Comparison of three methods in improving bag mask ventilation

Increasedlife expectancy in populations has brought along specific new scenarios in the fields of medicine for the elderly; prevalence of physical complications such as edentulism and patients with dentures is growing. Management of anesthesia and ventilation in this group of patients has turned into a great challenge. Some researchers suggest dentures to be left in place during bag-mask ventilation; yet, no unanimous agreement exists in this regard. In a single blind randomized clinical trial, we studied 300 patients with ASA class I, II [American Society of Anesthesiologists], Mallampati class [I, II] and aged over 55 years in three groups. After induction of anesthesia, in group G dentures were removed and in each buccal space an eight-layer 10x10 cm gauze and an oral airway were placed. In group D, the dentures and an oral airway were left in place. In group C [control], after removing dentures just an appropriate oral airway was placed. Then, each three group underwent bag-mask ventilation. Success of bag-mask ventilation [BMV] was considered as increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide to more than 20 mmHg and back to baseline with fresh gas flow of 3 L/min and adjustable pressure limiting valve pressure of 20 cm H[2]O. Success rates were evaluated between groups. Effective BMV was possible in 91 [91%], 64 [64%] and 41 [41%] patients in groups G, D and C respectively. The differences were statistically significant. Successful BMV rate was significantly higher in female patients in group G compared to group C; 43/44 versus 25/46 individuals, P = 0.0001, odds ratio = 0.03, 95% confidence interval [0.00, 0.22]. Leaving dentures in place in edentulous patients after inducing anesthesia improves bag-mask ventilation. However, placing folded compressed gauze in buccal space leads to more significant improvement in BMV compared to leaving dentures in place

Electrodiagnostic Evaluation of Peripheral Nervous System Changes in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: There is supportive evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) could potentially affect the peripheral nervous system. We assessed peripheral sensory and motor nerve involvement in patients with MS by a nerve conduction velocity test. Methods: We studied 75 patients who had a relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive pattern. We measured amplitude, latency, conduction velocity, Hoffmann reflex (H-Reflex), and F-Waves. Results: The amplitude of the right tibial, right proneal, left tibial, left proneal, and left median motor nerves was less than the mean for the normal population. Right ulnar sensory conduction in the patients showed an amplitude that was less than that of the normal population; there was no significant change in the amplitude of other sensory nerves. Latencies of the right and left median and right proneal motor nerves and left ulnar sensory nerves were statistically less than that of the normal population. Mean motor conduction velocity and F-wave conduction did not differ significantly from the normal population. H-reflex latencies of the right and left lower limbs were significantly more prolonged than those of the normal population. Conclusion: Our results suggest possible peripheral motor nerve abnormalities in MS patients, especially with the amplitude of the motor nerves; however, our results do not demonstrate any significant difference among the nerve conduction velocity parameters of sensory nerves between MS patients and the normal population.

incidence of breast cancer in northwest Iran [2003 -2008]

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in Iranian women and Iranian patients are relatively young. Given that Iran has a female population of about 38 million, this corresponds to a total number of 6000 new cases of breast cancer annually. This study aims to demonstrate the characteristics of breast cancers according to pathologic records in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 159314 pathology records of the main hospitals and pathology laboratories were observed for a period of 5 years. For each patient, sex, age, breast specimen pathology, pathological grading of malignant lesions and place of residence of patients were collected and statistically analyzed. There were 12083 cancer cases; 902 of which were primary breast cancer. Breast cancer was the most common cancer in females [22.2%] but it ranks the 22nd in males. The annual incidence of breast cancer in women was 52.3 per 100,000. The mean age of women with breast cancer was 48.3 +/- 12.7 years [range, 16-85] and for male 54.0 +/- 13.6 years [range, 23-76]. The highest frequency of malignancies was observed in the 40-49 year old age groups [34.5%]. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common histological type diagnosed in both sexes. In Iran, breast cancer affects women at least one decade younger than developed countries. In spite of the rare incidence of breast cancer in men, the descriptive epidemiology of this malignancy is surprisingly similar to that of women. A considerable proportion of cancers of our research were in breast which mandates a national cancer detection program encouraging women for breast self-examination and participation in screening tests to improve breast cancer care.

Evaluation of anthropometric indices of patients with left ventricle dysfunction fallowing first acute anterior myocardial infarction

In the current study, we evaluated the effect of anthropometric indices on ejection fraction following first acute anterior myocardial infarction. In an analytic-cross sectional study, 50 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction and abnormal anthropometric indices [Body Mass Index [BMI] >/= 30, Waist Hip Ratio [WHR] >/= 1 and >/= 0.85 in males and females respectively and Waist Circumference [WC] >/= 102 cm and >/= 88 cm in males and females respectively] were recruited as case group and 50 patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction and normal anthropometric indices as control group. Subsequently, the relation between anthropometric indices and left ventricle dysfunction was evaluated and compared between two groups. 77 people of the studied patients were male and 23 female with the mean age of 59 +/- 1.2 years and an age range of 32-90 years. To evaluate the left ventricle function, the mean ejection fraction of the patients was measured as 34.3 +/- 7.2% and 44.8 +/- 6.3% in patients with abnormal anthropometric indices and patients with normal anthropometric indices respectively [P= 0.0001]. Calculation of the correlation coefficient between ejection fraction and BMI, WHR and WC in males and females revealed a moderate reverse [r=-0.521 to r=-0.691] and statistically significant [P= 0.0001] relations which was of more strength in females. Anthropometric indices including BMI and waist circumference influence cardiac function following myocardial infarction.

