Anesthetic Management in Corpus Callosum Agenesis.

Corpus callosum agenesis develops when the band which connects the two hemispheres of the brain does not occur in utero. It is associated with prenatal infections, genetic factors, toxic exposures, metabolic disorders, and chromosome errors. Mostly seen clinical features are macrocephaly, microcephaly, seizures, motor retardation, hypotonia, eye anomalies, and facial dysmorphisms. Here, we report a case of corpus callosum agenesis syndrome undergoing upper endoscopy under deep sedation with dexmedetomidine. The main anesthetic concerns are difficulty in airway, respiratory problems, gastric reflux, and interaction of the seizures therapy with general anesthetics.

The Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Midazolam, Ketamine, and Midazolam Combined with Ketamine Administered Nasally for Premedication in Children.

BACKGROUND: In this prospective, randomized study, we evaluated the intranasal administration of Midazolam ketamine combination, midazolam, and ketamine in premedication for children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 60 American Society of Anesthesiology physical status Classes I and II children aged between 1 and 10 years undergoing ear nose throat operations. All cases were premedicated 15 min before operation with intranasal administration of 0.2 mg/kg midazolam in Group M, 5 mg/kg Ketamine in Group K, and 0.1 mg/kg Midazolam + 3 mg/kg ketamine in Group MK. Patients were evaluated for sedation, anxiety scores, respiratory, and hemodynamic effects before premedication, 5 min interval between induction and postoperative period. RESULTS: There was no difference with respect to age, sex, weight, the duration of the operation, and for mask tolerance. Sedation scores were significantly higher in Group MK. There was no statistically difference between the groups for heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate. CONCLUSION: We concluded that intranasal MK combination provides sufficient sedation, comfortable anesthesia induction with postoperative recovery for pediatric premedication.

Subarachnoid Block a Safe Choice for Cesarean Section in Neurofibromatosis Patient with Severe Kyphoscoliosis.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal-dominant neuroectodermal hereditary disorder, in which spinal skeletal deformities are one of the manifestations. Pectus carinatum, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and kyphoscoliosis can be seen with this genetic disorder which can lead to cardiorespiratory system problems and can cause difficulty in airway management. We present the anesthetic management of a NF1 patient with a sharp thoracolumbar dystrophic kyphoscoliosis who have been posted for emergency cesarean section as a result of fetal distress. The operation was successfully performed with subarachnoid block. This case highlights the anesthetic challenges and the significance of early planning anesthetic technique.

Anesthetic Management in Pediatric Patient for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy with Mitochondrial Myopathy: Leigh Syndrome.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is a rare disease mainly affecting the central nervous system due to the abnormalities of mitochondrial energy generation and seen in early childhood with progressive loss of movement, mental abilities, seizures, nystagmus, ophthalmoparesis, optic atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, or respiratory failure. Anesthesia and surgery exacerbate the risks of aspiration, wheezing, and breathing difficulties. Tracheal irritability can be stimulated with the efforts of intubation. We report the anesthetic management of a rare case of an 11-year-old boy with a severe form of LS for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion. The patient was closely monitored during the procedure and the postoperative period. Carefully chosen anesthetic agents, good pain control, and close monitoring are essential.

A Safe Regional Technique in a High-risk Patient: Cervical Plexus Blockage.

Regional anesthesia in the form of combined cervical plexus block is gaining popularity as a technique of choice for cervical spine surgeries, especially for urgent ones. An important advantage is that it allows continuous monitoring of patient's neurological status. The success of the block often depends on accurate placement of the local anesthetic. Landmarks for the block are therefore of great importance. In this case, we aimed to present a 74-year-old man with C4-5 odontoid fracture. We planned to perform a unilateral combined cervical plexus block for anterior cervical instrumentation and fusion (ACIF) operation because of his associated high-risk comorbid disorders.

Unexpected Complication after Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection: Hiccup.

Persistent hiccup is uncommon, and the mechanism is poorly understood. We present the case of a 43-year-old male patient referred to the Algology department due to chronic back pain who developed what we believe a rare case of persistent hiccup secondary to caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI). The causes of hiccup are many and include electrolyte derangement, nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal disorders and instrumentation, cardiovascular disorders, renal impairment, central nervous system disorders, and drugs; however, the cause may be unknown. CESI is one of the treatments of back pain, in addition to various other modalities including surgical interventions. CESI has gained rapid and widespread acceptance for the treatment of lumbar and lower extremity pain. However, there are only a few well-designed, randomized, controlled studies on the effectiveness of steroid injections. Consequently, side effects should be considered. We aimed to present a persistent hiccup after CESI for chronic low back pain.

The Postdural Puncture Headache and Back Pain: The Comparison of 26-gauge Atraucan and 26-gauge Quincke Spinal Needles in Obstetric Patients.

