Bupivacaine wound infiltration reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirement after thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We conducted a prospective double-blind randomized study assessing bupivacaine end-of-surgery wound infiltration for pain relief in thyroid surgery. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group S, local wound infiltration with saline solution; Group B, bupivacaine 0.5% was administered. Pain perception was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) during post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) stay every 10 min and during the 24 postoperative hours admission at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. The total consumption of analgesics (morphine and nefopam) was recorded. RESULTS: Sixty patients were studied. The VAS scores were significantly lower in the bupivacaine administered group in the post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min, and during the hospital stay at hours 6, 12, 18 and 24. The number of patients who required postoperative opioid rescue was significantly lower in group B. No patient in group B developed neurological or cardiological complications after infiltration. CONCLUSION: Bupivacaine application is effective in decreasing postoperative pain and analgesic requirement during the hospital stay for patients with thyroidectomy.

Prevention of radial artery occlusion with rivaroxaban after trans-radial access coronary procedures: The RIVARAD multicentric randomized trial.

Background: Radial artery occlusion (RAO) remains the most frequent complication of trans-radial access. Once the radial artery is occluded, its future use as an access site for coronary procedures, or as a conduit for coronary bypass grafting or fistula for hemodialysis, will be precluded. Therefore, we aimed to assess the value of the short-term use of Rivaroxaban to prevent RAO after a trans-radial coronary procedure. Methods: This was a prospective, open-label, randomized study. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to one of two groups: those who received Rivaroxaban 10 mg for 7 days following the trans-radial coronary procedure (the Rivaroxaban Group) and those who received the standard treatment (the Control Group). The primary outcome was an occurrence of RAO evaluated by Doppler ultrasound at 30 days, and the secondary outcomes were hemorrhagic complications according to BARC classification. Results: We included 521 patients randomized into two Groups: the Control Group (N = 262) and the Rivaroxaban Group (N = 259). The 1-month RAO was significantly reduced in the Rivaroxaban Group as compared to the Control Group [6.9% vs. 13%; p = 0.011, OR = 0.5, (95% CI, 0.27-0.91)]. We noted no cases of severe bleeding events (BARC3-5). The overall incidence of minor bleeding (BARC1) was 2.3%, with no significant difference between the two groups [Rivaroxaban Group = 2.7%, Control Group = 1.9%, p = 0.54, OR= 1.4, (95%CI 0.44-4.5)]. Conclusions: Short-term postoperative anticoagulation with Rivaroxaban 10 mg for seven days reduces the rate of 1-month RAO.

[Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in patients with preeclampsia: case report]. / Le syndrome d´encéphalopathie postérieure réversible en cas de pré-éclampsie: à propos d´un cas.

Reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare clinico-radiological syndrome. Diagnosis is suspected in pregnant women suffering from eclampsia when brain CT scan shows radiological images suggestive of this disease. We here report the case of a 25-year-old pregnant woman at 33 weeks' gestation with a history of pre-eclampsia presenting with convulsive seizures and high blood pressure following cesarean section. The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit; clinical and radiological investigations revealed PRES syndrome. The clinical course was favorable after control of blood pressure by appropriate treatment and anticonvulsant therapy. Reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome is a neurological manifestation rarely occurring in patients with pre-eclampsia, but it is not exceptional; then diagnosis should be suspected in patients with neurological signs. Brain MRI is the best diagnostic tool.

Intravenous Dexamethasone Reduces Pain in Middle Ear Surgery.

Introduction: Few studies evaluated the treatment of postoperative pain in middle ear surgery. Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in the management of postoperative pain in middle ear surgery. Group G1 received an intravenous injection of 2 ml of physiological saline 30 minutes before the end of the procedure. Group G2 received a 2 ml intravenous solution containing 8 mg of dexamethasone, 30 minutes before the end of the procedure. Pain perception was measured by the Visual analog scale (VAS) every 10 min during the first hour and then every 6 hours during the 24 hours postoperatively. The delay of the first analgesic demand and the consumption of analgesics use during the first 24 hours postoperatively, were recorded. Results: VAS values were lower in G2at all measurement points during the first hour, as well as the first 24h postoperatively (Mann-Whitney test, P<0.05).The delay of the analgesic request was (0 (0-60) for G1 versus 0 (0-80) for G2, P=0.04, Mann-Whitney test). Morphine was used in 44% of the patients in G1 against 19% for G2 (P = 0.031). There was a significant difference between G1 and G2 in terms of the total dose of morphine consumed (P= 0.028, Mann-Whitney test). Paracetamol demand was lower in group 2 at all points of assessment during the first 24 hours postoperatively. Conclusions: Intravenous dexamethasone is effective in decreasing pain and analgesic requirement, during the first 24 hours postoperatively, in patients undergoing middle ear surgery.

[Balloon catheter inflation with alkalinized lidocaine reduces post-operative laryngeal pain: a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial]. / L'inflation du ballonnet de la sonde d'intubation par la lidocaïne alcalinisée réduit les douleurs laryngées post-opératoires: essai clinique prospectif contrôlé randomisé.