Administration of remifentanil in establishing a more stable post-anesthesia cardiovascular status in neurosurgical procedures

Emergence from general anesthesia and especially post-extubation phase are the stages associated with cardiovascular hyperdynamic status in which patients with increased intracranial pressure [ICP] could be affected by severe cardiac and or cerebral complications. Administering remifentanil could be helpful in maintaining the hemodynamic stability at the end of the surgery and recovery stages and reducing recovery phase length. In a double-blind prospective randomized clinical trial, 60 adult patients with ASA [American Society of Anesthesiologist] class of I-II scheduled to undergo elective neurosurgery operations were randomly divided into two groups receiving remifentanil and placebo as IV infusion within four minutes prior to extubation continued by an IV infusion for 10 minutes after extubation. There was a significant difference between two groups regarding the changes of Mean Arterial Pressure after extubation and five minutes after extubation [P< 0.001].Remifentanil group compared with control group was of significant difference at all heart rate values after extubation [P< 0.001]. Remifentanil could be used in preventing hyperdynamic status throughout extubation phase without extending recovery phase length. However, administration of this medication should be performed cautiously.

Globus sensation due to a mobile foreign body in a 41-year-old female

Leech infestation could be associated with wide range of complications including epistaxis, stridor, hemoptysis, globus sensation, hematemesis, and vaginal bleeding. In the present case report., we introduce a case of leech infestation in a 41-year-old female presenting with chronic globus sensation, stridor, vomiting and dysphagia later diagnosed with leech infestation. Therefore, leech bites might be considered as a differential. Diagnosis of globus sensation in the endemic rural areas where in unhealthy water from natural sources is consumed without taking required hygienic precautions.

association between epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery disease: an echocardiographic cut-off point

EAT is an independent factor in coronary artery disease [CAD]. The objective of the current study was to define an echocardiographic cut-off point for EAT and to determine its diagnostic value in predicting the increase in CAD risk. Two hundred patients underwent coronary artery angiography for diagnosis of CAD and transthoracic echocardiography for measurement of EAT on the right ventricle [RV], RV apex and RV outlet tract. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV] and negative predictive value [NPV] of the EAT cut-off points in the three above-mentioned areas for predicting the severity of CAD were measured. The relation between the EAT and CAD risk factors was evaluated as well. EAT was independent from gender, height, hypertension, diabetes, HDL, total cholesterol, ejection fraction, acute coronary syndrome, and the location of the coronary artery stenosis in the coronary artery in all three anatomical areas. EAT on RV and RV apex had a significant relation with CAD [P /= 10 mm and RV apex EAT >/= 8 mm had sensitivity and PPV of more than 70% in predicting coronary stenosis >/= 50% and acute coronary syndrome [ACS] and RVOT EAT >/= 13 mm is of PPV=83.5% for predicting coronary stenosis >/= 50%. EAT thickness has an acceptable diagnostic value for predicting severe coronary artery stenosis and ACS. Therefore, non-invasive EAT thickness measurement could be of great assistance to clinicians for detecting the patients at risk and helping them to undergo supplementary evaluations with invasive approaches.

evaluation of the effect of morphine on abdominal pain and peritonealirritation signs in patients with acute surgical abdomen

Acute surgical abdomen is one of the most common emergency surgical causes all over the world and also one of the most important abdominal pain causes which is sometimes intolerable for the patients referring to the emergency departments. Diagnosis and planning for operation in these cases is based on time-demanding serial examinations and results of paraclinical data. In this waiting period, patients have to tolerate pain. Therefore, we aimed to study the hypothesis that relieving pain has no influence on valuable findings in physical examination. This double blind randomized clinical trial was carried out on 120 patients above 12 years old referred to an emergency department of a referral hospital with acute abdomen. Patients were divided into two groups of receiving intravenous placebo and Morphine randomly. Pain score, change in tenderness as well as change in rebound tenderness before and after receiving morphine or placebo were measured based on Numeric Pain Assessment Scale. Statistically significant difference was observed between both groups regarding the mean pain score. Prevalence of tenderness and rebound tenderness after medication administration revealed a significant difference between two groups. Furthermore, pain and tenderness showed a significant decrease in patients receiving morphine also a significant difference occurred in rebound tenderness between two groups. Despite the fact that opioid analgesics decrease pain in patients with acute surgical abdomen, they do not tend to eliminate required diagnostic data being obtained from physical examination like tenderness and rebound tenderness. Surprisingly, all the acute abdomen cases had rebound tenderness after morphine administration. Therefore, this research advises a cautious usage of morphine in patients with acute abdomen.

Multimodal preincisional premedication to prevent acute pain after cholecystectomy

Postoperative pain as an important medical concern is usually treated by opioids which also are of various inevitable side effects. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of multimodal preincisional premedication on preventing post-cholecystectomy acute pain. In a randomized clinical trial, sixty patients undergoing open cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups. Before anesthesia induction, Diclofenac suppository [100 mg] and oral Clonidine [0.2 mg] were administered in the first group. Immediately before operation, patients received Ketamine [1 mg/kg IV] while the control group received placebo. The site of incision was infiltrated by the surgeon with 20 mL Bupivacaine 0.25% in both groups. Anesthesia induction and maintenance were similar in both groups. The severity of pain was recorded 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after operation according to Visual Analogue Scale. The severity of pain at two defined stages [6 and 12 hours later] was significantly less in the intervention group than the control group [P<0.005]. The average pain severity score was less than the control group [P<0.005]. In our study, the administration of Clonidine, Diclofenac and Ketamine and bupivacaine infiltration to the site of incision, altogether was associated with a significant decrease in pain score and opioid requirement after cholecystectomy in comparison to bupivacaine infiltration to the site of incision.