Anaesthetic Management in Successive Spinal Surgeries During Pregnancy and Postpartum.

In this case report, we present a parturient with spinal tumour who required neurosurgery before and after caesarean delivery under general anaesthesia. A 25-year-old woman at 30 weeks of gestation and suffering from bilateral lower-limb weakness and sensory deficit due to spinal tumour underwent emergent laminectomy and decompression surgery under general anaesthesia. In this case, total intravenous anaesthesia was used. Two weeks later, the patient underwent emergent caesarean delivery under general anaesthesia due to preterm labour and gave birth to a healthy new-born. Meanwhile, pathological exam revealed soft tissue sarcoma requiring re-operation for gross total excision in the postpartum Week 4, which was followed by multisession chemoradiotherapy. The patient survived for 3 years, that is, until generalised systemic and neural metastasis. General anaesthesia management in surgeries before and after caesarean delivery in patients with spinal tumours is of utmost importance in providing optimal maternal, foetal and neonatal safety using a multidisciplinary team approach.

Anesthetic Management of Left Ventricular Assist Device Exchange in a Patient with Intracranial Hemorrhage.

The gold standard treatment for end-stage heart failure is heart transplantation; however, the rate of transplantation remains inadequate because of the paucity of organ donation. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has been used as a bridge therapy before transplantation. The LVAD is being used increasingly because it reduces mortality despite the accompanying morbidities. Therefore, the anesthetic management of LVAD-related morbidities is important and requires experience and knowledge. Herein, we describe a 60-year-old male patient with an LVAD with complaints of right hemiparesis, dysphasia, and facial paralysis. We aim to present the anesthetic management of a patient with intracranial hemorrhage who underwent LVAD exchange due to thrombosis.

Dextrose administration may reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a double blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the most common and undesirable of the complications associated with anesthesia, leading to discomfort in patients and extended hospital stays. The present study evaluates and compares the effects of preoperative/intraoperative dextrose infusion on PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study included 93 ASA I-II LC patients who were divided into three groups. Group P received a 10 mL/kg/h rate 5% Dextrose infusion, applied preoperatively for 30 minutes, followed by the same infusion rate of Ringer's lactate until the end of surgery. Group I received a 10 mL/kg/h rate of Ringer's lactate preoperatively for 30 minutes and the same infusion rate of 5% Dextrose during the operation. The control group (Group C) received a Ringer's lactate solution infusion in the pre- and intraoperative periods at a rate of 10 mL/kg/h. The demographic data, PONV, hemodynamic variables, pain scores, blood glucose (BG) values, and antiemetic and analgesic requirements of the participants were recorded. RESULTS: Preoperative BG values were similar in all groups, whereas intraoperative and postoperative BG levels were higher in Group P and Group I, respectively (P=0.020, P=0.010) than in Group C. The incidence of PONV was decreased in groups P and I (38.7% and 25.8%, respectively) compared to Group C (P=0.015). The antiemetic postoperative drug usage for 6 hours was significantly lower in Group P (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative dextrose infusion may be suggested for PONV prophylaxis as a safe and effective method following LC.

Comparison of new generation baska mask with i-gel and classical laryngeal mask in outpatient urological interventions.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical performance of the baska mask (PTY Ltd, Australia), i-gel (Intersurgical Ltd, UK) and classic laryngeal mask airway (cLMA) in adult patients undergoing outpatient urologic interventions. METHODS: One hundred fifty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists I-III physical status were enrolled between January 2017 and September 2017 in Yuksek Ihtisas Research and Educational Hospital, Ankara, Turkey for elective urological surgery for this prospective randomized controlled trial. There were 50 patients in each of the following groups: baska mask, i-gel, and cLMA. In each group, the insertion times, ventilation times, 'first attempt' success rates, airway dynamics-complications and hemodynamic variables were evaluated. RESULTS: No statistically significant values were observed in means of demographic data, airway dynamics, complications, and hemodynamic variables. Insertion and ventilation times were different between groups (p less than 0.001 for each). In cLMA group, insertion and ventilation times were found to be shorter than others (insertion times 5.78±1.72 seconds and ventilation times 11.72±4.72 seconds). The longest insertion and ventilation times were observed in baska mask with 12.04±6.25 and 21.26±8.53 seconds. The 'first attempt' success rates were 98% for cLMA, 92% for i-gel, and 88% for baska mask. The addition maneuvering requirements in baska mask group was  20% (40/10). Conclusion: When cLMA, i-gel and baska mask are compared regarding insertion and ventilating times, first attempt success rates, and additional maneuvers, cLMA and i-gel are superior to baska mask in urological ambulatory surgical cases.

Caudal Anesthesia for Pediatric Subumbilical Surgery, Less Load on the Postoperative Recovery Unit.

