Sedat Kocak

The role of optic nerve ultrasonography in the diagnosis of elevated intracranial pressure

Objective: To evaluate the convenience and utility of optic nerve ultrasonography (ONUS) in the evaluation of emergency patients with elevated intracranial pressure (EICP) due to traumatic or non-traumatic causes. Methods: This study was conducted between May 2005 and December 2005 in the emergency department of Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University. Patients with traumatic or non-traumatic EICP were included in the study. Among these, 28 patients with EICP determined on cranial computed tomography (CCT) and a control group of 26 patients with no disease had the vertical and horizontal diameters of the optic nerves (ONs) of both eyes measured by ultrasonography (US). The measurements were done by wetting the closed eyelids and using a 7.5-MHz linear probe. Results: Horizontal and vertical diameters of both ONs of the 54 patients were measured and the averages calculated. The mean (SD) ON diameter for the group suspected of having EICP was found to be 6.4 (0.7) mm, and that for the control group to be 4.6 (0.3) mm. In the statistical analysis carried out between these two groups (t test), the difference was found to be significant at p<0.001. Conclusions: In detection and follow-up of EICP cases, such as cerebrovascular accident and trauma, ONUS is a practical, risk-free, inexpensive, convenient and, if performed by experts, reliable method. As a result, although CCT may be more useful in diagnosis, ONUS may be more efficient in detecting EICP. In those cases where CCT and other conventional imaging methods are not available, ONUS can facilitate the diagnosis and help in treatment.

Fibrinolytic markers and neurologic outcome in traumatic brain injury

AIMS To determine the usefulness of fibrinolytic markers as early prognostic indicators in patients with isolated head trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-two consecutive patients (26 women and 36 men; mean age 61 years, range 2-76 years) with isolated head trauma seen within the first three hours of the trauma were included in the study. The Glasgow Coma score (GCS), platelet counts (Plt), prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer levels were measured. Head computerized tomography (CT) findings were categorized as brain edema, linear fracture, depressed fracture, contusion and bleeding. Plt counts, PT, PTT, fibrinogen, FDP, D-dimer levels and CT findings were compared with both GCS and mortality in the first week. Statistical significance was accepted at P <or=0.05. RESULTS A marked negative relationship was found between GCS and PT, PTT, FDP and D-dimer levels (P < 0.001). Plt levels did not correlate with GCS. Mortality was most strongly related to GCS, PT, FDP and D-dimer levels (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). We found no relationship between mortality and CT findings, nor was there any significant relationship between Plt, PTT and fibrinogen levels. CONCLUSION GCS and fibrinolytic markers measured within the first three hours were useful in determining the prognosis of patients with isolated head trauma.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Due to Concomitant Use of Lamotrigine and Valproic Acid

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare but life-threatening acute mucocutaneous hypersensitivity reaction, usually related to drugs. Severe cutaneous adverse effects such as SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis can arise during treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).and lamotrigine until 1 week prior to referral. Following consultations with a range of clinicians, the patient was diagnosed with SJS related to lamotrigine on the basis of her history and physical findings, and on consideration of current consensus definitions of this condition. The patient was followed up and treated in the emergency intensive care unit with intravenous fluids, antibacterial therapy, and methylprednisolone. After 18 days,the patient was considered to have made a sufficient recovery and was discharged rash appears.

The effectiveness of various doses of octreotide for sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia after overdose

This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of various doses of octreotide in reducing hypoglycemic attacks and the need for dextrose in patients with refractory and recurrent hypoglycemia related to sulfonylurea toxicity. This study was carried out at the Center of Experimental Research of Selcuk University Meram School of Medicine in Konya, Turkey. A total of 40 New Zealand rabbits of both sexes, weighing between 2500 and 3000 g, were used in this experiment. Rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, each of which consisted of 10 animals. All animals were given oral gliclazide 100 mg. For the treatment of hypoglycemic attacks in group I, only 15 mL of 50% dextrose (7.5 g) was given intravenously; in groups II, III, and IV, octreotide was given in doses of 25 μg, 50 μg, and 100 μg, respectively. Octreotide was given to groups II, III, and IV at the 8th hour (when hypoglycemic attacks were induced), along with an intravenous infusion of an additional 15 mL of 50% dextrose (7.5 g) for each hypoglycemic attack that occurred. After the toxic dose was given, the rabbits were given the amount of dextrose used before and after octreotide administration, and the numbers of hypoglycemic attacks were recorded. The values of blood glucose for all animals were read every hour on the hour from the beginning of the study, and the study ended at the 24th hour, when hypoglycemic attacks stopped. A significant difference was observed between groups I, II, and IV in numbers of hypoglycemic attacks that occurred and dextrose doses given between 9 and 24 h (P=.001). The findings of this study suggest that a single dose of octreotide 100 μg maybe used to reduce the number of refractory and recurrent hypoglycemic attacks that occur because of sulfonylurea overdose; large prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

