The Reliability of Carotid Artery Doppler Ultrasonography Indices in Predicting Fluid Responsiveness during Surgery for Geriatric Patients: A Prospective, Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The reliability of determining fluid responsiveness during surgery in geriatric patients is challenging. Our primary outcome was to determine the reliability of Corrected Flow Time (FTc) in predicting fluid responsiveness. METHODS: Elderly patients undergoing major surgery under general anesthesia were included. Measurements of common carotid artery diameter, velocity time integral, and systolic flow time (FT) were performed before and after a fluid challenge. FTc and carotid blood flow (CBF) were subsequently calculated. RESULTS: The median change in carotid diameter was significantly higher in the fluid-responder (R) compared to the non-responder (NR) (6.51% vs. 0.65%, p = 0.049). The median change in CBF was notably higher in R compared to NR (30.04% vs. 9.72%, p = 0.024). Prior to the fluid challenge, systolic FT was significantly shorter in R than NR (285 ms vs. 315 ms, p = 0.027), but after the fluid challenge, these measurements became comparable among the groups. The change in systolic FT was higher in R (15.38% vs. 7.49%, p = 0.027). FTc and the change in FTc exhibited similarities among the groups at all study time points. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.682 (95% CI: 0.509-0.855, p = 0.039) for carotid diameter, 0.710 (95% CI: 0.547-0.872, p = 0.011) for CBF, 0.706 (95% CI: 0.540-0.872, p = 0.015) for systolic FT, and 0.580 (95% CI = 0.389-0.770, p = 0.413) for FTc. CONCLUSIONS: In geriatric patients, potential endothelial changes in the carotid artery may influence the dynamic markers of fluid responsiveness. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of FTc in predicting fluid responsiveness in the general population, this study underscores the limited reliability of carotid Doppler ultrasonography indices for prediction in a geriatric patient population.

Comparison of Bretschneider HTK and Blood Cardioplegia (4:1): A Prospective Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: We compared the effect of intermittent blood and histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution of Bretschneider on myocardial histopathology and perioperative outcome. METHODS: Forty adult cardiac surgery patients were grouped into two (n = 20 for each): (1) Intermittent blood cardioplegia (IBC): had repeated cold 4:1 blood cardioplegia and (2) HTK: had a single dose of cold HTK for cardioprotection. Creatine kinase (CK)-MB, Troponin-I (cTn-I), pH, and lactate were studied in coronary sinus blood before and after aortic cross-clamping (AXC) and systemic blood at postoperative 6th, 24th, and 48th hours. Myocardial biopsy was performed before and after AXC for light microscopy. Vacuolation, inflammation, edema, and glycogen were graded semiquantitatively (from 0 to 3). The myocardial apoptotic index was evaluated via the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling. RESULTS: There were no differences in perioperative clinical outcomes between the groups. The coronary sinus samples after AXC were more acidotic (7.15 ± 0.14 vs. 7.32 ± 0.07, p = 0.001) and revealed higher CK-MB (21.0 ± 12.81 vs. 12.60 ± 11.80, p = 0.008) in HTK compared with IBC. The HTK had significantly a higher amount of erythrocyte suspension intraoperatively compared with IBC (0.21 ± 0.53 vs. 1.68 ± 0.93 U, p = 0.001). Microscopically, myocardial edema was more pronounced in HTK compared with IBC after AXC (2.25 ± 0.91 vs. 1.50 ± 0.04, p = 0.013). While a significant increase in the apoptotic index was seen after AXC in both groups (p = 0.001), no difference was detected between the groups (p = 0.417). CONCLUSION: IBC and HTK have a similar clinical outcome and protective effect, except for more pronounced myocardial edema and increased need for intraoperative transfusion with HTK.

Transatrial balloon atrial septostomy to facilitate weaning off venoarterial ECMO after pulmonary endarterectomy.

Atrial septostomy has been the last resort in the management of patients with the right ventricular failure related to pulmonary hypertension before lung transplantation. In this paper, we present a simple and safe technique (transatrial approach) for balloon atrial septostomy in a patient who required central venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after pulmonary endarterectomy.

