Comparative analysis of APACHE-II and P-POSSUM scoring systems in predicting postoperative mortality in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparotomy remains one of the commonest emergency surgical procedures. Early prognostic evaluation would aid in selecting the high-risk patients for an aggressive treatment. Awareness about risks could potentially contribute to the quality of perioperative care and optimum utilization of resources. Portsmouth modification of Physiological and operative severity for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM) and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE-II) have been the most widely used scoring systems for emergency laparotomies. It is always better to have a single scoring system to predict outcomes and audit healthcare organizations. AIM: To compare the ability of APACHE-II and P-POSSUM to predict postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. METHODS: All patients undergoing emergency laparotomy at the Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur between December 2013 and November 2014 were included in the study. In this observational study, P-POSSUM and APACHE-II scoring were done, and the outcome analysis evaluated with mortality being the primary outcome. RESULTS: For P-POSSUM, at a cut off value of 63 to predict mortality using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, the area under the curve was 0.989; and for APACHE-II, at the cut off value of 24, the area under the curve was 0.965. CONCLUSION: Because the ability of APACHE-II to predict mortality was similar to P-POSSUM and APACHE-II does not need scoring for intra-operative findings and histopathology reports, APACHE-II can be used pre-operatively to assess the risk in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. However, for audit purposes, either of the two scoring systems can be used.

Perioperative stroke following transurethral resection of prostate: high index of suspicion and stabilization of physiological parameters can save lives / Acidente vascular cerebral no perioperatório após ressecção transuretral de próstata: alto índice de suspeita e estabilização de parâmetros fisiológicos podem salvar vidas

Abstract We report a case of a 72 year old hypertensive male who developed severe hypertension followed by neurological deterioration in the immediate postoperative period after transurethral resection of prostate. While arterial blood gas and laboratory tests excluded transurethral resection of prostate syndrome or any other metabolic cause, reduction of blood pressure failed to ameliorate the symptoms. A cranial CT done 4 hours after the onset of neurological symptoms revealed bilateral gangliocapsular and right thalamic infarcts. Oral aspirin was advised to prevent early recurrent stroke. Supportive treatment and mechanical ventilation ensured physiological stability and the patient recovered completely over the next few days without any residual neurological deficit.

Resumo Relatamos o caso de um paciente hipertenso, 72 anos, que desenvolveu hipertensão grave seguida de deterioração neurológica no pós-operatório imediato após ressecção transuretral de próstata. Embora os testes laboratoriais e a gasometria tenham excluído a síndrome de ressecção transuretral de próstata ou qualquer outra causa metabólica, a diminuição da pressão sanguínea não conseguiu melhorar os sintomas. Uma tomografia computadorizada craniana, realizada 4 horas após o aparecimento de sintomas neurológicos, revelou infartos gangliocapsular bilateral e talâmico à direita. AAS oral foi aconselhado para prevenir um acidente vascular cerebral recorrente precoce. O tratamento de apoio e a ventilação mecânica garantiram a estabilidade fisiológica e o paciente obteve recuperação completa durante os próximos dias, sem qualquer déficit neurológico residual.

[Perioperative stroke following transurethral resection of prostate: high index of suspicion and stabilization of physiological parameters can save lives]. / Acidente vascular cerebral no perioperatório após ressecção transuretral de próstata: alto índice de suspeita e estabilização de parâmetros fisiológicos podem salvar vidas.

We report a case of a 72 year old hypertensive male who developed severe hypertension followed by neurological deterioration in the immediate postoperative period after transurethral resection of prostate. While arterial blood gas and laboratory tests excluded transurethral resection of prostate syndrome or any other metabolic cause, reduction of blood pressure failed to ameliorate the symptoms. A cranial CT done 4hours after the onset of neurological symptoms revealed bilateral gangliocapsular and right thalamic infarcts. Oral aspirin was advised to prevent early recurrent stroke. Supportive treatment and mechanical ventilation ensured physiological stability and the patient recovered completely over the next few days without any residual neurological deficit.

Adjuvants to local anesthetics: Current understanding and future trends.