The effectiveness of analgesics in traumatic injuries of the extremities

In this study, the effectiveness of different analgesics was investigated in patients who presented to the emergency room with traumatic injuries or fractures of the extremities. We observed 100 patients (42 male, 58 female) who presented to the Konya State Hospital emergency service with isolated traumatic injuries of the extremities. We used different analgesics intravenously or intramuscularly in those patients with a high or moderate level of pain according to a visual analog pain scale. Patient pain levels were assessed 15, 30, and 45 minutes after administration of the analgesics. Metamizole sodium 1 g IV was used in 36 patients and diclofenac sodium 75 mg IM was given to 40 patients; tramadol hydrochloride 100 mg IV was administered to 24 patients. Pain became less severe after 15 minutes in 92% of patients who received tramadol IV; pain became less severe after 30 minutes in 72% of those who received metamizole IV. In contrast, pain became less severe after 45 minutes in 65% of patients who received diclofenac IM. Tramadol was the most effective analgesic and was also more effective earlier than the other analgesics tested.

An Experimental Study: Does the Neuroprotective Effect Increase When Hypothermia Deepens After Traumatic Brain Injury?

Background: Experimental approaches have been promising with the use of therapeutic hypothermia after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) whereas clinical data have not supported its efficacy. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether using selective deeper brain cooling correlates with a more neuroprotective effect on Intracranial Pressure (ICP) increments following TBI in rats. Materials and Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (mean weight = 300 g; n = 25) were subjected to brain injury using a modified Marmarou method. Immediately after the onset of TBI, rats were randomized into three groups. Selective brain cooling was applied around the head using ice packages. Intracranial Temperature (ICT) and ICP were continuously measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes and recorded for all groups. Group 1 (n = 5) was normothermia and was assigned as the control group. Group 2 (n = 10) received moderate hypothermia with a target ICT of between 32°C - 33°C and Group 3 (n = 10) was given a deeper hypothermia with a target ICT of below 32°C. Results: All subjects reached the target ICT by the 30th minute of hypothermia induction. The ICT was significantly different in Group 2 compared to Group 1 only at the 120th minute (P = 0.017), while ICP was significantly lower starting from the 30th minute (P = 0.015). The ICT was significantly lower in Group 3 compared to Groups 1 and 2 starting from the 30th minute (P = 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). The ICP was significantly lower in Group 3 compared to Group 1 starting from 30th minute (P = 0.001); however, a significant difference in ICP between Group 3 and Group 2 was observed only at the 180th minute (P = 0.047). Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that selective brain cooling is an effective method of decreasing ICP in rats; however, the deeper hypothermia caused a greater decrease in ICP three hours after hypothermia induction.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 activity and its diagnostic potential in patients with acute coronary syndrome and acute ischemic stroke

Background The study examined the Lp-PLA2 activity at the patients presented to the emergency department with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or acute ischemic stroke (AIS), as well as its diagnostic value. Methods The prospective study included consecutive male and female patients aged >18 years that presented to the our emergency department with ACS or AIS between November 2009 and January 2010. Blood samples were obtained immediately following diagnosis in the ACS and AIS groups. The diagnostic value of Lp-PLA2 was determined based on receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios and accuracy rates. Results In all, 34 ACS and 32 AIS patients were included in the study, and the control group included 35 patients. Lp-PLA2 enzyme activity was significantly lower in the ACS and AIS groups than in the control group (26.7 ± 13.8, 31.4 ± 13.6, and 41.4 ± 8.1 nmol min−1·mL−1, respectively; p < 0.0001, p = 0.022). In the ACS group the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.825 (95%CI: 0.722–0.929), sensitivity was 71% for an optimal Lp-PLA2 cut-off value of 31.4 nmol min−1·mL−1, and specificity was 91%, whereas in the AIS group the AUC was 0.768 (95%CI: 0.652–0.884), sensitivity was 75% for an optimal Lp-PLA2 cut-off value of 38.1 nmol min−1·mL−1, and specificity was 74%. Conclusions Lp-PLA2 enzyme activity was significantly lower during the early stage of both ACS and AIS. The obtained statistic data suggest that low Lp-PLA2 enzyme activity can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Phenytoin induced dystonia

