Optic nerve sheath diameter measurement for prediction of postdural puncture headache.

PURPOSE: Intracranial hypotension due to cerebrospinal fluid leak is mainly the causal factor for the pathophysiology of postdural puncture headache (PDPH). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement in predicting the development of PDPH in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. METHODS: According to the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical classification I-III, 83 patients aged 18-65 years scheduled for spinal anesthesia for elective surgery were included in the study. Demographic data (age, ASA, sex, smoking, migraine, and PDPH history) and operative data were recorded. Preoperative ONSD measurements were taken in the right and left eye, axial, and sagittal planes. The mean of four measurements was recorded before and 24 h after the spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (59 males and 24 females) were included in the study. In our study, the rate of PDPH development was determined as 22.9% (n = 19). There was a statistically significant difference in the preoperative and postoperative ONSD values between patients with and without PDPH development (p = 0.046). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve was 0.843, and the cutoff value was 0.4. CONCLUSION: The difference between the ONSD values measured before and after spinal anesthesia may be an important parameter for predicting the risk of PDPH development.

Peripheral nerve pulsed radiofrequency for trigeminal neuralgia treatment: Is it an effective method?

OBJECTIVES: Trigeminal neuralgia is a paroxysmal and shock-like pain in the trigeminal nerve area. Various treatment options have been used for trigeminal neuralgia such as medical treatment, interventional procedures, and surgical operations. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a minimally invasive percutaneous technique which seems to be safer and easier to perform. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the analgesic effect, duration of efficacy, and side effects of PRF procedures in the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve. METHODS: The data of the patients with trigeminal neuralgia who were followed up in our hospital's algology clinic from 2016 to 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients aged between 18 and 70 who did not respond to medical treatment or could not use medication due to side effects were treated with PRF procedure for peripheral branches of trigeminal nerve that was selected for this study. Demographic profile, clinical presentation, pain intensity, duration of efficacy, and complications were evaluated from their files. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients who underwent ultrasonography guided PRF procedures were included the study. Mean visual analog scale value of the patients was found to have decreased from 9.25±0.63 to 1.55±0.88 at the end of the 1st month (p<0.001). The painless period for the patients lasted up to 12 (9-21) months and no complications occurred. CONCLUSION: PRF procedure seems to be an effective and safe method in patients who respond to block of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Effectiveness of interventional procedures for post-laminectomy syndrome: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the change in numerical rating scale (NRS) score and interventional procedures performed on patients with post-laminectomy syndrome whose NRS score 7 and above according to the NRS. METHODS: This study was carried out by examining the files of 107 patients, including 69 women and 38 men, aged 18 years and over who had applied between February 1, 2010, and February 1, 2015. Pain localization, post-operative periods, interventional procedures, and post-procedural pain status were determined using pain monitoring forms and hospital automation system in our clinic. Statistical significance of the obtained data was evaluated by Pearson Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Friedman test, and Mann-Whitney U-test. p>0.05 was not statistically significant, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: With interventional procedures, 48.5% of patients had a reduction in pain of more than 50%. The success rate was 66.7% in patients with radicular pain. Pain palliation was achieved in 28.8% of patients who underwent transforaminal epidural steroid injection, whereas in patients undergoing dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency, this rate was 44.4%. When the pain scores of patients with permanent spinal cord stimulator (SCS) were compared with other patient groups, permanent SCS was found to be statistically and clinically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Post-laminectomy syndrome is not usually caused by a single pathology, and more than 1 intervention and recurrence are often needed. Post-laminectomy syndrome is a disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach and multiple treatment options must be decided according to the patient. More research is needed on treatment options.

The association between surgical technique and oculocardiac reflex in pediatric strabismus surgery: an observational study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The most common cause of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is traction of the extraocular muscles. Therefore, strabismus surgery is highly risk for the development of this complication. This study aimed to investigate whether an association exists between the occurrence of OCR and the type of extraocular muscle manipulated during strabismus in a pediatric population. METHODS: A total of 53 pediatric patients who were operated for strabismus under sevoflurane anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective study. The association between surgical techniques and the occurrence of OCR was investigated. RESULTS: This study included 30 (56.6%) males and 23 (43.4%) females, with a mean age of 8.4 years. Overall, 83 eyes with 93 extraocular muscles were operated. Surgery was performed most frequently on the medial (44.6%) and lateral (36.1%) recti. OCR occurred in 33 (62.3%) patients. OCR was found to be significantly higher in the first operated muscle compared with the second muscle, regardless of muscle type, as identified in the statistical analysis based on the sequence of the operated muscles. CONCLUSIONS: The manipulation of the first extraocular muscle has a higher risk of OCR in the pediatric population undergoing two-muscle surgery for strabismus.

[Pharmachologic treatment of acute postoperative pain: A clinical practice guideline of The Turkish Society of Algology]. / Akut postoperatif agrinin farmakolojik tedavisi: Türk Algoloji-Agri Dernegi klinik uygulama kilavuzu.

