Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Buerger's Disease: a Pilot Study.

In this study we evaluated the incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea and Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans for reduction of crisis. In 40 patients with Buerger's disease daily sleepiness and risk of Obstructive sleep apnea were evaluated using the Epworth sleeping scale (ESS) and the Stop-Bang score. An Apnea-link device was used for evaluation of chest motion, peripheral oxygenation, and nasal airflow during night-time sleep. The apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and respiratory disurbance index were used for Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome diagnosis. All subjects were cigarette smokers and 80% were opium addicted. The prevalence of Obstructive sleep apnea (AHI>5) was 80%, but incidence of Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (AHI>5 + ESS≥10) was 5% (2/40). There was no association between duration or frequency of hospitalization and Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (P=0.74 and 0.86, respectively). In addition, no correlation between ESS and Stop-Bang scores and AHI was observed (P=0.58 and 0.41, respectively). There was an inverse correlation between smoking rate and AHI (P=0.032, r = -0.48). We did not find an association between Buerger's disease and Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Although the AHI was high (80%) and daily sleepiness was low. The negative correlation of smoking with AHI and on the other hand daily napping in addiction may be caused by the absence of a clear relationship between Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and Buerger's disease.

Pharyngeal Packing during Rhinoplasty: Advantages and Disadvantages.

INTRODUCTION: Controversy remains as to the advantages and disadvantages of pharyngeal packing during septorhinoplasty. Our study investigated the effect of pharyngeal packing on postoperative nausea and vomiting and sore throat following this type of surgery or septorhinoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This clinical trial was performed on 90 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I or II patients who were candidates for septorhinoplasty. They were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the study group had received pharyngeal packing while those in the control group had not. The incidence of nausea and vomiting and sore throat based on the visual analog scale (VAS) was evaluated postoperatively in the recovery room as well as at 2, 6 and 24 hours. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was 12.3%, with no significant difference between the study and control groups. Sore throat was reported in 50.5% of cases overall (56.8% on pack group and 44.4% on control). Although the severity of pain was higher in the study group at all times, the incidence in the two groups did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: The use of pharyngeal packing has no effect in reducing the incidence of nausea and vomiting and sore throat after surgery. Given that induced hypotension is used as the routine method of anesthesia in septorhinoplasty surgery, with a low incidence of hemorrhage and a high risk of unintended retention of pharyngeal packing, its routine use is not recommended for this procedure.

Unilateral recurrent laryngeal and hypoglossal nerve paralysis following rhinoplasty: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Injury to cranial nerves IX, X, and XII is a known complication of laryngoscopy and intubation. Here we present a patient with concurrent hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis after rhinoplasty. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 27-year-old woman who was candidate for rhinoplastic surgery. The next morning after the operation, the patient complained of dysphonia and a sore throat .7 days after the operation she was still complaining of dysphonia. She underwent a direct laryngoscopy, and right TVC paralysis was observed. Right hypoglossal nerve paralysis was also detected during physical cranial nerve function tests. Hypoglossal and recurrent laryngeal nerve function was completely recovered after 5 and 7 months, respectively, and no complication was remained. CONCLUSION: Accurate and atraumatic intubation and extubation, true positioning of the head and neck, delicate and gentle packing of the oropharynx, and maintenance of mean blood pressure at a safe level are appropriate methods to prevent this complication during anesthesia and surgical procedures.

The effect of local injection of epinephrine and bupivacaine on post-tonsillectomy pain and bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries in the world and the most common problem is post-tonsillectomy pain and bleeding. The relief of postoperative pain helps increase early food intake and prevent secondary dehydration. One method for relieving pain is peritonsillar injection of epinephrine along with an anesthetic, which has been shown to produce variable results in previous studies. Study Deign: Prospective case-control study. SETTING: A tertiary referral centers with accredited otorhinolaryngology-head & neck surgery and anesthesiology department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients under 15 years old, who were tonsillectomy candidates, were assigned into one of three groups: placebo injection, drug injection before tonsillectomy, and drug injection after tonsillectomy. The amount of bleeding, intensity of pain, and time of first post-operative food intake were evaluated during the first 18 hours post operation. RESULTS: The intensity of pain in the first 30 minutes after the operation was lower in the patients who received injections, but the difference was not significant during the first 18 hours. The intensity of pain on swallowing during the first 6 hours was also lower in the intervention groups as compared with the placebo group. The amount of bleeding during the first 30 minutes post operation was lower in the two groups who received injections, but after 30 minutes there was no difference. CONCLUSION: Injection of epinephrine and bupivacaine pre- or post- tonsillectomy is effective in reducing pain and bleeding. The treatment also decreases swallowing pain in the hours immediately after surgery.

Intrathecal sufentanil for intraoperative and postesophagectomy pain relief.

OBJECTIVES: The present study compares the analgesic properties of intrathecal (IT group) and intravenous (IV group) sufentanil in postoperative pain relief. METHODS: This randomized, single blinded study was performed on patients awaiting transhiatal esophagectomy. The patients were randomly allocated to receive sufentanil intrathecally or intravenously. Sufentanil consumption during the operation, pain score following the operation based on visual analog scale (VAS) and the morphine requirement for postoperative analgesia were assessed during the first 24 hours. RESULTS: Fifty patients were divided in two groups. During the operation, the opioid requirement was higher in the IV group, whereas the morphine requirement during the first 24 hours after the operation was the same in both groups. The duration of effective postoperative analgesia was longer in patients in the IT group. VAS pain scores were significantly lower during the first 2 hours postoperatively in the IT group. The incidence of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache and respiratory depression was infrequent in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative IT sufentanil can be used as a booster to achieve rapid and effective analgesia not only during the operation but also during the immediate postoperative period.