Transversus abdominis plane block with different bupivacaine concentrations in children undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair: a single-blind randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Current knowledge on the ideal local anesthetic concentration for the ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) in pediatrics is scarce. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of US-guided TAPB at two different concentrations of bupivacaine in pediatrics undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: After random allocation, 74 children aged 1-8 were randomized to receive US-guided TAPB by using 1 mg.kg- 1 bupivacaine as either 0,25% (0,4 ml.kg- 1) (Group 1) or 0,125% (0,8 ml.kg- 1) (Group 2) concentration. All blocks were performed under general anesthesia, immediately after the induction, unilaterally with a lateral approach. All subjects received intravenous 15 mg/kg paracetamol 0.15 mg/kg dexamethasone and 0.1 mg/kg ondansetron intraoperatively. The primary outcome was the efficacy which is assessed by postoperative FLACC behavioral pain assessment score at 15', 30', 45', 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h. The secondary outcomes were to assess the total dose of rescue analgesic consumption, length of hospital stay, the incidence of side effects, complications and satisfaction levels of the patients' parents and the surgeons. RESULTS: Sixty-four children were recruited for the study. Postoperative pain scores were equal between the two groups. There was no need for a rescue analgesic in any group after the postoperative 6thhour. No local or systemic complication or side effect related to anesthesia or surgery was reported. CONCLUSION: TAPB using 1 mg.kg- 1 bupivacaine administered as either high volume/low concentration or low volume/high concentration was providing both adequate analgesia and no side effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered at Clinicaltrals.gov , NCT04202367 .

Salvage for Postpartum Massive Haemorrhage in a Jehovah's Witness with Intravenous Iron Therapy and Cell Saver System.

Intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) system performs autologous transfusion by filtering and reinfusing the shed blood into corporeal circulation during the surgery. Especially for pregnant Jehovah's Witnesses, the ICS system could be a life-saving intervention. This report describes the successful use of intravenous iron therapy and ICS during the cesarean delivery of a Jehovah's Witness diagnosed with placenta previa totalis who refused to receive any type of blood or blood product transfusion. Intravenous iron treatment initiated in the preoperative period can reduce the need for blood and blood product transfusion. The ICS system provides recognised advantages; however, its utilisation requires high technology equipment and skilled health staff. Key Words: Jehovah's witness, pregnancy, Iron therapy, Intraoperative cell salvage.

Evaluation of skin test indications for general anesthetics in real life: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In daily practice, atopic patients and those who have other drug allergies are referred to allergy clinics for evaluation of possible general anesthetic allergy despite the fact that it is not recommended in recent guidelines. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study is to determine the negative predictive value of skin tests for common general anesthetic drugs prior to general anesthesia in atopic patients and in patients who had drug allergies by including the data of those who had previously tolerated or reacted to general anesthesia. METHODS: A database program was constituted to collect the preoperative skin test data of patients referred to our clinic between 2013 and 2018. Demographic and clinical history, medications implemented during perioperative period, reactions, and results of skin tests performed with anesthetic drugs and latex were evaluated. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-nine out of the total 1167 patients referred fulfilled the inclusion criteria for further evaluation. Nearly 75% of the patients were female and mean age was 46.3 ±â€¯14.3 years. History of hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) due to NSAIDs and/or antibiotics, radiocontrast agents, local anesthetics, and food were present in the 53.1%, 4.1%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, respectively. The negative predictive values of skin tests for general anesthetics were in the range of 80-100%. Only 4 patients (0,87%) experienced HRs during operation. CONCLUSION: These real-life data reveal high rates of negative predictive value of skin tests with general anesthetic drugs and a low reaction rate in atopic patients and in patients with allergy to other drugs.

