Morphine-dexmedetomidine mixture versus morphine alone for postoperative analgesia

To compare the quality of postoperative analgesia between intraoperative administration of Morphine-Dexmedetomidine versus Morphine alone A total of 82 adults of both gender, aged between 42 and 71 years. All according to [American Society of Anesthesiologists] class I-II were assigned for various elective abdominal operations under general balanced anesthesia at King Hussein Medical Center during the period from January to October 2010. Patients were divided into two groups. Group D [n=41] received intravenous Morphine sulphate 0.1 mg/kg and Dexmedetomidine [primary loading dose of 1 mcg/kg over 10 min. followed by 0.4 mcg/kg/h] and group M [n=41] received intravenous Morphine sulphate 0.1 mg/kg, both given half an hour before the completion of surgery. Postoperative analgesia quality was evaluated using Visual Analog Scale and Morphine consumption in the recovery room for the first 1 hour then in the surgical ward for the next 24 hours. Median pain severity score was 3 in group D and 6 in group M during the first postoperative 60 minutes and 2 minutes in group D, 3 minutes in group M after 24 hours. About 83% of patients in group M needed additional Morphine compared to 26.8% of patients in group D [P<0.05] in the recovery room to attain equivalent analgesia. Intraoperative administration of intravenous Morphine-Dexmedetomidine mixture produces higher postoperative analgesia than Morphine alone

Spectrum of micro-organisms and anti-microbial resistance of gram negative micro-organisms in the intensive care unit at King Hussein Hospital

To determine the spectrum of micro-organisms and anti-microbial resistance of gram negative micro-organisms. A retrospective review was conducted at the Intensive Care Unit at King Hussein Medical Hospital between Jan 2007 and Jan 2008. Blood was withdrawn from every Intensive Care Unit patient suspected infection 48 hours post admission. Gram negative micro-organisms and antimicrobial resistance were determined by using the standard method at Prince Iman and Research Laboratory Center. A total of 610 blood culture specimens were obtained from 400 patients. Bacteria were isolated from 213 of these specimens. The different types of bacteria isolated were as follows: 47% were coagulase negative staphylococcus epidermidis, 35% were gram negative bacteria and 5% were Candida. Among the gram negative isolate the most common was Acinetobacter baumannii 31% while the least common was Citrobacter and Morganella 1.4% each. Rates of anti-microbial susceptibility for Acinetobacter were 45% for Ciprofloxacillin, 39% for Amikacin and 30% for Imipenem and Piperacillin while 48% of the Acinetobacter isolate were multi-resistant. This study provides information on spectrum of micro-organisms and antibiotic resistance of blood isolates. It may be a useful and baseline guide for physicians initiating empiric therapy and may help in providing antibiotic therapy policy in our hospital