Impact of Secondary Insults in Brain Death After Traumatic Brain Injury.

In addition to primary injury in severe head trauma, secondary systemic insults that aggravate the brain injury may result in fatal neurologic outcome. We aim to evaluate the correlation between brain death and secondary systemic insults in 100 patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to the intensive care unit. We collected data on hypotension and hypoxemia at the time of admission to intensive care unit and data on hypotension, hypoxemia, hypocarbia, hypercarbia, shock, anemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperthermia within the first 24 hours. In addition, we recorded the category of TBI according to computed tomography findings. Twenty-six patients (26%) who developed brain death were significantly younger than survivors. Early hypotension (odds ratio [OR], 10.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.64-28.78; P = .000) and early shock (OR, 8.31; 95% CI, 2.65-26.01; P = .000) were significantly more frequent among brain-death patients. The most featured factor that independently predicted the development of brain death in patients with severe TBI was the existence of hypotension (B-2.74; 95% CI, 0.016-0.252; P = .000). The most common type of injury among brain death patients was a surgically evacuated mass lesion. Although all critical care principles are applied to prevent secondary systemic brain insults, when brain death occurs, the prevention of hypotension will become significant in preserving organs in better condition for procurement.

The analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block on postoperative pain and morphine consumption in varicocelectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the analgesic effect of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block administered before varicocele surgery. METHODS: This study was completed at the Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey, between January 2011 and April 2013. In a prospective, double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical study, 40 male patients scheduled for elective varicocele operations were randomized to group T (treatment group) or group C (controls). After receiving general anesthesia, group T received a TAP block using 20 mL 0.25% bupivacaine on the operation side, whereas group C received a control block using 20 mL 0.9% Sodium chloride. During the first 24 hours after surgery, the patient pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and while coughing. Postoperative patient controlled analgesia morphine consumption, VAS scores, and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: Of 34 patients, Group T (n=18) had significantly lower VAS pain scores than Group C (n=16) both at rest and while coughing. The total morphine consumed was  lower (7.7 ± 4.0) versus 21.6 ± 12.4 mg, p less than 0.001) in the 24 hours after surgery. CONCLUSION: As part of a multimodal analgesic regime after varicocelectomy surgery, morphine consumption and VAS pain scores were significantly lower among those receiving 20 mL 0.25% bupivacaine administered for a TAP block than among controls.

Effects of smoking on venous cannulation pain: a randomized prospective trial / Efeitos do tabagismo sobre a dor durante o cateterismo venoso: um estudo prospectivo e randomizado / Efectos del tabaquismo sobre el dolor durante el cateterismo venoso: un estudio prospectivo y aleatorizado

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been demonstrated that smoking increases pain perception; however the effect of smoking on perception of pain during venous cannulation is not known. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not smoking has an effect on pain perception due to peripheral venous cannulation. METHODS: 220 patients scheduled to have elective surgery were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups (Group S and C, n = 110 for each) according to their smoking habits. Numerical rating scale was introduced to the patients and then peripheral venous cannulation at the dorsum of the hand was made with a 20 G intracath. Pain perception of the patients was scored by subsequent numerical rating scale questioning. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the groups were identical. Numerical rating scale scores in Group S and C were 3.31 ± 1.56 and 1.65 ± 1.23, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pain perception due to peripheral venous cannulation is higher in smokers. Future studies on pain treatment should consider the smoking habits of patients. .

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Sabe-se que o tabagismo aumenta a percepção de dor; porém, o efeito do tabagismo sobre a percepção da dor durante o cateterismo venoso não é conhecido. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se o tabagismo tem ou não algum efeito sobre a percepção da dor durante a punção venosa periférica. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 220 pacientes agendados para cirurgia eletiva randomicamente alocados em dois grupos: Grupo S (n = 110) e Grupo C (n = 110), de acordo com seus hábitos tabagísticos. Os pacientes foram instruídos sobre o uso da escala numérica de classificação da dor e, em seguida, a punção venosa periférica foi feita no dorso da mão com um cateter de calibre 20G (Intracath(r)). A percepção de dor dos pacientes foi posteriormente registrada de acordo com os escores da escala numérica. RESULTADOS: As características demográficas dos grupos eram idênticas. Os escores da escala numérica de dor dos grupos S e C foram 3,31 ± 1,56 e 1,65 ± 1,23, respectivamente (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A percepção da dor por causa da punção venosa periférica é maior em fumantes. Estudos futuros sobre o tratamento da dor devem considerar os hábitos tabagísticos dos pacientes. .

JUSTIFICACIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Se sabe que el tabaquismo aumenta la percepción de dolor; sin embargo, el efecto del tabaquismo sobre la percepción del dolor durante el cateterismo venoso no se conoce. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar si el tabaquismo tiene o no algún efecto sobre la percepción del dolor durante la punción venosa periférica. MÉTODOS: Fueron incluidos en el estudio 220 pacientes programados para cirugía electiva aleatoriamente ubicados en 2 grupos: grupo S (n = 110) y grupo C (n = 110), de acuerdo con sus hábitos tabáquicos. A los pacientes se les informó sobre el uso de la escala numérica de clasificación del dolor y a continuación se realizó la punción venosa periférica en el dorso de la mano con un catéter de calibre 20 G (Intracath(r)). La percepción de dolor de los pacientes fue posteriormente registrada de acuerdo con las puntuaciones de la escala numérica. RESULTADOS: Las características demográficas de los grupos eran idénticas. Las puntuaciones de la escala numérica de dolor de los grupos S y C fueron 3,31 ± 1,56 y 1,65 ± 1,23 respectivamente (p < 0,001). CONCLUSIÓN: La percepción del dolor por punción venosa periférica es mayor en los fumadores. Estudios futuros sobre el tratamiento del dolor deben tener en cuenta los hábitos tabáquicos de los pacientes. .

[Effects of smoking on venous cannulation pain: a randomized prospective trial]. / Efeitos do tabagismo sobre a dor durante o cateterismo venoso: um estudo prospectivo e randomizado.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been demonstrated that smoking increases pain perception; however the effect of smoking on perception of pain during venous cannulation is not known. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not smoking has an effect on pain perception due to peripheral venous cannulation. METHODS: 220 patients scheduled to have elective surgery were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups (Group S and C, n=110 for each) according to their smoking habits. Numerical rating scale was introduced to the patients and then peripheral venous cannulation at the dorsum of the hand was made with a 20G intracath. Pain perception of the patients was scored by subsequent numerical rating scale questioning. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the groups were identical. Numerical rating scale scores in Group S and C were 3.31±1.56 and 1.65±1.23, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Pain perception due to peripheral venous cannulation is higher in smokers. Future studies on pain treatment should consider the smoking habits of patients.

Use of Succinylcholine by Anaesthetists in Turkey: A National Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Although succinylcholine (SCh) has side effects, it is among the most commonly used muscle relaxants for rapid induction because of the faster onset of its effects and short effect duration. However, there is no information regarding the frequency of use of SCh by anaesthetists in Turkey. This study aims to investigate the use of SCh by anaesthetists working in Turkey. METHODS: A web-based survey form was sent by e-mail to anaesthetists working in Turkey. The form comprised a total of 24 questions. RESULTS: E-mails were sent to a total of 1882 addresses at two separate times. E-mail replies were received from 433 (23%) anaesthetists. Based on those who responded to the survey, 54.27% anaesthetists routinely used SCh for adult elective cases, 29.33% for paediatric elective cases and 74.13% for emergency cases. In adult elective cases, SCh was most frequently chosen for caesarean section (20.5%), and in paediatric elective and emergency cases, SCh was chosen most frequently because difficult intubation was expected (31.3 and 21.4%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that SCh is still widely used by anaesthetists in Turkey. Majority of physicians who participated our survey were aware of the side effects; however, they reported using SCh in certain special situations. It is evident that creation of a standard care guide for departments is essential. The first stage of creating a standard care guide is to analyse and document the current application. With this aim, more wide-ranging advanced studies should be completed.