Leyla Iyilikci

Comparison of etomidate-remifentanil and propofol-remifentanil sedation in patients scheduled for colonoscopy

Objective The aim of the study was to compare haemodynamic responses, recovery and discharge times, and physician satisfaction of etomidate–remifentanil and propofol–remifentanil combinations in patients undergoing elective colonoscopy. Methods Sixty patients, aged 18–65 years, scheduled for elective colonoscopy under sedation were prospectively randomized, double blind for the study. Two minutes after the beginning of a continuous remifentanil infusion (0.1 μg kg−1 min−1), etomidate or propofol were administered. Patients in the etomidate group received a 0.05 mg kg−1 maintenance dose of etomidate after an initial dose of 0.1 mg kg−1, and patients in the propofol group received a 0.25 mg kg−1 maintenance dose of propofol after an initial dose of 0.5 mg kg−1 in order to have a Ramsay sedation score of 3–4. Basal values of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and Ramsay sedation score were recorded. Values were recorded every 2 min for the first 10 min and every 5 min thereafter, until the completion of the procedure. Results Mean arterial pressure was lower at 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min in the propofol group (P = 0.001). Mean respiratory rate in the propofol group at 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25 min was also lower (P < 0.05). The incidence of apnoea and hypotension was significantly lower in the etomidate group (P < 0.001). Arrival time into the postoperative care unit and recovery time were shorter in the etomidate group (P = 0.001, P = 0.01, respectively). Physician satisfaction in both groups was similar. Conclusion Etomidate–remifentanil administration for sedation and analgesia during colonoscopy resulted in more stable haemodynamic responses and shorter recovery and discharge times.

Technetium-99m HMPAO brain SPECT in autistic children and their families

The purpose of the study was to investigate perfusion patterns in autistic children (AC) and their families. Ten AC (9 boys, 1 girl; mean age: 6.9+/-1.7 years) with autistic disorder defined by DSM-III-R criteria, five age-matched children (3 boys, 2 girls) as a control group, and the immediate family members of eight AC (8 mothers, 8 fathers, 7 siblings; mean ages: 39+/-4 years, 36+/-5 years and 13+/-5 years, respectively) were included in the study. Age- and sex-matched control groups for both the parents and the siblings were also included in the study. Brain perfusion images were obtained 1 h after the intravenous injection of an adjusted dose of Tc-99m HMPAO to children and the adults. Visual and semiquantitative evaluations were performed. Hypoperfusion was seen in the right posterior parietal cortex in three AC, in bilateral parietal cortex in one AC, bilateral frontal cortex in two AC, left parietal and temporal cortex in one AC, and right parietal and temporal cortex in one AC. Asymmetric perfusion was observed in the caudate nucleus in four AC. In semiquantitative analyses, statistically significant hypoperfusion was found in the right inferior and superior frontal, left superior frontal, right parietal, right mesial temporal and right caudate nucleus. In parents of AC, significant hypoperfusion was noted in the right parietal and bilateral inferior frontal cortex. In siblings of AC, perfusion in the right frontal cortex, right nucleus caudate and left parietal cortex was significantly decreased. This preliminary study suggests the existence of regional brain perfusion alterations in frontal, temporal, and parietal cortex and in caudate nucleus in AC and in their first-degree family members.

Anesthetic management of lumbar discectomy in a pregnant patient.

