Can ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block be an alternative option for forearm reduction in the emergency department? A prospective randomized study

Objective@#Ultrasound-guided infraclavicular nerve block (IB) has become a well-established method in several outpatient procedures; however, its use in emergency departments (EDs) remains limited. The aim of this study was to compare procedural sedation and anlagesia (PSA) and IB in the pain management for patients who underwent forearm fracture reduction in the ED. @*Methods@#This prospective randomized study included 60 patients aged 18 to 65 years, who visited the ED with forearm fractures. They were randomly divided into two groups: Group PSA (n=30) and Group IB (n=30). The pain scores of patients were evaluated before and during the procedure with the visual analog scale. Complications and patient and operator satisfaction levels were recorded. @*Results@#There was no difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics. The median (interquartile range) pain scores observed during the procedures were significantly higher in Group PSA than in Group IB (4 [4–6] vs. 2 [0–2], respectively; P<0.001). Patient and operator satisfaction levels were significantly higher in Group IB (P<0.001). Oxygen desaturation was statistically higher in Group PSA than in Group IB (40.00% vs. 3.33%, respectively; P=0.002). @*Conclusion@#IB was an effective alternative for reducing pain and increasing patient satisfaction in ED patients undergoing forearm fracture reduction.

Evaluation of Endothelial Dysfunction in Bipolar Affective Disorders: Serum Endocan and Urotensin-II Levels

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated changes in urotensin-II (U-II) and endocan levels which can be used as an early biological marker of endothelial injury in the episode and remission phases of bipolar affective disorder (BAD). METHODS: We compared endocan and U-II levels, which has been shown to be closely associated with neurotransmitter systems in addition to continuity of endothelial structure and inflammatory response, in patients with BAD in remission for at least one year (n=42) and in patients still in manic or depressive episodes (n=16) with healthy controls (n=30). RESULTS: Both endocan and U-II levels were significantly higher in the bipolar patients than in the controls. Endocan and U-II levels were also significantly correlated with one another (p=0.000, r=0.833). Both endocan (p=0.000) and U-II levels (p=0.000) were significantly higher in the bipolar attack group compared to the subjects in remission, and in the remission group compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: In this study we determined significantly higher endocan and U-II levels in BAD compared to the controls, while serum endocan and U-II levels of patients undergoing attacks were also significantly higher than those of the controls and also those of patients in remission.

The effect of pheniramine on fentanyl-induced cough: a randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled clinical study / Efeito de feniramina sobre a tosse induzida por fentanil: estudo clínico, randômico, duplo-cego e controlado com placebo

Abstract Background and objectives: There are many studies conducted on reducing the frequency and severity of fentayl-induced cough during anesthesia induction. We propose that pheniramine maleate, an antihistaminic, may suppress this cough. We aim to observe the effect of pheniramine on fentanyl-induced cough during anesthesia induction. Methods: This is a double-blinded, prospective, three-arm parallel, randomized clinical trial of 120 patients with ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status III and IV who aged ≥18 and scheduled for elective open heart surgery during general anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups of 40 patients, using computer-generated random numbers: placebo group, pheniramine group, and lidocaine group. Results: Cough incidence differed significantly between groups. In the placebo group, 37.5% of patients had cough, whereas the frequency was significantly decreased in pheniramine group (5%) and lidocaine group (15%) (Fischer exact test, p = 0.0007 and p = 0.0188, respectively). There was no significant change in cough incidence between pheniramine group (5%) and lidocaine group (15%) (Fischer exact test, p = 0.4325). Cough severity did also change between groups. Post Hoc tests with Bonferroni showed that mean cough severity in placebo differed significantly than that of pheniramine group and lidocaine group (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.009, respectively). There was no significant change in cough severity between pheniramine group and lidocaine group (p = 0.856). Conclusion: Intravenous pheniramine is as effective as lidocaine in preventing fentayl-induced cough. Our results emphasize that pheniramine is a convenient drug to decrease this cough.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Há muitos estudos sobre a redução da frequência e da gravidade da tosse induzida por fentanil durante a indução da anestesia. Propomos que maleato de feniramina, um anti-histamínico, pode suprimir essa tosse. Nosso objetivo foi observar o efeito de feniramina sobre a tosse induzida por fentanil durante a indução da anestesia. Métodos: Este é um estudo clínico prospectivo, de três braços paralelos, randômico e duplo-cego, de 120 pacientes com estado físico ASA III e IV (de acordo com a Sociedade Americana de Anestesiologistas), ≥ 18 anos e programados para cirurgia cardíaca aberta eletiva sob anestesia geral. Os pacientes foram divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos de 40 pacientes cada, com números aleatórios gerados por computador: grupo placebo, grupo feniramina e grupo lidocaína. Resultados: A incidência de tosse diferiu significativamente entre os grupos. No grupo placebo, 37,5% dos pacientes apresentaram tosse, enquanto que a frequência foi significativamente reduzida no grupo feniramina (5%) e no grupo lidocaína (15%) (teste exato de Fischer, p = 0,0007 e p = 0,0188, respectivamente). Não houve alteração significativa na incidência de tosse entre os grupos feniramina (5%) e lidocaína (15%) (teste exato de Fischer, p = 0,4325). A gravidade da tosse também alterou entre os grupos. Testes post hoc com Bonferroni mostraram que a média da gravidade da tosse no grupo placebo diferiu significativamente das médias dos grupos feniramina e lidocaína (p < 0,0001 e p = 0,009, respectivamente). Não houve alteração significativa na gravidade da tosse entre o grupo feniramina e grupo lidocaína (p = 0,856). Conclusão: Feniramina por via intravenosa tem a mesma eficácia que lidocaína na prevenção da tosse induzida por fentanil. Os resultados enfatizam que feniramina é um medicamento conveniente para diminuir essa tosse.

Anesthetic management of a pediatric patient with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia undergoing emergency surgery / Manejo anestésico de paciente pediátrico com displasia ectodérmica hipoidrótica submetido a cirurgia de emergência

ABSTRACT Ectodermal dysplasias are rare conditions with a triad of hypotrichosis, anodontia and anhidrosis. In literature review there have been only a few reports of anesthetic management of patients with ectodermal dysplasias. Hyperthermia is a very serious risk which may occur due to the defect of sweat glands. The present case involves a 10-year-old child with ectodermal dysplasia who presented with an acute abdomen and was considered for an emergency surgery. Our aim was to demonstrate the successful management of this case using a combination of general and epidural anesthesia. It is important for anesthesiologist to have information about this syndrome in case of emergency operations, since it can prevent serious complications and even save lives.

As displasias ectodérmicas são condições raras, com uma tríade de hipotricose, anodontia e anidrose. Em revisão da literatura há apenas alguns relatos de manejo anestésico de pacientes com displasias ectodérmicas. Hipertermia é um risco muito sério que pode ocorrer por causa de defeito das glândulas sudoríparas. O presente caso envolve uma criança de 10 anos com displasia ectodérmica que se apresentou com abdome agudo e foi considerada para uma cirurgia de emergência. Nosso objetivo foi demonstrar o manejo bem-sucedido desse caso, com o uso de uma combinação de anestesia geral e peridural. É importante para o anestesiologista obter informações sobre essa síndrome, em caso de operações de emergência, pois pode evitar complicações graves e até salvar vidas.