Although beneficial in acute and chronic pain management, the use of local anaesthetics is limited by its duration of action and the dose dependent adverse effects on the cardiac and central nervous system. Adjuvants or additives are often used with local anaesthetics for its synergistic effect by prolonging the duration of sensory-motor block and limiting the cumulative dose requirement of local anaesthetics. The armamentarium of local anesthetic adjuvants have evolved over time from classical opioids to a wide array of drugs spanning several groups and varying mechanisms of action. A large array of opioids ranging from morphine, fentanyl and sufentanyl to hydromorphone, buprenorphine and tramadol has been used with varying success. However, their use has been limited by their adverse effect like respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting and pruritus, especially with its neuraxial use. Epinephrine potentiates the local anesthetics by its antinociceptive properties mediated by alpha-2 adrenoreceptor activation along with its vasoconstrictive properties limiting the systemic absorption of local anesthetics. Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor antagonists like clonidine and dexmedetomidine are one of the most widely used class of local anesthetic adjuvants. Other drugs like steroids (dexamethasone), anti-inflammatory agents (parecoxib and lornoxicam), midazolam, ketamine, magnesium sulfate and neostigmine have also been used with mixed success. The concern regarding the safety profile of these adjuvants is due to its potential neurotoxicity and neurological complications which necessitate further research in this direction. Current research is directed towards a search for agents and techniques which would prolong local anaesthetic action without its deleterious effects. This includes novel approaches like use of charged molecules to produce local anaesthetic action (tonicaine and n butyl tetracaine), new age delivery mechanisms for prolonged bioavailability (liposomal, microspheres and cyclodextrin systems) and further studies with other drugs (adenosine, neuromuscular blockers, dextrans).

Perianesthetic refractory anaphylactic shock with cefuroxime in a patient with history of penicillin allergy on multiple antihypertensive medications / Choque anafilático refratário perianestésico com cefuroxima em paciente com história de alergia à penicilina recebendo vários medicamentos anti-hipertensivos

Abstract We report a case of perianesthetic refractory anaphylactic shock with cefuroxime in a patient with history of penicillin allergy on regular therapy with atenolol, losartan, prazosin and nicardipine. Severe anaphylactic shock was only transiently responsive to 10 mL of (1:10,000) epinephrine and needed norepinephrine and dopamine infusion. Supportive therapy with vasopressors and inotropes along with mechanical ventilation for the next 24 hours resulted in complete recovery. She was successfully operated upon 2 weeks later with the same anesthetic drugs but intravenous ciprofloxacin as the alternative antibiotic for perioperative prophylaxis.

Resumo Relatamos um caso de choque anafilático refratário no período perianestésico com cefuroxima em paciente com história de alergia à penicilina em terapia regular com atenolol, losartan, prazosina e nicardipine. O choque anafilático grave foi apenas transitoriamente responsivo a 10 mL de epinefrina (1:10000) e precisou de infusão de norepinefrina e dopamina. A terapia de apoio com vasopressores e inotrópicos, juntamente com ventilação mecânica por 24 horas, resultou em recuperação completa. A paciente foi operada com sucesso duas semanas mais tarde, com os mesmos agentes anestésicos, mas com ciprofloxacina intravenosa como antibiótico opcional para a profilaxia perioperatória.

Biochemical changes in the injured brain.

Brain metabolism is an energy intensive phenomenon involving a wide spectrum of chemical intermediaries. Various injury states have a detrimental effect on the biochemical processes involved in the homeostatic and electrophysiological properties of the brain. The biochemical markers of brain injury are a recent addition in the armamentarium of neuro-clinicians and are being increasingly used in the routine management of neuro-pathological entities such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage and intracranial space occupying lesions. These markers are increasingly being used in assessing severity as well as in predicting the prognostic course of neuro-pathological lesions. S-100 protein, neuron specific enolase, creatinine phosphokinase isoenzyme BB and myelin basic protein are some of the biochemical markers which have been proven to have prognostic and clinical value in the brain injury. While S-100, glial fibrillary acidic protein and ubiquitin C terminal hydrolase are early biomarkers of neuronal injury and have the potential to aid in clinical decision-making in the initial management of patients presenting with an acute neuronal crisis, the other biomarkers are of value in predicting long-term complications and prognosis in such patients. In recent times cerebral microdialysis has established itself as a novel way of monitoring brain tissue biochemical metabolites such as glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glutamate and glycerol while small non-coding RNAs have presented themselves as potential markers of brain injury for future.

Perianesthetic refractory anaphylactic shock with cefuroxime in a patient with history of penicillin allergy on multiple antihypertensive medications.