Introduction: post-operative laryngeal pain (POLP) is frequent and embarrassing. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of endotracheal tube balloon (ETB) inflation with alkalinized lidocaine in the prevention of the POLP. Methods: we conducted a prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized study including patients undergoing general anesthesia with tracheal intubation (OTI) with an expected duration of less than 240 min. Patients were divided into two equivalent groups: lidocaine (GL) group: patients with ETB inflated with alkaline lidocaine and the control group (GT): patients whose ETB was inflated with normal saline solution. The primary endpoint was the incidence of POLP in the first 24 hours after surgery and the secondary endpoint was the incidence of cough, dysphonia and postoperative vomiting, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the first 24 hours after surgery. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software version 25. The difference was considered significant when p< 0.05. Results: the study included 60 patients randomized into 2 groups of 30 patients each. Both groups were comparable with regard to their demographic and anesthetic criteria. ETB inflation with alkalinized lidocaine reduced the incidence of POLP, cough, dysphonia and PONV. No cases of balloon rupture or lidocaine toxicity were reported. Conclusion: ETB inflation with alkaline lidocaine prevents POLP.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: diagnosis and surgical management.

Fibrodysplasia (or Myositis) Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disease with variable expression, characterized by the association of congenital anomalies of the toes and fingers and progressive appearance of ectopic bone within the skeletal muscles, often following a trauma or an infection. FOP initially affects the nape and thoracic paravertebral muscles. With age, there is a progression of ossifications to other muscular groups following a proximodistal and cranio-caudal extension. Patients develop a restrictive respiratory insufficiency with atelectasis. The diagnosis of FOP is clinical and does not require biopsy. Circumscribed post-traumatic ossifying myositis is the most important differential diagnosis. It is characterized by the appearance of painful ossifications, in young adults, following a trauma and is limited to one localisation. The conservative treatment of FOP remains unsatisfactory. Surgical removal of osteomas to restore joint mobility leads to the development of additional heterotopic ossifications. Each surgical attempt brings about a quasi-inevitable recurrence. Anaesthesia of patients with FOP is difficult because of spinal rigidity and ankylosis of the jaw. Surgery is indicated only with a focused indication to correct an invalidating deformity.

A report on the first outbreak of emm89 group A streptococcus invasive infections in a burns unit in Tunisia.

Four group A streptococcus (GAS) bacteraemia occurred in a small burn unit within 2 weeks. The GAS patient isolates, characterized as emm89, shared the same PFGE pulsotype with two other strains isolated 2 months later. The outbreak investigation revealed that a nurse was the most likely source of GAS transmission, as she was confirmed to carry the same outbreak strain in her throat and had direct and regular contact with the six outbreak patients in the unit. The outbreak was controlled after the nurse had undergone eradication treatment. This report highlights the emergence of the emm89 clone and its capacity to elicit invasive GAS outbreaks.

[Acute renal failure after cardiac surgery: evaluation of the RIFLE criteria]. / L'insuffisance rénale aiguë après chirurgie cardiaque : évaluation des critères RIFLE.

INTRODUCTION: Acute renal failure is a common complication is a common complication in cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical entity encompassing the entire spectrum of acute renal failure, since minor alterations to the need for renal replacement therapy. The RIFLE criteria have been proposed for defining and classifying AKI. The aim of our study was to apply the RIFLE to a population of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and to assess its relevance in terms of risk factor for hospital mortality compared to other risk factors. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, we included patients who were operated for programmed cardiac surgery. The assay of blood creatinine was performed at admission, after surgery and daily for 5 days post-surgery. The AKI was evaluated according to the criteria of classification RIFLE. The patients were divided into three levels of severity based on plasmatic creatinine (R: Risk=creatinine×1.5; I: Injury=creatinine×2; F: Failure=creatinine×3). We have analyzed the different perioperative parameters and we sought associations with the occurrence of AKI. We also studied the impact of AKI on length of stay in ICU and mortality early and late. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six patients were included. AKI was diagnosed in 17.6% of patients (RIFLE-R: 8.8%, RIFLE-I: 5.9% and RIFLE-F: 2.9%). AKI significantly prolongs the duration of ICU stay (7±3.8 versus 5±2.3 days; P=0.02). RIFLE-R patients had a mortality of 8.3%, compared to 12.5% for I and 50% for F. Patients without PORD had a mortality of 1.8%. In univariate analysis, age, the EURO score, preoperative renal dysfunction, duration of aortic clamping, duration of CPB and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly associated with the occurrence of AKI. In multivariate analysis only preoperative renal dysfunction (clearance less than 63 mL/min) and CRP greater than 158 mg/L were found as independent factors of occurrence of AKI. CONCLUSION: RIFLE classification seems to be a reliable way to detect acute renal failure and to classify its severity. The AKI is a common complication and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Identifying the risk factors allows a better prevention strategy.