BACKGROUND: The postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and postdural puncture backache (PDPB) are well-known complications of spinal anesthesia. There are some attempts to reduce the frequency of complication such as different design of the spinal needles. AIMS: The primary outcome of this study is to compare the incidence of PDPH between 26-gauge Atraucan and 26-gauge Quincke spinal needles in elective cesarean operations. The severity of symptoms, the incidence of backache, technical issues, and comparison of cost of needles are secondary outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After Investigational Review Board approval, a randomized, prospective, double-blinded study was designed in 682 American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II women having elective cesarean operations under spinal anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups as 26-gauge Atraucan Group A (n = 323) and 26-gauge Quincke spinal needles Group Q (n = 342). All patients were questioned about backache 1 week later. Differences between categorical variables were evaluated with Chi-square test. Continuous variables were compared by Student's t-test for two independent groups. A two-sided P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in all demographic data. The one attempt success rate of the dural puncture in Group A (70,58%) and in Group Q (69.3%) was similar (P > 0.05). The incidence of PDPH was 6.5% in Group A and 4.9% in Group Q (P > 0.05). The epidural blood patch was performed to the three patients in Group A and five patients in Group Q who had severe headache (P > 0.05). The incidence of PDPB was 4.33% versus 2.04% in Group A and Group Q (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of complication rates and technical handling characteristics did not differ between two groups. Quincke needle is cheaper than Atracaun needle, so it can be a cost-effective choice in obstetric patients.

Early postoperative recovery after intracranial surgical procedures. Comparison of the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane.

PURPOSE:: To compared the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on early anesthesia recovery in patients undergoing to craniotomy for intracranial lesions. METHODS:: After IRB approval, the study included 50 patients aged 18-70 years who had ASA physical statuses of I-II and were scheduled for intracranial surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: sevoflurane and desflurane. Anaesthesia was routinely induced in all patients followed by desflurane 5%-6% or sevoflurane 1%-2%. Moreover remifentanil infusion (0.05-0.2 mcg/kg/min) was adjusted to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) within 20% baseline and heart rate <90 bpm. Postoperatively, patients were evaluated over time for responses to painful stimulus, eye opening, hand squeezing, extubation, orientation and time required to achieve a Modified Aldrete Score of 9-10. Parametric and non-parametric data were assessed using Student's t- and Mann-Whitney U tests, respectively. A p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS:: The times to responses to painful stimuli (7.7±2.7 vs. 4.8±1.7 min.; p<0.001), emergence (9.5±2.81 vs. 6.3±2.2 min.; p<0.001), hand-squeezing (12.1±2.9 vs. 8.2±2.3 min.; p<0.001), extubation (10.1±2.87 vs. 7.1±1.6 min.; p<0.001), orientation (15.3±3.2 vs. 10.3±2.7 min.; p<0.001) and Aldrete score of 9-10 (23.3±6.1 vs. 15.8±3.8 min.; p<0.001) were significantly lower with desflurane-based anaesthesia vs. sevoflurane-based anaesthesia. CONCLUSION:: Desflurane yields early recovery functions and facilitates early postoperative neurologic examinations of intracranial surgery patients.

Early postoperative recovery after intracranial surgical procedures. Comparison of the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To compared the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on early anesthesia recovery in patients undergoing to craniotomy for intracranial lesions. METHODS: After IRB approval, the study included 50 patients aged 18-70 years who had ASA physical statuses of I-II and were scheduled for intracranial surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: sevoflurane and desflurane. Anaesthesia was routinely induced in all patients followed by desflurane 5%-6% or sevoflurane 1%-2%. Moreover remifentanil infusion (0.05-0.2 mcg/kg/min) was adjusted to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) within 20% baseline and heart rate <90 bpm. Postoperatively, patients were evaluated over time for responses to painful stimulus, eye opening, hand squeezing, extubation, orientation and time required to achieve a Modified Aldrete Score of 9-10. Parametric and non-parametric data were assessed using Student's t- and Mann-Whitney U tests, respectively. A p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: The times to responses to painful stimuli (7.7±2.7 vs. 4.8±1.7 min.; p<0.001), emergence (9.5±2.81 vs. 6.3±2.2 min.; p<0.001), hand-squeezing (12.1±2.9 vs. 8.2±2.3 min.; p<0.001), extubation (10.1±2.87 vs. 7.1±1.6 min.; p<0.001), orientation (15.3±3.2 vs. 10.3±2.7 min.; p<0.001) and Aldrete score of 9-10 (23.3±6.1 vs. 15.8±3.8 min.; p<0.001) were significantly lower with desflurane-based anaesthesia vs. sevoflurane-based anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: Desflurane yields early recovery functions and facilitates early postoperative neurologic examinations of intracranial surgery patients.

A miracle that accelerates operating room functionality: sugammadex.

