentanyl for post-tonsillectomy pain.

Effects of combined epidural analgesia with total intravenous anesthesia on risky patients underwent major abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of combined epidural analgesia with total intravenous anaesthesia and only total intravenous anaesthesia on the different clinical parameters. METHODS: Sixty high risk patients undergoing a major abdominal surgical procedure were included in this prospective, double blind, randomized study. Induction of anaesthesia was performed with IV remifentanil 0.5µg/kg and propofol titrated to achieve bispectral index score between 40 and 50. after intubation; in Group E, 0.1% bupivacaine and 2 µg/mL fentanyl were administered by an infusion rate at 0.15 ml/kg/h via the epidural catheter and Group C received epidural normal saline as same infusion rate. RESULTS: In group E, intraoperative MAP values were significantly lower than those in group C (p<0.05). Time of extubation, time of eye opening with audible warning and time of verbal response was significantly lower in group E than those in group C. Total anaesthetic drug consumption was significantly higher in group C than those in group E (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on lower requirements for propofol and remifentanil as well as the favourable effects on clinical parameters; we conclude that bispectral index score guided combined epidural with total intravenous anaesthesia is superior to solely total intravenous anaesthesia in this type of surgery.