Evaluation of acute kidney injury with oxidative stress biomarkers and Renal Resistive Index after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) related oxidative stress mediated glycocalyx degradation can cause an increase in renal resistive index (RRI) or postoperative AKI. Additionally, to evaluate whether RRI and early postoperative serum cystatin C levels could improve the prediction sensitivity of acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: Forty-two patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included in this prospective observational study. RRI was measured pre-operatively and in the cardiac intensive care unit. Blood samples were collected for analyzing of cellular injury biomarkers at preoperative and postoperative second hours. We determined areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and odds ratios for postoperative biomarkers and RRI to predict AKI. RESULTS: While postoperative cystatin C level (AUC: 0.902, 95% CI = 0.79-1.00, p < .001) and RRI (AUC: 0.748, 95% CI = 0.56-0.93, p = .023) have diagnostic and predictive value in the prediction of AKI, we could not identify any relation between products of oxidative stress and the glycocalyx degradation and AKI. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that CPB leads to structural and oxidative changes at the protein level and the integrity of glycocalyx is disturbing, but these changes are not specific to kidney injury. Our data suggest that serum cystatin C level and RRI could be used as an early biomarker for postoperative AKI after cardiac surgery.

The value of internal jugular vein collapsibility index in sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Rapid, accurate, and reproducible assessment of intravascular volume status is crucial in order to predict the efficacy of volume expansion in septic patients. The aim of this study was to verify the feasibility and usefulness of the internal jugular vein collapsibility index (IJV-CI) as an adjunct to the inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI) to predict fluid responsiveness in spontaneously-breathing patients with sepsis. METHODS: Three stages of sonographic scanning were performed. Hemodynamic data were collected using the Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor 1A system (Uscom, Ltd., Sydney, NSW, Australia) coupled with paired assessments of IVC-CI and IJV-CI at baseline, after passive leg raise (PLR), and again in semi-recumbent position. Fluid responsiveness was assessed according to changes in the cardiac index (CI) induced by PLR. Patients were retrospectively divided into 2 groups: fluid responder if an increase in CI (ΔCI) ≥15% was obtained after PLR maneuver, and non-responder if ΔCI was <15%. RESULTS: Total of 132 paired scans of IJV and IVC were completed in 44 patients who presented with sepsis and who were not receiving mechanical ventilation (mean age: 54.6±16.1 years). Of these, 23 (52.2%) were considered to be responders. Responders had higher IJV-CI and IVC-CI before PLR maneuver than non-responders (p<0.001). IJV-CI of more than 36% before PLR maneuver had 78% sensitivity and 85% specificity to predict responder. Furthermore, less time was needed to measure venous diameters for IJV-CI (30 seconds) compared with IVC-CI (77.5 seconds; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: IJV-CI is a precise, easily acquired, non-invasive parameter of fluid responsiveness in patients with sepsis who are not mechanically ventilated, and it appears to be a reasonable adjunct to IVC-CI.

Renal Resistive Index Measurement by Transesophageal Echocardiography: Comparison With Translumbar Ultrasonography and Relation to Acute Kidney Injury.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between transesophageal ultrasonography-derived renal resistive index values (RRITEE) and a standard translumbar renal ultrasound-derived RRI (RRITLUSG). The effectiveness of each method to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery also was compared. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: A teaching university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients undergoing cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: First, RRI was measured with both methods after anesthesia induction. Second, another measurement was performed with TEE after cardiopulmonary bypass and immediately following the surgery with translumbar ultrasound. To test the correlation between the 2 methods and to plot a Bland-Altman graph, preoperative RRI values measured by both techniques were used. Receiver operating characteristic curves also were plotted to compare the diagnostic values of RRI measured intraoperatively by TEE after cardiopulmonary bypass and by RRITLUSG after surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was a statistically significant correlation between the 2 RRI measurement approaches (r = 0.86, p<0.0001). The Bland-Altman plot indicated good agreement between the methods. The area under the curve (AUC) of RRITEE in predicting AKI was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64-0.9, p = 0.001), and the AUC of RRITLUSG after surgery was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.7-0.98, p<0.0001). In predicting AKI, an uncertainty zone for RRITEE values between 0.68 and 0.71 was computed by the gray-zone approach. CONCLUSIONS: RRITEE showed clinically acceptable agreement with RRITLUSG. Indeed, RRI measured intraoperatively with TEE was comparable to RRITLUSG in terms of detecting postoperative AKI.

Effect of the amount of intraoperative fluid administration on postoperative pulmonary complications following anatomic lung resections.