Satisfactory pain relief is a fundamental right of every patient suffering from pain. Despite the developments on pharmachologic treatment modalities and interventions for pain control, inadequacy of postoperative pain management is still a major problem. After surgical intervention, 66% of patients experience moderate to severe pain during discharge, 9% after two weeks. Untreated postoperative pain may lead to prolonged hospital stay, increased intensive care needs, development of chronic pain, and reduced the patients quality of life. In the following guideline all aspects of postoperative pain briefly evaluated. The clinical practice of postoperative analgesia, recommendations, the diagnosis, assessment and pharmachologic treatment of acute postoperative pain with the current available agents in Turkey are discussed in this article. Our aim is to promote awareness of effective, and safe postoperative pain management strategies to meet the needs of the patients; minor patient groups, such as paediatric population, pregnant patients, elderly, patient with high body mass index and covid 19 diesease. Despite all the recommendations, any guidelines special cases where standard modalities fail to treat postoperative pain management as in patients with chronic pain who previously used opioids, drug addicts, the patient should be consulted with an pain specialist.

Effect of regional or general anesthesia methods on mortality according to age groups in geriatric hip surgery patients.

OBJECTIVES: Hip surgeries performed in elderly patients are important in terms of both the physiological features of geriatric patients and the risks of surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of age and the anesthesia method used on morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients who had hip surgery. METHODS: Patients who were aged 65 and older who also had hip surgery and had American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Scale scores were included in the study. The patients were classified as aged (Group AG) for those ≥65 years of age, and very aged (Group VAG) for those ≥75 years of age. Details obtained from the hospital electronic records system of the patients' age, sex, ASA score, anesthesia method used, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion requirements, respiratory and cardiovascular complications, postoperative intensive care requirements, duration of hospital treatment, period of development of any postoperative complications, morbidity, and mortality were evaluated by age group. RESULTS: A total of 258 patients between the ages of 65 and 95 who had hip surgery and available ASA scores were included in the study. In Group VAG, the rate of morbidity and mortality of ASA III and IV patients was high in the postoperative period. Regional anesthesia methods were used more often in Group VAG patients, and there were more cardiovascular complications developing in the intraoperative period in the general anesthesia patients, although there was no difference between anesthesia methods in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: In this study of elderly patients who had hip surgery, there was no correlation between the anesthesia method used and morbidity and mortality. Advanced age (≥75 years) and a high ASA score were the most important risk factors for mortality.

Internal Jugular Vein Ultrasonography in Prediction of Postspinal Hypotension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of internal jugular vein (IJV) ultrasonography to predict postspinal hypotension in patients undergoing elective surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey, from January to September 2020. METHODOLOGY: Patients aged between 18 and 65 years, who underwent elective surgery under spinal anesthesia, were included in the study. Sonographic examination of IJV was performed before spinal anesthesia. Significant postspinal hypotension was defined as a mean arterial pressure less than 65 mmHg or more than 20% decrease compared to the baseline value. The patients were classified as hypotensive and non-hypotensive groups. The association between sonographic IJV measurements and postspinal hypotension was analysed. RESULTS: The evaluation was performed on 47 patients. Twenty-two (46.8%) patients developed postspinal hypotension. The two groups were similar in all baseline characteristics (p>0.05). Among all sonographic measurements, IJV collapsibility index was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.014). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that IJV collapsibility index had a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 63.6% to predict the postspinal hypotension at a cut-off point of 22.6%. Area under curve (AUC) was 0.709. CONCLUSION: Despite the moderate sensitivity and specifity rates, IJV collapsibility index can be considered as an alternative predictor of postspinal hypotension. Key Words: Internal jugular vein, Postspinal hypotension, Spinal anesthesia, Ultrasonography.

Evaluation of the Analgesic Efficacy of Dexketoprofen Added to Paracetamol.

OBJECTIVE: Multimodal analgesic methods are preferred for the treatment of postoperative pain; as a result, the additive effects of analgesics are provided while probable side effects are avoided. The current study aimed to compare the effects of the combination of dexketoprofen and paracetamol with regard to postoperative pain therapy. METHODS: Ninety-six patients who underwent non-malignant gynaecological laparotomy operations were included in this study. Patients were randomized into 3 groups. Group D received 50 mg intravenous dexketoprofen 15 minutes before the end of the operation and 8 and 16 hours after the operation. Group P received 1 g intravenous paracetamol and Group DP received the combination of 500 mg paracetamol and 25 mg dexketoprofen at the same time intervals. All patients received morphine infusion after operation. Total morphine consumption at 24 hours, visual analog scale, patient satisfaction and side effects were investigated. RESULTS: Comparison of the visual analog scale scores revealed that the Group DP presented lower scores at 24th hours compared to the other groups; and the difference between Group DP and Group D was statistically significant. Total morphine consumption was not significantly different between the three groups. The minimum number of side effects was observed in the Group DP. CONCLUSION: Co-administration of paracetamol, dexketoprofen and morphine provided good analgesia and fewer side effects in gynaecological abdominal surgery.

[Is postoperative pain only a nociceptive pain?]. / Postoperatif agri sadece nosiseptif agri midir?

More than 75% of patients undergoing surgery suffer from acute pain. Most of this pain transforms into chronic pain. Currently, treatment of postoperative pain is based mainly on opioids, but results are not quite satisfactory. Postoperative pain is defined as a condition of tissue injury together with muscle spasm after surgery. Recently, peripheral and central sensitization has been shown within the mechanisms of postoperative pain generation. Accordingly, anti-convulsive drugs have been used successfully for the treatment of postoperative pain. Therefore, the issue of whether postoperative pain is purely a nociceptive pain remains a topic of debate. Considering that every surgical intervention might result in a nerve injury, it is not surprising to find neuropathic pain features within the postoperative pain itself. In light of these findings, it would be more precise to define postoperative pain as a combination of inflammatory and neuropathic components instead of as pure pain. Thus, the appropriate postoperative treatment should be planned involving both of these components.