ate weakness of the right ankle dorsal and plantar flexions (muscle strength 3 and 4/5, respectively) in the right lower extremity. The Achilles reflex was depressed and pinprick sensation was decreased over the right L5 nerve root dermatome. As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a central disc herniation at the L5S1 level, causing severe compression to the right L5 root, surgical decompression was planned on the same day. The obstetricians also evaluated her. According to an ultrasonographic examination, the fetus was healthy, and a fetal heart rate of 140–160 beats·min 1 was recorded. She was then transported to the operating room, in the lateral decubitis position, where standard monitoring by continuous electrocardiography, noninvasive blood pressure measurement, and oxygen saturation (M1094B; Hewlett Packard, Saronno, Italy) were established. A peripheral venous cannula was also inserted. Before the induction of anesthesia, she was preoxygenated with 6 l·min 1 oxygen for a period of 5min. The operating table was maintained in the left tilt position. Induction was achieved with 2mg·kg 1 propofol. Vecuronium (0.1mg·kg 1) was given to facilitate tracheal intubation, with a size 7.5 tube. Anesthesia was maintained with 1%–1.5% sevoflurane in a mixture of oxygen and air (Narkomed; North American Dräger, Telhord, PA, USA) following tracheal intubation. She was placed in the left lateral position and her abdomen was supported with pillows in order to prevent direct pressure on the fetus. Throughout the L5-S1 discectomy operation, which lasted for 2h, neither fetus nor mother exhibited any hemodynamic change. The fetal heart rate was monitored with Doppler ultrasonography during the induction of anesthesia, emergence, recovery, and whenever possible during surgery. No change was detected in the fetal heart rate (140–160 beats·min 1). At the end of the operation, she was extubated immediately. The postoperative period was smooth and her neurological deficits recovered gradually. Her general

A cross-over, post-electroconvulsive therapy comparison of clinical recovery from rocuronium versus succinylcholine

STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of the neuromuscular blocking agent, rocuronium, on clinical recovery from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as compared with succinylcholine. DESIGN Cross-over study. SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS 13 ASA physical status I and II patients, ages 18 to 60 years, receiving ECT three times a week. INTERVENTIONS Each patient received either succinylcholine before the first ECT session (Group S) and rocuronium before the third ECT session (Group R). Muscle paralysis was produced with succinylcholine one mg kg(-1) intravenously (IV) or rocuronium 0.3 mg kg(-1) IV. Reversal of the residual neuromuscular block (Group R) was accomplished with 10 microg kg(-1)of atropine and 20 microg kg(-1)of neostigmine after completion of the ECT procedure. MEASUREMENTS Motor seizure duration time, time to first spontaneous breathing, eye opening, head lift, and tongue depressor test were recorded. MAIN RESULT Motor seizure duration and time to first spontaneous breath was longer (33.6 sec vs. 24.2 sec; 9.46 min vs 8.07 min, respectively) in the rocuronium group than the succinylcholine group. No significant difference was detected between the two groups in eye opening, head lift, or tongue depressor testing. CONCLUSION Rocuronium, when used in conjunction with a reversal agent, may be an adequate alternative to succinylcholine as a neuromuscular blocker during ECT.

Botulinum Toxin A Injection for Spasticity in Diplegic-Type Cerebral Palsy

Botulinum toxin type A can be both safe and effective in relieving spasticity in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy. In our prospective study, we evaluated the functional effect of botulinum toxin A in spastic diplegic-type cerebral palsy. Patients were examined on enrollment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after injection. Passive dorsiflexion of the ankle joint was measured using a goniometer as an angle of possible maximal dorsiflexion with the knee extended and flexed. Spasticity was graded using the Modified Ashworth Scale. Selective motor control at the ankle was assessed, and observational gait analysis was done. The functional status of the patients was determined by using the gross motor classification system. Botulinum toxin A was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle in all patients, and in four patients with concomitant jump knee gait, a hamstring muscle injection was added. Fourteen patients were included in the study. The mean age was 58.81 6 15.34 months. Following injection, spasticity was clinically decreased and statistically significant improvement was noticed in all clinical parameters after 1, 3, and 6 months of injection. The improvement in the clinical parameters decreased after 6 months but not to the baseline. One patient was Level II, four patients were Level III, and six patients were Level IV according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System at baseline. Improvement in the gross motor classification system is continued after 6 months in 12 children. The main goal of spasticity treatment in cerebral palsy is functional improvement. In our study, most of our patients had functional improvement according to the gross motor function classification system and did not change at 6 months.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand level in Alzheimer's disease.