OBJECTIVE: Excessive fluid administration during lung resections is a risk for pulmonary injury. We analyzed the effect of intraoperative fluids on postoperative pulmonary complications (PCs). METHODS: Patients who underwent anatomic pulmonary resections during 2012 to 2013 were included. Age, weight, pulmonary function data, smoking (pack-years), the infusion rate and the total amount of intraoperative fluids (including crystalloid, colloid, and blood products), duration of anesthesia, hospital stay, PCs, and mortality were recorded. PCs were defined as acute respiratory distress syndrome, need for intubation, bronchoscopy, atelectasis, pneumonia, prolonged air leak, and failure to expand. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were performed. A Lowess curve was drawn for intraoperative fluid threshold. RESULTS: In 139 patients, types of resections were segmentectomy-lobectomy (n = 69; extended n = 37; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery n = 19) and pneumonectomy (n = 9; extended n = 5). One hundred sixty-one PCs were observed in 76 patients (acute respiratory distress syndrome [n = 5], need for intubation [n = 9], atelectasis [n = 60], need for bronchoscopy [n = 19], pneumonia [n = 26], prolonged air leak [n = 19], and failure to expand [n = 23]). Overall mortality was 4.3% (6 out of 139 patients). Mean hospital stay was 8.5 ± 4.8 days. Univariate analyses showed that smoking, intraoperative total amount of fluids, crystalloids, blood products, and infusion rate as well as total amount of crystalloids and infusion rate during the postoperative first 48 hours were significant for PCs (P = .033, P < .0001, P = .001, P = .03, P < .0001, P = .002, and P < .0001, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis intraoperative infusion rate (P < .0001) and smoking were significant (P = .023). An infusion rate of 6 mL/kg/h was found to be the threshold. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of postoperative PCs is seen more frequently if the intraoperative infusion rate of fluids exceeds 6 mL/kg/h.

Direct transapical implantation of an endocardial pacing lead to the left ventricle: an alternate pacing site after tricuspid valve replacement.

In this paper, we report an alternative approach for implantation of ventricular pacing lead for complete atrioventricular block after tricuspid valve replacement.

Magnesium sulfate reduces postoperative morphine requirement after remifentanil-based anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the effect of magnesium sulfate on postoperative pain and analgesic consumption after remifentanil-based anesthesia. MATERIAL/METHODS: Forty women 18 to 65 years old were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical study. The study solutions were randomly preoperatively prepared for groups M (magnesium) and R (normal saline). A bolus of 0.2 ml/kg of study solution (30 mg/kg magnesium or saline) was given before induction of anesthesia and infusion was started at a rate of 3.3 ml/h (500 mg/h magnesium or saline). A 1 microg/kg loading dose of remifentanil following infusion was started at a rate of 0.25 micro g/kg/min, subsequently increasing stepwise by 0.05 micro g/kg/min increments if insufficient anesthesia was suspected. All postoperative outcome data were collected by an anesthesiologist who was blinded to the anesthetic regimen. Pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded for 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Hemodynamic and respiratory variables such as diastolic and systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were similar in both groups. The mean intraoperative remifentanil consumption in groups M and R was similar. The VAS score was significantly lower in the magnesium group at 15 and 30 minutes postoperatively. Total morphine consumption was significantly lower in the magnesium group than in the remifentanil-alone group. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that magnesium sulfate decreased the postoperative morphine requirement when remifentanil was used for intraoperative analgesia.

The analgesic efficacy of preoperative versus postoperative lornoxicam in varicocele repair.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intravenous injection of lornoxicam 30 minutes before skin incision provides better pain relief after varicocelectomy than postoperative administration of lornoxicam. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical investigation. SETTING: Operating room and postoperative recovery area. PATIENTS: 44 ASA physical status I and II adult male patients undergoing varicocelectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized either to receive 8 mg lornoxicam infusion 30 minutes before skin incision, followed by saline infusion immediately after skin closure (group 1), or to receive the identical injections but in reverse order (group 2). All patients received local anesthesia with bupivacaine. MEASUREMENTS: Postoperative pain scores were evaluated hourly for the first 8 hours after surgery, then at 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours after surgery, using a 10-cm visual analog scale. Time to first analgesic request and patients' global assessments also were recorded. MAIN RESULTS: Patients in group 1 reported significantly lower pain scores (P < 0.05) at all time intervals except at 24 hours and better global assessment (P = 0.001) than did group 2. There were significantly fewer patients in the preemptive group than group 2 who required rescue analgesic within the first 24 hours (0% vs 22.7%; P = 0.024). Mean time to first analgesic request was also significantly longer in the preemptive group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intravenous lornoxicam administered before surgery has a better analgesic effect for varicocelectomy than when administered postoperatively.

[Beneficial effects of single dose multimodal epidural analgesia on relief of postoperative microdiscectomy pain]. / Multimodal epidural analjezinin lomber diskektomi sonrasi agrida etkinligi.