Peri-operative blood transfusion in elective major surgery: incidence, indications and outcome - an observational multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Patients' demographic and epidemiological characteristics, local variations in clinicians' knowledge and experience and types of surgery can influence peri-operative transfusion practices. Sharing data on transfusion practices and recipients may improve patients' care and implementation of Patient Blood Management (PBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicentre, prospective, observational, cross-sectional study that included 61 centres. Clinical and transfusion data of patients undergoing major elective surgery were collected; transfusion predictors and patients' outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Of 6,121 patients, 1,579 (25.8%) received a peri-operative transfusion. A total of 5,812 blood components were transfused: red blood cells (RBC), fresh-frozen plasma and platelets in 1,425 (23.3%), 762 (12.4%) and 88 (1.4%) cases, respectively). Pre-operative anaemia was identified in 2,019 (33%) patients. Half of the RBC units were used by patients in the age group 45-69 years. Specific procedures with the highest RBC use were coronary artery bypass grafting (16.9% of all units) and hip arthroplasty (14.9%). Low haemoglobin concentration was the most common indication for intra-operative RBC transfusion (57%) and plasma and platelet transfusions were mostly initiated for acute bleeding (61.3% and 61.1%, respectively). The RBC transfusion rate in study centres varied from 2% to 72%. RBC transfusion was inappropriate in 99% (n=150/151) of pre-operative, 23% (n=211/926) of intra-operative and 43% (n=308/716) of post-operative RBC transfusion episodes. Pre-operative haemoglobin, increased blood loss, open surgery and duration of surgery were the main independent predictors of intra-operative RBC transfusion. Low pre-operative haemoglobin concentration was independently associated with post-operative pulmonary complications. CONCLUSIONS: These findings identified areas for improvement in peri-operative transfusion practice and PBM implementation in Turkey.

Bipolar versus monopolar resection of benign prostate hyperplasia: a comparison of plasma electrolytes, hemoglobin and TUR syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar and monopolar transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) are both widely used for surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Systemic absorption of irrigation fluids during TURP operations leads to variations in blood chemistry. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to compare two different surgical techniques and the systemic effects of irrigation solutions (5 % mannitol vs. 0.9 % sodium chloride) under standardized anesthesia care. METHODS: Fifty-two patients who were scheduled for elective TURP were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups; the group M; 5 % mannitol was used for irrigation and the group B; 0.9 % sodium chloride was used for irrigation. Spinal anesthesia was performed to all patients. The patients' demographics, prostate volumes, hemodynamic parameters, volumes of irrigation, and IV fluids were recorded. Serum electrolytes (Na+, K+) and hemoglobin (Hb) were analyzed in blood samples taken before the operation (control), at the 45th min of the operation (1st measurement), and 1 h after the end of the surgery (2nd measurement) and recorded. RESULTS: The Na+ value of group M was significantly lower in both the 1st and 2nd measurements compared with the control value (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Na+ values of group M were also significantly lower than group B in both the 1st and 2nd measurements (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). The change in Na+ levels was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001) in group M, whereas the intergroup changes were not statistically significant in group B. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that bipolar resection coupled with 0.9 % sodium chloride has minimal effects on serum sodium levels compared with monopolar resection. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02681471.

Critical Incident Reporting System in Teaching Hospitals in Turkey: A Survey Study.

OBJECTIVE: Critical incident reporting systems (CIRS) and morbidity-mortality meetings (MMMs) offer the advantages of identifying potential risks in patients. They are key tools in improving patient safety in healthcare systems by modifying the attitudes of clinicians, nurses and staff (human error) and also the system (human and/or technical error) according to the analysis and the results of incidents. METHODS: One anaesthetist assigned to an administrative and/or teaching position from all university hospitals (UHs) and training and research hospitals (TRHs) of Turkey (n=114) was contacted. In this survey study, we analysed the facilities of anaesthetists in Turkish UHs and TRHs with respect to CIRS and MMMs and also the anaesthetists' knowledge, experience and attitudes regarding CIs. RESULTS: Anaesthetists from 81 of 114 teaching hospitals replied to our survey. Although 96.3% of anaesthetists indicated CI reporting as a necessity, only 37% of departments/hospitals were reported to have CIRS. True definition of CI as "an unexpected /accidental event" was achieved by 23.3% of anaesthetists with CIRS. MMMs were reported in 60.5% of hospitals. Nevertheless, 96% of anaesthetists believe that CIRS and MMMs decrease the incidence of CI occurring. CI occurrence was attributed to human error as 4 [1-5]/10 and 3 [1-5]/10 in UHs and TRHs, respectively (p=0.005). In both hospital types, technical errors were evaluated as 3 [1-5]/10 (p=0.498). CONCLUSION: This first study regarding CIRS in the Turkish anaesthesia departments/hospitals highlights the lack of CI knowledge and CIRS awareness and use in anaesthesia departments/teaching hospitals in Turkey despite a safety reporting system set up by the Turkish Ministry of Health.