BACKGROUND: Sugammadex offers a good alternative to the conventional decurarisation process currently performed with cholinesterase inhibitors. Sugammadex, which was developed specifically for the aminosteroid-structured rocuronium and vecuronium neuromuscular blockers, is a modified cyclodextrin made up of 8 glucose monomers arranged in a cylindrical shape. METHODS: In this study, the goal was to investigate the efficacy of sugammadex. Sugammadex was used when there was insufficient decurarisation following neostigmine. This study was performed on 14 patients who experienced insufficient decurarisation (TOF <0.9) with neostigmine after general anaesthesia in the operating rooms of a university and a state hospital between June, 2012, and January, 2014. A dose of 2 mg/kg of sugammadex was administered. RESULTS: Time elapsed until sugammadex administration following neostigmine 37 ± 6 min, following sugammadex it took 2.1 ± 0.9 min to reach TOF ≥0.9, and the extubation time was 3.2 ± 1.4 min. No statistically significant differences were detected in the hemodynamic parameters before and after sugammadex application. From the time of administration of sugammadex to the second postoperative hour, no side effects or complications occurred. None of the patients experienced acute respiratory failure or residual block during this time period. CONCLUSION: Sugammadex was successfully used to reverse rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block in patients where neostigmine was insufficient.

[Our percutaneous vertebroplasty applications in vertebral compression fractures]. / Vertebra kompresyon kiriklarinda perkütan vertebroplasti uygulamalarimiz.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and complications of the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) applications in vertebral compression fractures. METHODS: Our study was carried out as a retrospective study in which PVP was conducted on patients with vertebral compression fractures due to benign or malignant causes between October 2006 and December 2009. The patients' pain was evaluated on a visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, the amount of cement injected, whether or not any leakage from the vertebrae corpus was seen, and any complications resulting from the application during or after the operation were recorded. The age and gender of the patients, duration of pain, number and location of fractured vertebrae, and the duration of follow-up were also collected for evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients were included in the assessment. Of the patients, 13 were female, and the mean age was 69.5±8.5 years. A total of 19 PVPs were applied to the 15 patients. While initial VAS scores were 7.9±1.6, at the end of an average of 10.3±3.8 (range: 4-18) months of follow-up, VAS scores had fallen to 2.6±2.7. 80% of the patients reported at least a 50% reduction in pain scores compared to initial scores, and 86.7% of them reported at least a 2-point decrease in VAS scores. In three patients, leakage of cement into the intervertebral disc occurred. CONCLUSION: PVP may be used successfully in symptomatic vertebral compression fractures not responding to medical treatment, with a low rate of complications.

Effectiveness of nucleoplasty applied for chronic radicular pain.

BACKGROUND: Over the last several decades there has been a general trend toward reduction and minimalization in surgical treatment of chronic back pain, since open surgery brings complications in small and contained disc herniations instead of achieving expected success. Attention has been focussed on percutaneous nucleoplasty due to the limited success of other minimally invasive methods, as well due to their associated complications. However, there have been few studies in the English literature with a follow-up period of more than 1 year. MATERIAL/METHODS: Patients with chronic disc herniations having more significant radicular leg pain, who did not respond to non-invasive treatment methods and for whom open surgery was not an option were selected for percutaneous nucleoplasty application. Upon intervention, patients were prospectively questioned by an independent physician regarding pain, physical improvement, and operation satisfaction at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months. Pain was evaluated with VAS, and physical improvement was evaluated based on the Oswestry Disability Index. RESULTS: Mean VAS that was 8.7±1.1 before the procedure was determined to be 3.4±1.9 at 24 months follow-up. At the latest follow-up, 87.5% of the patients reported a 30% or higher decrease in their pain. While Oswestry scores were 76.1±10.2 in the beginning, they went down to 33.9±14.9 at the end of 2 years. The percent of those stating "good" and "excellent" satisfaction was 66% (23 persons) on the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: While it is once more shown that nucleoplasty is a safe method, it is also shown that its effectiveness continues at the end of 2 years.

Cooled radiofrequency application for treatment of sacroiliac joint pain.

BACKGROUND: The unavailability of an effective and long-lasting treatment for sacroiliac-based pain has led researchers to study the efficacy of radiofrequency in denervation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of novel cooled radiofrequency application for sacral lateral-branch denervation. METHODS: Patients experiencing chronic sacroiliac pain were selected for our observational study. Fluoroscopy guidance cooled radiofrequency denervation was applied on the L5 dorsal ramus and the S1-3 lateral branches on patients who had twice undergone consecutive joint blockages to confirm the diagnosis and obtained at least 75% pain relief. At the 1st, 3rd and 6th month postoperatively, the patients' pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS), and their physical function was evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: Cooled radiofrequency was applied on a total of 15 patients. Prior to the procedures, the median VAS score (interquartile range) was 8 (7-9), but at the 1st, 3rd and 6th month, this had fallen to 3 (1-4), 2 (1-3) and 3 (2-4). The baseline median ODI score (interquartile range) was 36 (32-38), while at the 1st, 3rd and 6th month, it was 16 (8-20), 12 (9-18) and 14 (10-20), respectively. At the final control, while 80% of the patients reported at least a 50% decline in pain scores, 86.7% of those reported at least a ten-point reduction in ODI scores. CONCLUSION: It was seen that the cooled radiofrequency used for sacroiliac denervation was an effective and safe method in the short to intermediate term.