We report a case of perianesthetic refractory anaphylactic shock with cefuroxime in a patient with history of penicillin allergy on regular therapy with atenolol, losartan, prazosin and nicardipine. Severe anaphylactic shock was only transiently responsive to 10mL of (1:10,000) epinephrine and needed norepinephrine and dopamine infusion. Supportive therapy with vasopressors and inotropes along with mechanical ventilation for the next 24hours resulted in complete recovery. She was successfully operated upon 2 weeks later with the same anesthetic drugs but intravenous ciprofloxacin as the alternative antibiotic for perioperative prophylaxis.

[Perianesthetic refractory anaphylactic shock with cefuroxime in a patient with history of penicillin allergy on multiple antihypertensive medications]. / Choque anafilático refratário perianestésico com cefuroxima em paciente com história de alergia à penicilina recebendo vários medicamentos anti­hipertensivos.

We report a case of perianesthetic refractory anaphylactic shock with cefuroxime in a patient with history of penicillin allergy on regular therapy with atenolol, losartan, prazosin and nicardipine. Severe anaphylactic shock was only transiently responsive to 10mL of (1:10000) epinephrine and needed norepinephrine and dopamine infusion. Supportive therapy with vasopressors and inotropes along with mechanical ventilation for the next 24hours resulted in complete recovery. She was successfully operated upon 2 weeks later with the same anesthetic drugs but intravenous ciprofloxacin as the alternative antibiotic for perioperative prophylaxis.

Inappropriate fixation of an endotracheal tube causing cuff malfunction resulting in difficult extubation / Fixação inadequada de tubo endotraqueal, resultando em mau funcionamento do manguito e extubação difícil

Abstract We discuss a case of difficult extubation, due to inadequate deflation of the tracheal tube cuff, despite collapse of the pilot balloon, on its aspiration. This was caused by inadvertent kinking of the pilot balloon tubing due to inappropriate tape fixation of the endotracheal tube.

Resumo Relatamos o caso de extubação difícil devido à desinsuflação inadequada do cuff do tubo traqueal, a despeito do colapso do balão piloto, em sua aspiração. Isso foi causado pela torção inadvertida do tubo com balão piloto devido à fixação inadequado do tubo endotraqueal com fita adesiva.

Inappropriate fixation of an endotracheal tube causing cuff malfunction resulting in difficult extubation.

We discuss a case of difficult extubation, due to inadequate deflation of the tracheal tube cuff, despite collapse of the pilot balloon, on its aspiration. This was caused by inadvertent kinking of the pilot balloon tubing due to inappropriate tape fixation of the endotracheal tube.

Sepsis associated delirium mimicking postoperative delirium as the initial presenting symptom of urosepsis in a patient who underwent nephrolithotomy.

We report a case of 70 years old male who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal calculi. After an uneventful recovery from anaesthesia, the patient developed delirium which manifested as restlessness, agitation, irritability and combative behavior. All other clinical parameters including arterial blood gas, chest X-ray and core temperature were normal and the patient remained haemodynamically stable. But 45 min later the patient developed florid manifestations of septic shock. He was aggressively managed in a protocolized manner as per the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines in the Critical Care Unit and recovered completely. There are no case reports showing postoperative delirium as the only initial presentation of severe sepsis, with other clinical parameters remaining normal. Both urosepsis and sepsis associated delirium have very high mortality. High index of suspicion and a protocolized approach in the management of sepsis can save lives.

Intensive Care in India: The Indian Intensive Care Case Mix and Practice Patterns Study.

