The Influence of Pre-operative Pain and Anxiety on Acute Postoperative Pain in Cardiac Surgery Patients Undergoing Enhanced Recovery after Surgery.

Objective: Perioperative multimodal analgesia is an important step in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) care. Many factors, such as preoperative chronic pain and anxiety, may provide information about the expected postoperative pain. In this study, we evaluated preoperative pain and anxiety and investigate their effects on acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Methods: After ethics committee approval, 67 consenting patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery under the ERAS program were included in our prospective observational study. Pre- and postoperative pain scores were obtained using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at rest and during movement. Preoperative anxiety was assessed on a 0-10 scale, and data were recorded. The relationships between pre-operative pain/anxiety and postoperative pain were evaluated using correlation analysis. Results: In preoperative pain assessment, the percentage of patients with a pain score above 4 with NRS was 1.5%, regardless of whether they were at rest or mobilize. In postoperative pain assessment, there were 20.9% and 34.3% patients with NRS >4 at rest and mobilization, respectively. 7.5% of patients had preoperative anxiety of grade 5 or higher. While preoperative pain was not correlated with postoperative pain, preoperative anxiety had a moderate positive correlation with postoperative pain (r=0.382, P=0.003). Conclusion: The prevalence of preoperative pain in patients who underwent cardiac surgery is quite low and is not associated with postoperative pain. There is also a significant relationship between the severity of preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain.

Poor nutritional status and frailty associated with acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: A retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major determinant of short- and long-term morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery. The present study examines the effect of preoperative nutritional status and frailty on this significant adverse event. METHODS: The data of 455 patients who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data were recorded, and intraoperative and postoperative parameters, frailty score, geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were calculated. Risk factors for AKI within 7 postoperative days were investigated in accordance with the kidney disease improving global outcomes classification. RESULTS: Preoperative urea and creatinine values were significantly higher (p = .006 vs. p = .006), while hemoglobin, hematocrit, and estimated glomerular filtration rate values were significantly lower (p = .011, p = .008 vs. p = .006) in the AKI group than no AKI group. In the intraoperative period, the cardiopulmonary bypass time was longer in the AKI group (p = .031), and the need for dopamine, steradine, and red blood cells transfusion was greater (p = .026, p = .038 vs. p = .015) than no AKI group. The number of patients with a frailty score of 1-3 was significantly higher in the AKI group (p = .042). Similarly, the GNRI and PNI values, indicating nutritional status, were higher in the AKI group (p = .047 vs. p = .024). The independent risk factors for AKI were a GNRI of <91, the intraoperative need for dobutamine, preoperative serum creatinine of >1.3, and hemoglobin of <10 (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition and frailty are strongly associated with AKI after CABG. Clinicians can effectively predict the risk of AKI through an evaluation of frailty and nutritional scores, which can be easily calculated in the preoperative period.

Retrograde autologous priming method reduces plasma free hemoglobin level in aortic surgery.

Background: Although conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (cCPB) is still the most widely used method in open heart surgery, methods such as retrograde autologous priming (RAP) are increasingly popular in terms of limiting hemodilution. Our hypothesis is that the use of the RAP method in aortic surgery may result in a limitation of hemodilution and a decrease in fHb levels. For this purpose, plasma free hemoglobin (fHb) levels were investigated in adult open aortic arch repair with axillary artery cannulation patients using cCPB and rRAP methods. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 36 patients undergoing aortic surgery using rRAP and standard cCPB were investigated. Measurements were performed at five time points: After induction of anesthesia, 5th minute of CPB, 10th minute of antegrade cerebral perfusion, 30th minute after declamping of aorta, and at sternum closure. Besides hemodynamic variables, arterial blood gas analysis and postoperative variables, patients were assessed for fHb levels. Results: The rRAP group had a significantly lower increase in fHb levels in T3, T4, and T5 time points, when compared to the cCPB group (p = 0.002, 0.047, 0.009, respectively). There was no significant difference between the rRAP and cCPB groups in other intraoperative, and postoperative variables. Also, it was observed that rRAP did not make a difference in terms of blood and blood product transfusion. Conclusion: In this study, in patients undergoing aortic surgery, a reduction in the increase of fHb was observed with the rRAP method which is a simple procedure that does not require high cost or advanced technology.

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.

Emotion regulation and premedication success relationship in children who underwent general anesthesia

Background/aim: This study aims to investigate the relationship between emotion regulation characteristics and the efficacy of midazolam premedication. Materials and methods: Sixty-three children, aged 3 to 8 years old, with tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy and taking premedication with midazolam (Group 2) or without premedication (Group 1), were included in this study. The behavioral and emotional status of the children was evaluated with the Conners Parent Rating Scale-48 (CPRS-48) and Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC). Age, sex, body weight, response to intravenous (IV) cannulation and mask, hemodynamic data, preoperative sedation scores [Wilton Sedation Scale (WSS)], postoperative pain intensity [Objective Pain Scale (OPS)], and emergence agitation (EA) level [Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED)] were recorded. Results: A total of 90.6% patients were quiet and sleepy in Group 2, and 25.8% in Group 1. The mean scores of OPS and PAED were higher in Group 1, and the percentage of patients with PAED score of >10 was 51.6% in Group 1 and 18.8% in Group 2 (P < 0.05). In Group 1, a significant correlation was found between PAED scores and WSS and the subfactors of the CPRS-48 (P < 0.05). A correlation was found between WSS and subfactors of ERS in Group 1 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of anxiety and postoperative EA is increased in children with emotion regulation disorder, and midazolam premedication reduced the frequency of EA.

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.