Intraoperative Patient Warming Instead of Gas on the Management of Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Colectomy and Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Blurred lines remain in details of the association between patient warming with postoperative pain and a proper analgesic requirement. Therefore, the present study proposes to observe the effects of intraoperative patient warming and carbon dioxide insufflation duration in laparoscopic colectomy (LCol) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LChol) procedures on postoperative pain, analgesic requirements, and hemodynamics. METHODS: The present study involved 80 cases aged 18-80 years with the American Society of Anesthesiologists I-III classification, possessing two initial groups primarily, one for LCol and one for LChol. Subsequently, each was divided into two through randomization for intraoperative warming. Postoperatively, pain perception, per se, was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) score at the 30 minutes, 1st, 6th, 12th, and 24th hours, along with the impact of pain on hemodynamic parameters and side effects such as nausea/vomiting and the dosage of analgesics used. RESULTS: Groups actively heated with warm air-blowing devices detected significantly higher intraoperative core and skin temperature measurements, and postoperative early pain perception was significantly lower in the warmed ones. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the VAS scores and the analgesic at the 12th and 24th hours compared to the first six hours was recognized between them. CONCLUSION: Consequently, herewith, we postulate that so-called patient warming positively affects the VAS scores.

The effect of single dose etomidate during emergency intubation on hemodynamics and adrenal cortex.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of a single dose of etomidate and the use of a steroid injection prior to etomidate during rapid sequence intubation on hemodynamics and cortisol levels. METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into three groups (n=20). Before intubation, and at 4 and 24 hours, blood samples were taken for cortisol measurements and hemodynamic parameters (systolic-diastolic-mean arterial pressure, heart rate), and SOFA scores were recorded. Intubation was achieved with 0.3 mg/kg etomidate IV in Group I, 0.3 mg/kg etomidate following 2 mg/kg methylprednisolone IV in Group II, and 0.15 mg/kg IV midazolam in Group III. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure values were lower in Group I at the 24th hour when compared to Groups II and III. In Group I, heart rate values were higher compared to the other Groups. Cortisol levels were lower in Group I at the 4th and at the 24th hour in Groups II and III. CONCLUSION: Administration of methylprednisolone 2-4 minutes prior to etomidate use in emergency situations can prevent adrenal insufficiency in patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation. Moreover, midazolam can be used in low induction doses as an alternative to etomidate.