Acar T, Alkan G, Çaksen H, Ertekin B, Ergin M, Koçak S, Cander B. Phenytoin induced dystonia. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 111-112. The abnormalities of dopaminergic activity in the basal ganglia have been emphasized to be effective in dystonia. We hereby report a case of a 2.5-year-old male patient who presented with tonic-clonic sezures and who developed dystonia after being given phenytoin. Biperidene hydrochloride was administered intramuscularly; primidone was added to the treatment regimen. After a 7-day-follow-up at the hospital, the patient had no dystonia and was discharged.

Liporotein-associated phospholipase-A2 can be a diagnostic marker inthe early stage diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND/AIM The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 (Lp-PLA2) in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) in the early stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-seven New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups in this study. Blood specimens were obtained from the groups at hours 0, 1, 3, and 6. Using the blood samples drawn from all groups, Lp-PLA2 and C-reactive protein (CRP) parameters were investigated. RESULTS There was a significant rise in the levels of both Lp-PLA2 and CRP starting at hour 1 (P < 0.05) (hour 1; Lp-PLA2, P = 0.003) in the ischemia group. In the sham group, the levels of Lp-PLA2 and CRP started to rise at hour 3 (P < 0.05) (hour 3; Lp-PLA2, P = 0.011). At hour 6 of ischemia, the area under the ROC curve was 100%, and the cut-off value of 63.91 ng/mL revealed a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 100% for Lp-PLA2. CONCLUSION These findings showed the role of serum Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels in the early diagnosis of AMI. Thus, further studies are needed to describe the role of Lp-PLA2 in the early diagnosis of AMI.

Yoğun bakım biriminde izlenen çoklu travma hastalarında mortaliteye etki eden faktörler

Amac: Bu calismanin amaci, bir universite hastanesinin acil yogun bakim biriminde takip edilen coklu travma hastalarinin degerlendirilmesidir. Yontemler: Calismaya Ocak 2006- Ocak 2009 tarihleri arasinda fakultemizin acil yogun bakim biriminde takip edilen coklu travma hastalari alindi. Travma sonrasi ilk alti saat icinde hayatini kaybedenler, kronik bobrek yetmezligi, kronik karaciger hastaligi, konjestif kalp yetersizligi ve metastatik kanser hastalari calisma disi birakildi. Travmanin nedeni, yogun bakim ve mekanik ventilatorlerde kalis sureleri, aldigi destek tedaviler, travma skorlari ve mortalite oranlari belirlendi. Elde edilen bulgular istatistiksel olarak degerlendirildi. Bulgular: Calismaya alinan hastalarin yas ortalamasi 31±21.82 (aralik 1-80) yil idi. Hastalarin 112\si (%81.2) erkek 26\si (%18.8) kadin idi. Coklu travmanin en sik nedenleri arac ici trafik kazalari (%40.6) ve arac disi trafik kazalari (%37) idi. Ortalama yogun bakimda ve mekanik ventilatorde kalis sureleri sirasiyla 5.3 gun (1-30 gun) ve 2.2 gun (0- 30 gun) idi. Hastalardan 56\si (%43.5) mekanik ventilator destegi alirken, 34 (%26.4) hastanin beslenme destegi aldigi ve 22 (%14.5) hastanin inotrop destegi aldigi belirlenmistir. Bu hastalarin mortalite oranlari sirasiyla %50, %44.1 and %77.7 idi. Mekanik ventilasyondaki, inotrop ve beslenme destegi alan coklu travma hastalarindaki mortalite oranlari tum hastalardaki mortalite oranlarindan yuksek bulunmustur. Sonuc: Coklu travma yaralanmalarinin en sik nedeni motorlu arac kazalari olup, ozellikle genc erkekleri etkilemektedir. Hastalarin mekanik ventilasyon, inotrop ve beslenme destegi ile ilgili komplikasyonlar travma yogun bakim merkezlerindeki olum ve sakatliklar uzerinde etkili olmaktadir.