In the present study, we determined the significance of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We characterized the expression of TRAIL protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum with ELISA and TRAIL mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with real-time PCR in 22 patients with AD and 20 control cases. We could not find TRAIL protein in the CSF samples. The concentration of TRAIL protein in sera from patients with AD was not different from controls. However, there was an inverse correlation between serum TRAIL levels and Mini-Mental State Examination scores in AD patients. Also we did not find significant difference in TRAIL mRNA in the PBMCs of patients with AD when compared with control group. Our data indicate that TRAIL serum level decreases in the late stage of disease.

Acute Renal Injury Evaluation after Liver Transplantation: With RIFLE Criteria

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to identify acute renal injury (ARI) through the use of RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage kidney disease) criteria and to investigate perioperative risk factors for ARI in liver transplantation (LT). METHODS We reviewed medical records of adult LT patients retrospectively. Postoperative ARI was staged with RIFLE criteria by the 1st and 7th days of the surgery. RESULTS We analyzed 440 adult LT patients, categorized as risk (R), injury (I), or failure (F) according to the RIFLE criteria. In this study, in the first postoperative day, incidence of ARI was 7.95%; all of them were R-class, and, on the 7th day, the incidence of ARI was 7.27%, as R-class 6.59% and I-class 0.68%. Significant risk factors were detected within the first postoperative day including pre-operative hemoglobin levels <9 g/dL (P = .019), intra-operative transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) (P = .049) and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) (P = .049), blood loss (P = .011), and post-reperfusion syndrome (P = .023). Multivariate analysis revealed risk factors for ARI as RBCs (odds ratio [OR], 1.049; P = .247) and FFP (OR, 1.017; P = .627) transfusion and blood loss (OR, 1.000; P = .021) (blood loss OR: 0.9996952300184; 95% confidence interval: 0.9994356774026 to 0.999548500399). The only significant risk factor for the 7th postoperative day was the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (>20) (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that RBC and FFP transfusion, perioperative blood loss, and MELD score >20 are risk factors for LT-related ARI. Also normalization of hemoglobin levels with non-blood products in patients with preoperative low hemoglobin levels can diminish the need for RBC and that can prevent ARI.

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in paediatric ophthalmic anaesthesia practice

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Comparison of the RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO Diagnostic Classifications for Acute Renal Injury in Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and peri-operative risk factors for acute renal injury (ARI) and their relationship with mortality rate through the use of 3 different ARI diagnostic classifications in patients after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS We retrospectively investigated the medical records of adult LT recipients. Post-operative ARI was determined with the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-Stage Renal Failure (RIFLE), Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN), and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classifications. RESULTS We analyzed 440 adult patients. The post-operative incidence of ARI was 8.0% by the RIFLE classification, 14.31% by the AKIN classification, and 14.54% by the KDIGO classification. Significant risk factors for ARI were pre-operative albumin (odds ratio [OR], 0.776; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.473-1.273 for AKIN; and OR, 0.724; 95% CI, 0.444-1.182 for KDIGO) and hemoglobin levels (OR, 2.830; 95% CI, 1.157-6.9261 by RIFLE), intra-operative red blood cell transfusion (OR, 1.072; 95% CI, 1.004-1.143 by AKIN; and OR, 1.077; 95% CI, 1.011-1.147 by KDIGO), and blood loss (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.999-1.000 by RIFLE). The early mortality rate was 7.9% in our series. CONCLUSIONS The RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO ARI classifications classify the severity of renal dysfunction in patients who have undergone LT. Direct associations were found between higher mortality rates and severity of renal disease.

Sedation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a pregnant patient.

Anesthesiology management of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the twenty-first week of pregnancy of a woman patient is reported. The patient gave birth to a healthy male baby at 40 weeks of gestation.