The impact of melatonin on postoperative delirium in geriatric patients after colorectal surgery: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The current study was designed to evaluate the role of prophylactic melatonin administration in reducing delirium occurrence in elderly patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgeries. METHODS: One hundred patients of both genders undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgeries under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two equal groups. A treatment group of patients (Melatonin group) received five mg of melatonin the night before surgery, twelve hours before the scheduled surgery time, and an additional five mg of melatonin two hours before surgery. The control group of patients received placebo tablets at the same time points. Delirium score, sedation score, pain score, hemodynamics, oxygen saturation, and blood requirements were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (56%) in the control group versus 18 (36%) in the melatonin group developed delirium (P=0.045), OR=2.26, 95% CI: 1.013-5.05. Five patients (18%) in the control group versus six (33%) in the melatonin group developed delirium on discharge from the recovery room (P=0.749), OR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.34-4.31, while 23 patients (82%) in the control group versus 12 (66%) in the melatonin group developed delirium six hours postoperative (P=0.021), OR=1.705, 95% CI: 1.02-2.81 with higher nursing delirium screening score in the control group 2 (1, 4) versus 1 (0, 2) in the melatonin group (P=0.002), 95% CI: 1.77-2.71. CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic administration of melatonin may decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing colorectal surgeries under general anesthesia.

Combined Nasal, Oropharyngeal Povidone Iodine Plus Glycyrrhizic Acid Sprays, Accelerate Clinical and Laboratory Recovery and Reduces Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still posing challenging health and economic problems. Effective broad-spectrum antiviral therapy is urgently needed for the control of early SARS-CoV-2 infection to limit its spread and mutations. In this randomized placebo-controlled clinical study, we tested the effects of intranasal and oropharyngeal delivery of a compound of povidone-iodine 0.5% and glycyrrhizic acid 2.5 mg/ml on the laboratory (PCR) and clinical recovery from SARS-CoV-2 patients and their household contacts. 353 patients suspected of having COVID-19 infection were screened by chest CT and nasopharyngeal swab tests (PCR). 200 patients were randomly allocated to two equal groups: treatment and placebo groups. Treatment accelerated the recovery of PCR on days 4, 7, and 10, as evidenced by PCR-positive patients (70, vs. 99%, 20 vs. 65%, 1 vs. 10%) in both the treated and placebo groups, respectively. Treatment enhanced the early recovery of symptoms [day 7.6 ± 2 (CI 7:8.3) vs. 8.9 ± 2 (CI 8.3:9.6)]. Treatment promoted early recovery of anosmia and ageusia [5.6 ± 1 (CI, 4.8:6.4) vs. 11 ± 3 days, (CI, 10.8:12)] in both the treated and control groups (P < 0.0001). There was a notable reduction in transmission of the virus among the household close contacts in the treatment group (4%) vs. 76% in the placebo group. Combined PVI-GA nasal and oropharyngeal spray accelerates both laboratory and clinical recovery of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in the early phases of the disease and reduces the household spread of the virus; thus, it may play an important role in controlling coronavirus outbreaks. Clinical Trial Registration: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za, PACTR202101875903773.

Intraoperative magnesium sulphate decreases agitation and pain in patients undergoing functional endoscopic surgery: A randomised double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative agitation is harmful for the patient as it may be associated with removal of catheters, nasal packs, oxygen masks and self-injury, and pose a danger to operating theatre staff. OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated the potential role of magnesium sulphate in treatment of postoperative agitation following functional endoscopic sinus surgery. DESIGN: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: ENT operating room, Menofia University Hospitals, Egypt. PATIENTS: A total of 312 adult patients (171 men and 141 women) were enrolled in the study. Eighteen patients (10 men and eight women) were excluded; data from 294 patients were analysed. Inclusion criteria were age between 20 and 60 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status 1 or 2 scheduled for functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Exclusion criteria were hypertension, cardiac ischaemia, cerebrovascular insufficiency, neuromuscular diseases, pregnancy, prolonged treatment with calcium-channel blockers, diabetic neuropathy or a known allergy to magnesium compounds. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated randomly to either the magnesium group (a magnesium infusion of 30 mg kg in the first hour followed by 9 mg kg h until the end of the surgical procedure) or the control group (0.9% saline at the same volume and rate). Hypotensive anaesthesia was induced by nitroglycerine 5 to 20 µg kg min. In the postanaesthetic care unit (PACU), patients were assessed for agitation and pain using the Richmond agitation-sedation scale and numerical rating scale, respectively. PRIMARY OUTCOME: The incidence and severity of agitation measured 5 min after admission to the PACU. RESULTS: Magnesium reduced postoperative agitation at time 0 (P = 0.009) and 5, 10, 15 and 30 min after PACU admission (P < 0.0001) as well as total agitation score [3 (0 to 6) versus 9 (0 to 12), P < 0.0001]. Magnesium also reduced pain [4.5 (4 to 5) versus 6 (5 to 6.25), P < 0.0001] and length of PACU stay (88 ±â€Š23 versus 111 ±â€Š31 min, P < 0.0001). The magnesium group consumed less pethidine in PACU compared with the control group (43 ±â€Š15 and 59 ±â€Š19 mg, respectively, P < 0.0001). The intraoperative end-tidal CO2 tension was comparable between groups (4.7 ±â€Š0.7 versus 4.8 ±â€Š1.2 kPa). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative infusion of magnesium in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery reduced postoperative agitation, pethidine consumption and pain assessed in the PACU. It also decreased the length of stay in PACU compared with the control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The current study was registered according to WHO and ICMJE standards on 7 January 2014, under registration number PACTR 201402000737691.

The impact of dexmedetomidine or xylocaine continuous infusion on opioid consumption and recovery after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain control for morbidly obese patients represents a challenge because of their sensitivity towards opioid-induced respiratory depression. We elected both dexmedetomidine and xylocaine (lidocaine) continuous infusions as adjuvants because they lack respiratory depression side effect. METHODS: A total of 150 ASA I to III patients were enrolled in the study, randomly allocated into three equal parallel groups; the control, lidocaine or dexmedetomidine group. Patients received either dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg bolus over 10 minutes followed by 0.4 µg/kg/h continuous infusion, lidocaine 2 mg/kg bolus over 10 minutes followed by 1.5 mg/kg/h continuous infusion or saline bolus and continuous infusion during the whole operation period. The total morphine consumption was designed to be the primary outcome variable, pain score, and quality of recovery 40 was set as secondary outcome variables. Pain score was measured by numerical rating scale while the quality of recovery score was estimated by the QOR-40 questionnaire. P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Both dexmedetomidine and lidocaine reduced the total morphine consumption where it was 14±4, 18±4, and 29±5 mg in the dexmedetomidine, lidocaine, and control groups, respectively (P<0.0001). While dexmedetomidine reduced postoperative pain at all measured time points, lidocaine reduced only early pain. Both drugs displayed better quality of recovery score 40 measured at postoperative day 3; 186±2 for the dexmedetomidine group versus 176±6 for the lidocaine group versus 140±6 for the control group (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous infusion of either dexmedetomidine or xylocaine reduces postoperative opioid consumption, pain and improve the quality of recovery following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.