Introduction Caudal epidural anesthesia, when used as a sole method for surgical anesthesia, has favorable effects on the recovery duration and the time spent in the recovery unit. In this study we made a retrospective analysis of pediatric surgery operations under local, regional and general anesthesia. We aimed to find shorter postoperative recovery times with local and regional anesthesia. Materials and methods Data of the pediatric patients undergone subumbilical surgery during the two-year period in Pediatric Surgery clinic were collected. The patients' age, sex, surgery type, anesthesia and airway control routes, as well as duration of anesthesia, operation and recovery were obtained. Results Data of 937 patients were analyzed, of whom 811 (86.6%) were males. Caudal anesthesia was performed in 240 patients (25.6%) and the mean age of these patients was 3.83 ± 3.00 years. The patients with caudal and local anesthesia spent significantly less time in the postoperative recovery unit, compared with general anesthesia groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion Caudal anesthesia as a sole method for pediatric subumbilical surgery is a relatively safe method. Patients having operation under caudal anesthesia have faster discharge times from postoperative recovery units, compared with general anesthesia. This probably reduces recovery unit expenditures.

AuraGain and i-Gel laryngeal masks in general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Performance characteristics and effects on hemodynamics.

OBJECTIVES:   To evaluate and compare the performances of new types of supraglottic airway devices (SADs) with endotracheal intubation regarding their ease of insertions, perioperative complications, and effects on hemodynamic parameters and peak airway pressures in laparascopic cholecystectomy (LC).  Methods: One hundred and fourteen patients with ASA 1-2 physical status scheduled for elective LC were recruited for this prospective randomized controlled trial. The study was completed between January  2016 and January 2017 in Adiyaman University Research and Educational Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey. The patients were divided into AuraGain(Ambu, Ballerup, Denmark) (n=38), i-Gel® (Intersurgical Ltd, UK) (n=35), and endotracheal tube (ETT)(n=32) groups. Ease of insertion, airway pressures, complications, and hemodynamic variables were compared. Results: The trial was completed with 105 patients. Ease of insertion for SADs which was evaluated with insertion procedure duration, attempts, first insertion success rates, and oropharyngeal leak pressures were similar between the groups. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressures, and peak airway pressures were significantly lower in the AuraGain and i-Gel® groups, compared with the ETT, p less than 0.017. Conclusion: Both AuraGain and i-Gel® SADs are comparable with ETT used for airway control in general anesthesia for LC, regarding application ease and perioperative complications. Favorable hemodynamic responses to AuraGain and i-Gel® SADs may put them in a better place than ETT.

Heparin dose calculated according to lean body weight during on-pump heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to compare heparin dose regimen calculated based on the lean body weight with traditional heparin regimen in terms of ensuring adequate anticoagulation and complications associated with perioperative bleeding. METHODS: This prospective, single-blind, randomized study included a total of 100 adult patients (42 males, 58 females; mean age 52.7 years; range, 22 to 84 years) undergoing elective valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between June 2016 and January 2017. Prior to cardiopulmonary bypass, heparin dose was adjusted as 4 mg/kg, according to the actual body weight (n=50) and lean body weight (n=50). The minimal activated clotting time target value was accepted as 480 sec for cardiopulmonary bypass initiation. Demographic and hemodynamic data, post-heparin activated clotting time, additional heparin and perioperative transfusion, postoperative drainage volumes, reoperations, and mortality were recorded. RESULTS: Demographic data, cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, and intraoperative transfusion requirement were not significantly different between the groups. The initial and total doses of heparin, as well as the total dose of protamine, were significantly higher in the actual body weight group. Postoperative transfusion rates were also higher in this group. None of the patients in the lean body weight group required reoperation, while three patients in the actual body weight group underwent reoperation. CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that adequate anticoagulation was achieved with the titration of heparin dose calculated according to the lean body weight during cardiopulmonary bypass and reduced total heparin and protamine doses decreased postoperative bleeding and blood product transfusion requirement.

Pseudocholinesterase Enzyme Deficiency in Adiyaman City Area.

OBJECTIVE: Pseudocholinesterase (PChE) is an enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of succinylcholine. In case of its deficiency, the effect of succinylcholine that is approximately 5-10 min is prolonged up to few hours. The use of succinylcholine has been declined recently. However, it is still actively used in some special conditions and in developing countries. In this study, incidence of PChE enzyme deficiency around Adiyaman city was investigated and presented with the literature review. METHODS: After obtaining an approval from the investigational board of our hospital (Adiyaman University Medical School, Biomedical Research Ethics Board, 30.12.2012, Nr: B.30.2.ADY.0.20.00-600/51), patients undergoing any elective operation under general anaesthesia in the Adiyaman University Medical School Hospital between March and December 2013 were recruited for the study. After obtaining the patients' written consents, blood PChE, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, creatinine, international normalisation ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) values of the patients were analysed. Possible association of the PChE deficiency with other values was also investigated. The normal value of PChE was taken as 4260-11250 for females aged 16-40 years and 5320-12920 U L(-1) for other patients. RESULTS: The study was completed with 964 patients, 702 (72.8%) of whom were females. PChE enzyme levels were under the normal in 7.2% of the patients. There were no correlation between patient group, ALT, INR, aPTT and creatinine elevation with PChE deficiency (p>0.05), whereas AST and urea level elevation was significantly associated with PChE deficiency (p<0.05). The risk of PChE deficiency was 4.5 and 9 times higher in the patients with the elevation of AST and urea levels, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pathological elevations of AST and urea that are a part of normal pre-operative biochemical analysis of blood will indicate the possible deficiency of PChE enzyme.