Comparison of types 2 and 3 quadratus lumborum muscle blocks : Open inguinal hernia surgery in patients with spinal anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of quadratus lumborum muscle block (QLB) in abdominal surgery is known; however, the efficacy of different QLB types is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided QLB type 2 and type 3 on postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores in patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study 60 patients undergoing open inguinal hernia surgery were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Group QLB2 received ultrasound-guided QLB type 2 and group QLB3 received ultrasound-guided QLB type 3 with 0.25% 20 mL bupivacaine. In the control group (group C) no intervention was performed. Postoperative analgesia was performed intravenously with 1000 mg paracetamol every 6 h and patient-controlled analgesia with fentanyl. Postoperative visual analog scale scores (VAS), opioid consumption, and first analgesic requirement time were evaluated. RESULTS: Fentanyl consumption was significantly higher in group C compared to the other groups at all time intervals (p < 0.05). Fentanyl consumption was significantly higher in group QLB2 compared to QLB3 at the 4-8 h, 8-24 h, and total 24 h. Passive VAS 4h and 8 h, active VAS 4h, 8h, and 12 h were significantly lower in group QLB3 compared to QLB2 (p < 0.05). The first analgesic time was significantly later in group QLB2 compared to group C (280.52 ± 89.20 min and 183.75 ± 42.79 min, respectively) and even later in group QLB3 compared to the other two groups (463.42 ± 142.43 min, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of QLB2 and QLB3 decreased postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores in patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. Furthermore, QLB3 provided more effective and longer lasting postoperative analgesia and lower opioid consumption compared to QLB2.

The effect of colloid preload versus prophylactic ephedrine administration on QTc intervals during cesarean delivery: A randomized controlled study.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the effect of colloid infusion immediately before the spinal anesthesia, and the prophylactic intravenous (IV) infusion of ephedrine after injection of intrathecal bupivacaine on hemodynamic parameters, QT, The QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc), and dispersion of QTc (QTcDisp) intervals in women undergoing the elective cesarean section. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia were allocated randomly to receive either IV fluid preloading with 0.5 L of 6% w/v hydroxyethyl starch solution immediately before the spinal anesthesia (colloid group, n = 30) or prophylactic IV infusion of 15 mg ephedrine (diluted with 10 ml saline, n = 30) over 1-min period after the injection of intrathecal bupivacaine (ephedrine group). Electrocardiography (ECG) tracings were recorded before anesthesia procedure at baseline (T0), 5 min (T1), 10 min (T2), 30 min (T3), 60 min (T4), and 120 min (T5) after the spinal anesthesia. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) values were also recorded at the same time intervals. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups with respect to MAP, HR, SpO2, QT, and QTc intervals at any time points (P > 0.05). When compared with the colloid group, the QTcDisp interval at T1was significantly longer in the ephedrine group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both methods have similar effects on the ECG and hemodynamic parameters during cesarean section. So, both methods may be used in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

HELLP syndrome is still a serious, life-threatening complication of pregnancy: admission of 34 women to an eastern Turkish intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: The transfer of the obstetric patient to the intensive care unit is considered as an indicator of maternal morbidity. The most important two indications for admittance of the obstetric patient to the intensive care unit are postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine maternal morbidity and mortality rates in patients diagnosed with hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome who required intensive care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of 34 patients who were diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and treated in intensive care unit between the years 2005 - 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 151 patients were diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and 34 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Mean age of the patients was 28.97 ± 7.26 years and there was no significant difference be- tween survivors and non-survivors (p = 0.442). There were no significant differences between survivors and non-survivors in terms of gestational age, parity, and multiparity rates (p > 0.05). There was 31.2% mortal cases and 77.8% of living cases had received regular antenatal follow-up and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006). 30 patients (88.2%) required invasive mechanical ven- tilation. The average Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of patients was 6.47 ± 4.34. There were significant differences between patients who lived and who died in terms of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (p < 0.05). Twenty-two patients (64.7%) required transfusion of blood and blood products. Maternal mortality occurred in 16 patients (47%). The causes of death were: intracerebral hemorrhage in six cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in three cases, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in three\cases, sepsis/multi- ple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in two cases, hepatic rupture in one case, and massive pulmonary embolism in one case. Con- clusion: HELLP syndrome is still one of the most serious and life-threatening complications of pregnancy. Mortality rate can be reduced by regular antenatal follow-up and transfer of pregnant women who carry risk to the intensive care unit without delay.

Combining intrathecal bupivacaine and meperidine during caesarean section to prevent spinal anaesthesia-induced hypotension and other side-effects.

This study compared intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine with low-dose intrathecal plain bupivacaine plus different doses of meperidine (pethidine), administered sequentially, with regard to blood pressure stability, post-operative analgesia and incidence of side-effects in 80 parturients undergoing caesarean section. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n=20 each group): the HB group received 10 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally; the BM35, BM30 and BM25 groups received 5 mg plain bupivacaine plus 35, 30 or 25 mg of meperidine intrathecally, respectively. The incidence of hypotension in the BM25 group was significantly lower than in the HB group. Nausea and vomiting were less prevalent in the BM25 group than in the HB and BM35 groups. In conclusion, sequential administration of 5 mg plain bupivacaine and 25 mg meperidine intrathecally provided better blood pressure stability and a lower incidence of side-effects than bupivacaine alone, without affecting quality of anaesthesia or surgical and patient satisfaction.

Comparisons of analgesic effects of different doses of morphine and morphine plus methylprednisolone after knee surgery.

BACKGROUND: In this double-blind randomized study, the analgesic effects of morphine alone and with methylprednisolone were examined in 72 patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. METHODS: At the end of arthroscopy, patients were allocated randomly to one of four groups to receive intra-articular administrations of saline, morphine 1 mg, morphine 5 mg or morphine 1 mg with methylprednisolone 40 mg. Preoperative and postoperative pain levels at rest and during movement (active flexion of the knee) were measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Postoperative analgesic requirements to alleviate pain were evaluated. RESULTS: Pain scores were significantly lower for the patients who received 5 mg morphine and 1 mg morphine with 40 mg methylprednisolone than for those who received saline or 1 mg morphine. This was accompanied by a decrease in the postoperative consumption of analgesics and prolongation of the duration of pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the analgesic effect of morphine given intra-articularly is dose dependent and that combination of methylprednisolone with morphine has an additive effect on analgesia.