Evaluation of Hemodynamic Changes and Fluid Response during Anesthesia in Lumbar Disc Hernias with Pleth Variability Index (PVI).

The study aimed to assess the pleth variability index (PVI) in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery under general and spinal anesthesia, exploring its correlation with fluid responsiveness, position, and hemodynamic parameters. Methods: This prospective study included 88 ASA 1-2 patients, aged 18-65, undergoing 1-3 h elective lumbar disc herniation surgery. Patients in groups GA and SA were observed for demographic, operative, and hemodynamic parameters at specified time points. (3) Results: PVI values were comparable between the GA and SA groups. After 250 mL of fluid loading, both groups showed a significant decrease in basal PVI at T2. Prone positions in GA exhibited higher PI values than in SA. The transition from a prone to supine position maintained PVI, while pulse and MAP decreased.; (4) Conclusions: PVI values were comparable in elective lumbar disc herniation surgery with general and spinal anesthesia. Both groups exhibited significant a PVI decrease at T2 after 250 mL of fluid loading, indicating fluid responsiveness. In general anesthesia, the prone position showed a lower MAP and higher PI values compared to spinal anesthesia. PVI and PI, sensitive to general anesthesia changes, could have beneficial additions to standard hemodynamic monitoring in spinal anesthesia management.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Different Plane Blocks in Isolated Bypass Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of serratus anterior plane block (SPB) and its combination with transverse thoracic muscle plane block (TTPB) on analgesia, opioid consumption, incentive spirometry performance, and patient comfort. DESIGN: A prospective, observational study. SETTING: A university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS: Patients who received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia only were labeled as the control group. Patients who received additional SPB were labeled as the SPB group, and patients who received additional SPB and TTPB were labeled as the SPB+TTPB group. The visual analog scores for pain (VAS), time to first analgesic requirement, total tramadol requirement, incentive spirometry values, and patient comfort indices were recorded during the first 36 postoperative hours. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: From October 2020 to October 2021, data from 95 patients were analyzed. The VAS score was lower in the SPB+TTPB group at 0, 14, and 18 hours (p < 0.001, p = 0.028, p = 0.047, respectively). Time to first analgesic was longer in the SPB+TTPB group (8 hours v 0-2 hours, p = 0.001). Total tramadol consumption was similar among groups. Incentive spirometer performance was superior in the SPB+TTPB group (p < 0.001). The SPB group had similar success at 0, 14, and 18 hours. CONCLUSION: Although pain scores and opioid consumption were similar, the addition of TTPB to SPB improved pain scores during patient mobilization and incentive spirometry capacity.

Dynamic thiol/disulphide balance in patients undergoing hypotensive anesthesia in elective septoplasties.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effects of hypotensive anaesthesia on oxidative stress with serum thiol/disulphide balance in patients undergoing elective septoplasty procedures under general anaesthesia. METHODS: Seventy-two patients between the ages of 18-60, with a physical condition I -II, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, were included in this prospective observational study. Septoplasty was chosen for standard surgical stress. According to the maintenance of anaesthesia, patients were divided into the groups as Hypotensive Anaesthesia (n = 40) and Normotensive Anaesthesia (n = 32). Serum thiol/disulphide levels were measured by the method developed by Erel & Neselioglu. RESULTS: The native thiol and total thiol values of both groups measured at the 60th min intraoperatively were significantly lower than the preoperative values (both P < .01). Intraoperatively, at the 60th min, there was no significant difference in terms of post-native thiol and post-total thiol levels between hypotensive and normotensive anaesthesia groups (P = .68 and .81, respectively). Age >40 years and female gender were found to have a significant effect on dynamic oxidative stress (P = .002 and .001, respectively). CONCLUSION: This pilot study has found that hypotensive anaesthesia had no adverse effect on dynamic thiol/disulphide balance in elective surgeries.

COVID-19 infection produces subarachnoid hemorrhage; acting now to understand its cause: A short communication.

In the medical literature, some case reports on the association of the COVID-19 infection and occurrence of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)have been reported Aim of the present paper is to search the causes of this association The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and computed tomography (CT) of the chest. There were four patients, whose median ages were 46,758, ranged 36-54 years). In conclusion, Spontaneous SAH can occur in the early and late course of COVID-19 infection. Its early recognition of the patient with spontaneous SAH is imperative.

Comparison of the Effects of Minimal and High-Flow Anaesthesia on Cerebral Perfusion During Septorhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of minimal-and high-flow anaesthesia on cerebral oxygenation during septorhinoplasty with controlled hypotension using near-infrared spectroscopy. METHODS: Eighty patients scheduled for septorhinoplasty under general anaesthesia with controlled hypotension were randomised into two groups: minimal-flow (MF) or high-flow (HF). Both groups received desflurane anaesthesia to maintain bispectral index values at 40%-50% and 0.25-0.5 µg kg-1 min-1 i.v. remifentanyl infusion to maintain mean arterial blood pressure between 55 and 65 mmHg. The MF group received 5 L min-1 of fresh gas flow for the first 10 mins then the gas flow was reduced 0.4 L min-1. The HF group received 2 L min-1 of fresh gas flow throughout. Haemodynamic parameters and cerebral oxygen saturation were measured. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in demographic variables, duration of anaesthesia and surgery, time to extubation and proceeding to an Aldrete score of 9. There were no statistical differences in haemodynamic parameters, end-tidal CO2 and cerebral oxygen saturation. The amount of desflurane used in the MF group was significantly lower than that used in the HF group (30.5±9.8 mL vs. 48.5±12.1 mL; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: MF and HF anaesthesia did not lead to any difference in cerebral oxygen saturation in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty with controlled hypotension. MF anaesthesia may thus be used as safely as HF anaesthesia is.

Central Sagittal Angle of the Sacrum as a New Risk Factor for Patients with Persistent Low Back Pain after Caesarean Section.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. PURPOSE: This study investigated the possible association of persistent low back pain (LBP) with caesarean section (CS) under spinal anesthesia. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Many women suffer from LBP after CS, which is commonly performed under spinal anesthesia. However, this type of LBP is poorly understood, and there is poor consensus regarding increased risk after spinal anesthesia. METHODS: We examined two groups of patients who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Group I included patients who presented to a neurosurgical clinic complaining of LBP for at least 6 months. Group II was a control group with patients without LBP. We analyzed clinical and sagittal angle parameters, including age, body mass index, parity, central sagittal angle of the sacrum (CSAS), and sacral slope (SS). RESULTS: Fifty-three patients participated in this study: 23 (43.1%) in Group I and 30 (56.9%) in Group II. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-tests showed that age, parity, and CSAS significantly differed between the two groups at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Age, parity, and CSAS appear to be associated with increased risk for LBP after CS under spinal anesthesia. Future prospective studies on this subject may help validate our results.

Complication of Peribulbar Block: Brainstem Anaesthesia.

Peribulbar block is used to obtain anaesthesia and akinesia of the eye by injecting a local anaesthetic around the musclecone. A patient scheduled for cataract surgery received peribulbar block with 6 mL of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride. Following the injection, confusion, hypotension and dilatation of the contralateral pupil rapidly progressed to loss of consciousness and respiratory arrest. The patient was intubated and mechanically ventilated for 30 min. The patient regained her consciousness, was extubated and transferred to the intensive care unit for further follow-up. Although brainstem anaesthesia because of peribulbar block is very rare, this procedure should be performed with complete monitorisation and resuscitation equipment.