Comparison of propofol-fentanyl with propofol-fentanyl-ketamine combination in pediatric patients undergoing interventional radiology procedures.

BACKGROUND: With an increase in the frequency of interventional radiology procedures in pediatrics, there has been a corresponding increase in demand for procedural sedation to facilitate them. The purpose of our study was to compare the frequency of adverse effects, sedation level, patient recovery characteristics in pediatric patients receiving intravenous propofol fentanyl combination with or without ketamine for interventional radiology procedures. Our main hypothesis was that the addition of ketamine would decrease propofol/fentanyl associated desaturation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty consenting American Society of Anesthesia physical status I-III pediatric patients undergoing interventional radiology procedures under sedation were studied according to a randomized, double-blinded, institutional review board approved protocol. Group 1 received propofol 0.5 mg.kg(-1) + fentanyl 1 microg.kg(-1) + ketamine 0.5 mg.kg(-1), and group 2 received propofol 0.5 mg.kg(-1) + fentanyl 1 microg.kg(-1) + same volume of %0.9 NaCl intravenously. RESULTS: While apnea was not observed in any of the groups, there were three cases (10%) in group 1, and nine cases (30%) in group 2 with oxygen desaturation (P = 0.052). In group 1, 12 (40%) patients and, in group 2, 21 (70%) patients required supplemental propofol during the procedure (P = 0.021). There was no evidence for difference between groups in terms of other side effects except nystagmus. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, addition of low dose ketamine to propofol-fentanyl combination decreased the risk of desaturation and it also decreased the need for supplemental propofol dosage in pediatric patients at interventional radiology procedures.

[Endovascular treatment of aortic lesions using the Medtronic Talent system: single center experience with mid-term follow-up]. / Aortik lezyonlarin Medtronic Talent stent-greft ile endovasküler tedavisi: Tek merkez deneyimi ve orta dönem takip sonuçlari.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of endovascular repair of aortic lesions with the Medtronic Talent stent-graft system and to present mid-term results of endovascular aortic repair performed in our center. METHODS: Between December 2002 and March 2007, 54 patients (6 women) with aortic (14 thoracic and 40 abdominal) lesions underwent treatment with Talent stent-graft. The average age of the patients was 64.8 (20-88) years. Duration of follow-up period ranged from 1 to 49 months (average 21 months). Indications for endovascular repair were degenerative aneurysm in 45, degenerative aneurysm and penetrating ulcer in 2, only penetrating ulcer in 1, traumatic thoracic isthmic transsection in 4 and vasculitic aneurysm secondary to Behcet's disease in 2 patients. RESULTS: Repair was performed with the tubular (16), aortouniiliac (1) or bifurcated (37) stent-grafts. Technical success rate was 100%. No death, major complication or need of immediate conversion to open repair was seen. Endoleak rate was 18.5% at 1 month follow-up period. Thirty-day mortality was 1.8% and morbidity (other than endoleaks) rate was 12.9%. During the follow-up period, secondary intervention was required in 12.9% of patients. Iliac limb occlusion was detected in 1 patient (1.8%). Graft migration causing type 1 endoleak and requiring open surgical treatment was seen in 1 patient (1.8%). Four patients (7.4%) are still under follow-up for type-2 endoleaks that do not require intervention. No graft infection or death due to aneurysm rupture was detected. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of aortic lesions in selected patients with comorbid conditions using the Talent stent-graft exhibits a high degree of technical success with a low perioperative morbidity and mortality rate. The major disadvantage of endovascular aortic repair is necessity of life-long imaging follow-up and secondary interventions.

Parental satisfaction with pediatric day case surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Children make excellent candidates for day case surgery. Satisfaction is an important measure of the outcome. The aim of this study was to establish the degree of parental satisfaction with day-case surgery for their children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents of one hundred children were questioned. They were asked to answer questions on their level of satisfaction in several areas; communication with doctors (surgeon and anesthesiologist), physical conditions, staff's care, patients' problems and 2 open ended questions. RESULTS: Parents were most satisfied with nursing care and most dissatisfied with physical conditions. Ninetyseven per-cent of parents stated that, if given a choice they would opt for day case surgery for their child again. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high rate of satisfaction with day case surgery, however, considerable effort is needed to prepare better physical conditions, better time schedule organizations, more anesthesia outpatient clinic consultations.

CT and MR imaging findings and their implications in the follow-up of patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with endosaccular occlusion with onyx.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our purpose was to describe the CT and MR features of intracranial aneurysms occluded with the liquid polymer Onyx. METHODS: At two centers, 35 aneurysms in 33 patients and 11 in nine patients were treated with the polymer. In 17 patients, adjunctive stents were placed at the aneurysm neck. All but three aneurysms originated from the internal carotid artery (ICA). Eighteen were giant; 15, large; and 13, small. Patients underwent pre- and postprocedural CT and/or MR imaging; MR angiograms (MRAs) were available in 22. In 35 patients (38 aneurysms), 3-month and/or 1-year follow-up angiograms were obtained for correlation with sectional images. RESULTS: Except in two small aneurysms, polymer filling created beam hardening artifacts on CT scans. In 10 aneurysms, the polymer did not fill the aneurysm sac entirely; five showed recanalization at follow-up. On MR images (all sequences), the polymer appeared hypointense, probably because of its tantalum content; it did not create artifacts. MRAs falsely suggested reduced or absent ICA flow in 11 of 22 patients, nine of whom with stents. In the rest, MRA provided results comparable to those of selective angiography. In 12 patients, postprocedural imaging revealed new lesions. CONCLUSION: Onyx appears hypointense on MR images, with no artifact, and it does not interfere with MRA except in patients with stents. MR imaging may reveal new parenchymal lesions, even in asymptomatic patients. In the immediate control and follow-up of polymer-treated aneurysms, MR imaging and MRA may be preferred. CT may show the degree of filling in the aneurysmal sac, but Onyx creates artifacts that hinder CT evaluation.