AIMS: To obtain information on organizational aspects, case mix and practices in Indian Intensive Care Units (ICUs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational, 4-day point prevalence study was performed between 2010 and 2011 in 4209 patients from 124 ICUs. ICU and patient characteristics, and interventions were recorded for 24 h of the study day, and outcomes till 30 days after the study day. Data were analyzed for 4038 adult patients from 120 ICUs. RESULTS: On the study day, mean age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were 54.1 ± 17.1 years, 17.4 ± 9.2 and 3.8 ± 3.6, respectively. About 46.4% patients had ≥1 organ failure. Nearly, 37% and 22.2% patients received mechanical ventilation (MV) and vasopressors or inotropes, respectively. Nearly, 12.2% patients developed an infection in the ICU. About 28.3% patients had severe sepsis or septic shock (SvSpSS) during their ICU stay. About 60.7% patients without infection received antibiotics. There were 546 deaths and 183 terminal discharges (TDs) from ICU (including left against medical advice or discharged on request), with ICU mortality 729/4038 (18.1%). In 1627 patients admitted within 24 h of the study day, the standardized mortality ratio was 0.67. The APACHE II and SOFA scores, public hospital ICUs, medical ICUs, inadequately equipped ICUs, medical admission, self-paying patient, presence of SvSpSS, acute respiratory failure or cancer, need for a fluid bolus, and MV were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of TDs and the association of public hospitals, self-paying patients, and inadequately equipped hospitals with mortality has important implications for critical care in India.

Inadvertent migration of guidewire into Murphy's eye of endotracheal tube during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is a commonly performed bedside procedure in the Intensive Care Unit. Although serious and fatal complications have been reported, the procedure is by and large safe to perform in experienced hands. We report here an innocuous problem encountered twice. After the guidewire insertion and dilatation, subsequent railroading became difficult owing to migration of guidewire into the Murphy's eye of the endotracheal tube (ETT). Awareness about this possibility can avert inadvertent delays and complications during the procedure. A tug or gentle pulling of ETT after insertion of the guidewire rules out an impaction in the eye or other part of the ETT.

Cardiac arrest following acute puerperal uterine inversion.

Although uterine inversion is a potentially life-threatening complication of childbirth, there are only six case reports of cardiac arrest due to acute inversion to date. We report a successful outcome in a patient with sickle cell disease who had a witnessed cardiac arrest due to acute puerperal uterine inversion. Revival from cardiac arrest and resuscitation was followed by manual repositioning of the uterus. She gradually recovered from the acute kidney injury that developed as sequelae of the cardiac arrest and subsequent circulatory shock. Awareness of this rare complication and timely intervention is the key to a successful outcome in these patients.

Vasopressors in obstetric anesthesia: A current perspective.

Vasopressors are routinely used to counteract hypotension after neuraxial anesthesia in Obstetrics. The understanding of the mechanism of hypotension and the choice of vasopressor has evolved over the years to a point where phenylephrine has become the preferred vasopressor. Due to the absence of definitive evidence showing absolute clinical benefit of one over the other, especially in emergency and high-risk Cesarean sections, our choice of phenylephrine over the other vasopressors like mephentermine, metaraminol, and ephedrine is guided by indirect evidence on fetal acid-base status. This review article evaluates the present day evidence on the various vasopressors used in obstetric anesthesia today.

Convulsões tardias após herniotomia inguinal em bebê prematuro: relato de caso / Delayed onset seizures after inguinal herniotomy in a premature infant: a case report

Relatamos um caso de recém-nascido prematuro, nascido com 34 semanas e operado com seis semanas de idade, que desenvolveu convulsões, aparentemente inexplicáveis, dez horas após o final da cirurgia sob injeção única de analgesia epidural caudal com bupivacaína e lidocaína combinadas com anestesia geral.

We report a case of a premature neonate born at 34 weeks and operated at 6 weeks of age developing unexplained seizures 10 hours after the end of surgery under single shot caudal epidural analgesia with bupivacaine and lidocaine combined with general anesthesia.

Relatamos aquí, el caso de un recién nacido prematuro, con 34 semanas, y operado con seis semanas de edad, que desarrolló convulsiones, aparentemente inexplicables, diez horas después del final de la cirugía bajo la inyección única de analgesia epidural caudal con bupivacaína y xilocaína combinadas con la anestesia general.

Delayed onset seizures after inguinal herniotomy in a premature infant: a case report.

We report a case of a premature neonate born at 34 weeks and operated at 6 weeks of age developing unexplained seizures 10 hours after the end of surgery under single shot caudal epidural analgesia with bupivacaine and lidocaine combined with general anesthesia.

General anesthesia in a patient with Gilbert's syndrome.

Gilbert's syndrome, caused by relative deficiency of glucuronyl transferase is the commonest cause of congenital hyperbilirubinemia. We report anesthetic management in a case of Gilbert's syndrome for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Avoiding drugs which use this enzyme for its metabolisim or excretion, and minimizing the stress during the perioperative period allows safe conduct of anesthesia for these patients.