Habip Atalay

Effects of low dose ketamine before induction on propofol anesthesia for pediatric magnetic resonance imaging

Background : We aimed to investigate effects of low dose ketamine before induction on propofol anesthesia for children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Costs and risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia in a Turkish University Hospital's Intensive Care Unit: A case-control study

BackgroundVentilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) which is an important part of all nosocomial infections in intensive care unit (ICU) is a serious illness with substantial morbidity and mortality, and increases costs of hospital care. We aimed to evaluate costs and risk factors for VAP in adult ICU.MethodsThis is a-three year retrospective case-control study. The data were collected between 01 January 2000 and 31 December 2002. During the study period, 132 patients were diagnosed as nosocomial pneumonia of 731 adult medical-surgical ICU patients. Of these only 37 VAP patients were assessed, and multiple nosocomially infected patients were excluded from the study. Sixty non-infected ICU patients were chosen as control patients.ResultsMedian length of stay in ICU in patients with VAP and without were 8.0 (IQR: 6.5) and 2.5 (IQR: 2.0) days respectively (P < 0.0001). Respiratory failure (OR, 11.8; 95%, CI, 2.2–62.5; P < 0.004), coma in admission (Glasgow coma scale < 9) (OR, 17.2; 95% CI, 2.7–107.7; P < 0.002), depressed consciousness (OR, 8.8; 95% CI, 2.9–62.5; P < 0.02), enteral feeding (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.0–27.3; P = 0.044) and length of stay (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0–1.7; P < 0.04) were found as important risk factors. Most commonly isolated microorganism was methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (30.4%). Mortality rates were higher in patients with VAP (70.3%) than the control patients (35.5%) (P < 0.003). Mean cost of patients with and without VAP were 2832.2+/-1329.0 and 868.5+/-428.0 US Dollars respectively (P < 0.0001).ConclusionRespiratory failure, coma, depressed consciousness, enteral feeding and length of stay are independent risk factors for developing VAP. The cost of VAP is approximately five-fold higher than non-infected patients.

The effects of amifostine and dexamethasone on brain tissue lipid peroxidation during oxygen treatment of carbon monoxide-poisoned rats

The mechanisms of injury of, and methods of treating patients with, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are poorly understood. Besides the hypoxic degenerative effects of CO, reoxygenation injury may play an important role. Amifostine (Ami), which is most often used in radiotherapy for its tissue protective characteristics, may offer benefits. In this study, investigators evaluated the effectiveness of various treatments in a CO-poisoned rat model. A total of 36 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 groups (n=6 each), including control and poisoned groups exposed to CO at 2000 ppm (v/v) for 1 h, followed by various 1-h treatments: group C (control), group CO-air (ambient air), group CO-NBO (normobaric 100% oxygen), group CO-HBO (hyperbaric oxygen with 3 atmospheres absolute [3 ATA]), group CO-NBO-Ami (normobaric oxygen with intraperitoneal [IP] injection of amifostine 250 mg/kg body weight [bw]), and group CO-70O (70% O2 and 5% CO2 with dexamethasone 10 mg/kg bw, IP). Blood gas analysis, carboxy-hemoglobin determination, brain tissue lipid peroxidation, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) activities were evaluated. Carboxyhemoglobin concentration in the air-treated group was 44±2%; it decreased to the control level with all oxygen treatments. Brain tissue GSH-Px and SOD measurements did not change. The activity of LDH in group CO-HBO and the activities of LDH and CKin group CO-70O were similar to those of group C. Lipid peroxides were high in ambient air and normobaric oxygen, but HBO, amifostine with oxygen, or 70% O2 reduced these to control levels (P < .05).

Effect of Diclofenac on Experimental Pleurodesis Induced by Tetracycline in Rabbits

Background and Objective Pleurodesis is a frequently preferred procedure in thoracic surgery, and many factors may affect the process. We aimed to determine whether the administration of systemic diclofenac sodium diminishes the effectiveness of the pleurodesis induced by intrapleural tetracycline in rabbits. Methods Twelve male New Zealand rabbits that received tetracycline 35 mg/kg intrapleurally were allocated into two groups. The first group (diclofenac group, n = 6) received 2 mg/kg diclofenac sodium intramuscularly for 10 days, and the second group (control group, n = 6) received acetaminophen 30 mg/kg orally for 10 days after the pleurodesis procedure. The rabbits were sacrificed after 28 days, and the pleural spaces were assessed grossly for evidence of pleurodesis and microscopically for evidence of fibrosis, inflammation, and collagenization. Results The mean macroscopic pleurodesis score of the diclofenac group was 2.16 ± 0.40 compared with 2.83 ± 0.40 in the control group (p = .027). The mean microscopic pleurodesis score of the diclofenac group was 2. 3 ± 1.03, whereas it was 3.5 ± 0.54 in the control group (p = .045). Conclusion The administration of diclofenac sodium for 10 days following tetracycline pleurodesis reduces the effectiveness of pleurodesis in rabbits.

Exploring strategies to prevent post-lobectomy space: transient diaphragmatic paralysis using Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A)

ObjectiveVarious techniques to reduce air space after pulmonary lobectomy especially for lung cancer have been an important concern in thoracic surgical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection into the diaphragm to reduce air space after right lower pulmonary lobectomy in an animal model.MethodsTwelve male New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated into two groups. All animals underwent right lower lobectomy. Then, normal saline of 0,1 ml and 10 units of 0,1 ml Botulinum toxin type A were injected into the muscular part of the right hemidiaphragm in control (n = 6) and BTX-A groups (n = 6) respectively. Residual air space and diaphragmatic elevation were evaluated with chest X-ray pre- and postoperatively. Diaphragmatic elevation was measured as a distance in millimetre from the line connecting the 10th ribs to the midpoint of the right hemidiaphragm.ResultsThe mean diaphragmatic elevation in BTX-A and control groups were 7.0 ± 2.5 and 1.3 ± 1.2 millimetres respectively. Diaphragmatic elevations were significantly higher in BTX-A group (p = 0.0035).ConclusionIntraoperative Botulinum toxin type A injection may reduce postlobectomy spaces effectively via hemidiaphragmatic paralysis in rabbits. Further studies are needed to validate the safe use of Botulinum toxin type A in human beings.