We aimed to assess the efficacy of multimodal epidural analgesia in decreasing postoperative pain after microdiscectomy. Fourty patients, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing microsurgical lumbar discectomy were enrolled in this prospective, randomised, controlled, double-blinded study. 10 ml study solution consisting of 2 mg of morphine, 15 mg of bupivacaine, 80 mg of methylprednisolone, and 0.05 mg of adrenaline was prepared for epidural administration. At the end of the procedure but prior to wound closure, the surgeon inserted an 18-gauge epidural catheter into the epidural space. After closure of incision, patients were assigned to receive either study solution (Group E) or saline (Group C). The epidural catheter was then removed. Patient controlled analgesia with morphine was used for postoperative analgesia. Visual Anologue Scale (VAS) pain scores and morphine consumptions were lower in Group E. Time to first ambulation was shorter in Group E. Patients in Group E were more satisfied with their analgesic regimen. Single dose multimodal epidural analgesia administered after wound closure provided better postoperative analgesia after lumbar microdiscectomy.

Effect of the frequency of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on analgesia during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

In this prospective, randomised, sham controlled study, we set out to determine which transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy modality (conventional vs acupuncture-like) is more effective as a supplementary analgesic regimen during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Patients were prospectively randomised to one of three groups. In Group I (n=22), conventional TENS (impulse pattern: continuous at 80 Hz; intensity: 10-30 mA) was applied. In Group II (n=22) acupuncture-like TENS (impulse pattern: burst at 2 Hz; intensity: 15-50 mA) was applied. In Group III (n=22) (control group), stimulation was started at 1 mA and the intensity increased to no more than 10 mA until it produced a tickling sensation. Alfentanil was administered through a patient controlled analgesic device. Alfentanil consumption, hemodynamics and respiratory parameters, a 10-cm visual analogue pain scale, patient satisfaction, recovery and discharge times were evaluated. The consumption of alfentanil was significantly lower in Group I than in Groups II and III (P<0.0001). Pain scores were lower in Group I than in the other two groups (P<0.05). Patients in Group I were more satisfied with their analgesic medication than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). Both the time to an Aldrete score >8 and a modified post-anaesthetic discharge score >8 were significantly shorter in Group I (2.3+/-1.8, 49.1+/-14.6) than those of Groups II (4.6+/-2.2, 60.2+/-18.1) and III (4.9+/-2.8, 58.4+/-16.5) (P<0.0001 and P<0.05, respectively). We conclude that the use of conventional TENS is effective in decreasing the analgesic requirements and the incidence of alfentanil-related side effects during ESWL.

Oral ketamine premedication can prevent emergence agitation in children after desflurane anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether oral ketamine premedication affected the incidence of emergence agitation in children. METHODS: Thirty minutes before induction of anaesthesia, 80 children who were undergoing adenotonsillectomy with or without bilateral myringotomy and insertion of tubes received either ketamine 6 mg.kg(-1) per oral in group K or sour cherry juice alone in group C. Anaesthesia was maintained with desflurane. Emergence and recovery times were recorded. Tramadol was used for postoperative analgesia. Fentanyl (1 microg.kg(-1)) was administered for the treatment of emergence agitation or severe pain that still continued after tramadol administration. Postoperative behaviour was evaluated using a 5-point agitation scale. RESULTS: The incidence of emergence agitation was 56% in group C, and 18% in group K (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference with respect to emergence times except from time to eye opening that was significantly longer in group K (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Oral ketamine premedication reduced the incidence of postanaesthesia emergence agitation in children without delaying recovery.

Intraoperative intravenous ketamine in combination with epidural analgesia: postoperative analgesia after renal surgery.

UNLABELLED: We designed this double-blinded, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the effect of small-dose ketamine IV in combination with epidural morphine and bupivacaine on postoperative pain after renal surgery. An epidural catheter was inserted, and the administration of morphine and bupivacaine was started before surgery. Forty patients were assigned to one of two groups (ketamine or control). The ketamine group was administered a ketamine bolus and infusion during surgery. The median visual analog pain scale (VAS) scores at rest were significantly lower in the ketamine group during the first 6 h (P < 0.01). VAS pain scores on coughing were also significantly lower in the ketamine group (P < 0.01). Cumulative postoperative total analgesic consumption was less in the ketamine group on Days 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). The first analgesic demand time was shorter in the control group (9.2 +/- 11.5 min) than in the ketamine group (22.3 +/- 17.1 min) (P < 0.0001). The incidence of nausea and pruritus was more frequent in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, postoperative analgesia was more effective when spinal cord and brain sensitization were blocked by a combination of epidural morphine/bupivacaine and IV ketamine. IMPLICATIONS: Renal nociception conducted multisegmentally by both the spinal nerves (T10 to L1) and the vagus nerve cannot be blocked by epidural analgesia alone. We demonstrated that IV ketamine had an improved analgesic or opioid-sparing effect when it was combined with epidural bupivacaine and morphine after renal surgery.