Ultrasonographic Measurement of Subglottic Diameter for Paediatric Cuffed Endotracheal Tube Size Selection: Feasibility Report.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this feasibility study was to investigate the first attempt success of ultrasonography (USG) in paediatric patients in predicting an appropriate cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) size. METHODS: Fifty children who were 1-10 years of age and who received general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation for adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy were enrolled in the study. In all participants, the transverse diameter of the subglottic airway was measured with USG at the cricoid level without ventilation. The outer diameter (OD) of the maximum allowable ETT was chosen according to the measured subglottic airway diameter. In the presence of resistance to passage of the tube into the trachea or in the absence of an audible leak at airway pressure of >25 cm H2O, the ETT was replaced with a tube whose internal diameter (ID) was 0.5 mm smaller. If a leak was audible at airway pressures of <10 cm H2O, if a seal could not be achieved with a cuff pressure of >25 cm H2O or if a peak airway pressure of >25 cm H2O was observed during ventilation, the tube was changed to a tube one size larger. The OD of the best-fit ETT was converted to the ID. The best-fit ID, the requirement for ETT replacement, the duration of airway diameter measurement by USG and the peak airway pressure were recorded. RESULTS: The success rate of the first attempt with USG was 86%; the ETT was replaced in five patients with a tube one size larger and in two patients with a tube one size smaller. CONCLUSION: Our findings show the subglottic diameter measured by USG to be a reliable predictor in estimating the appropriate paediatric ETT size.

Magnesium Therapy in Pre-eclampsia Prolongs Analgesia Following Spinal Anaesthesia with Fentanyl and Bupivacaine: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium has anti-nociceptive effects and potentiates opioid analgesia following its systemic and neuraxial administration. However, there is no study evaluating the effects of intravenous (IV) magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) therapy on spinal anaesthesia characteristics in severely pre-eclamptic patients. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare spinal anaesthesia characteristics in severely pre-eclamptic parturients treated with MgSO4 and healthy preterm parturients undergoing caesarean section. Thus, our primary outcome was regarded as the time to first analgesic request following spinal anaesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control Study. METHODS: Following approval of Institutional Clinical Research Ethics Committee and informed consent of the patients, 44 parturients undergoing caesarean section with spinal anaesthesia were enrolled in the study in two groups: Healthy preterm parturients (Group C) and severely pre-eclamptic parturients with IV MgSO4 therapy (Group Mg). Following blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling, spinal anaesthesia was induced with 9 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine and 20 µg fentanyl. Serum and CSF magnesium levels, onset of sensory block at T4 level, highest sensory block level, motor block characteristics, time to first analgesic request, maternal haemodynamics as well as side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: Blood and CSF magnesium levels were higher in Group Mg. Sensory block onset at T4 were 257.1±77.5 and 194.5±80.1 sec in Group C and Mg respectively (p=0.015). Time to first postoperative analgesic request was significantly prolonged in Group Mg than in Group C (246.1±52.8 and 137.4±30.5 min, respectively, p<0.001; with a mean difference of 108.6 min and 95% CI between 81.6 and 135.7). Side effects were similar in both groups. Group C required significantly more fluids. CONCLUSION: Treatment with IV MgSO4 in severe pre-eclamptic parturients significantly prolonged the time to first analgesic request compared to healthy preterm parturients, which might be attributed to the opioid potentiation of magnesium.

Combined Spinal Epidural Anaesthesia for Caesarean Section and Hysterectomy in a Parturient with Placenta Accreta.

Placenta accreta complicates the anaesthetic and surgical approach in caesarean section. In this report, a parturient with placenta accreta and multiple drug allergies who was managed using combined spinal epidural anaesthesia for caesarean hysterectomy is discussed.

Writing references and using citation management software.

The correct citation of references is obligatory to gain scientific credibility, to honor the original ideas of previous authors and to avoid plagiarism. Currently, researchers can easily find, cite and store references using citation management software. In this review, two popular citation management software programs (EndNote and Mendeley) are summarized.