ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In some cases, permanent reduction in cerebral functioning affects a high percentage of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. We studied the relationship between the results of preoperative bilateral carotid artery colour Doppler sonography and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) during coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted with 96 candidates for off-pump CABG. This study determined the percentage of the correlation of rSO2 with demographic information, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, myocardial infraction (MI), and smoking, and also provided information on the presence and type of plaque, intima-media thickness (IMT), and percentage of stenosis of carotid artery detected through colour Doppler sonography. Data were analyzed by the t-test, the Chi-square test, and simple linear regression. RESULTS: In this study, the mean value of rSO2 increased after intubation compared to the mean before intubation, the difference being statistically significant (P = 0.005). A comparison of the mean rSO2 of the right side of the brain and the percentage of right carotid obstruction (stenosis of less than 50% vs. stenosis with a range of 50-69%) revealed that the mean rSO2 at the time of the partial-clamp between carotid stenosis less than 50% and carotid stenosis with a range of 50-69% was statistically significant (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: There is no statistically significant correlation between rSO2 and percentage of carotid artery stenosis less than 70%. It is advised that rSO2 and carotid stenosis of greater than 70% be studied in future.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In this double-blinded, randomized trial, we hypothesized that propofol is as effective as sumatriptan in treating acute migraine headaches, with better control of nausea and vomiting, and fewer side effects. METHODS: Ninety cases of acute migraine attack admitted to the emergency department were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: (1) 6 mg of sumatriptan subcutaneously or (2) propofol injected intravenously in 30 to 40 mg boluses, followed by 10 to 20 mg intermittent bolus doses to sedate the patients to Ramsey score of 3 to 4. Headache severity was assessed using an 11-point visual analog scale before treatment and 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours after treatment. Accompanying symptoms, improvement in headache, and the need for anti-emetic therapy were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were enrolled in this study. One patient in the sumatriptan group was excluded due to severe chest tightness, and 90 patients were included in the final analysis. Pain intensity was significantly lower in the propofol group 30 minutes after treatment (P = 0.001); however, after 1 and 2 hours, there were no significant differences between the groups. The need for anti-emetic therapy and the recurrence of symptoms were significantly lower in the propofol group (P = 0.045 and P = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Propofol is equally suitable as sumatriptan for the acute treatment of migraine headaches in an emergency department setting. Moreover, the use of propofol avoids some of the adverse side effects of sumatriptan while providing better control of nausea and vomiting.