A study of clinical and etiological profile in elderly individuals presenting to a tertiary care center of South India with altered mental status

Background and Objectives: Altered mental status (AMS) is a challenging diagnosis in elderly patients and has a wide range of etiologies. The aim of this study was to know the clinical and etiological profile in the elderly, so that physicians will be better aware of AMS backgrounds and reducing morbidity and mortality rates among the patients. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at the emergency department (ED) and medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a tertiary care hospital in South India from November 1, 2019, to October 31, 2020. Patients aged 65 years and older who presented to the ED and MICU with AMS were included in this study. They were evaluated clinically and necessary investigations were done to know the etiologies. Results: Among 100 elderly patients, 64% belonged to young old (age group of 65–74 years), 30% belonged to old (age group of 75–84 years), and 6% belonged to oldest old (>85 years). Sixty?one percent were male and 39% were female. The most common cause for AMS in elderly was primary neurological cause (40%, cerebrovascular accident was most common cause). The other causes were metabolic encephalopathy (29%, hyponatremia being most common) followed by multifactorial causes (24%). Infections and hypertensive encephalopathy were noted in 6% and 1% respectively. The common comorbidities found were hypertension (71%) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (50%), and 28% had diabetes mellitus and hypertension, whereas 25% had multiple comorbidities. Conclusion: The elderly patients who present with AMS must be screened for the above etiologies. This study helps the physicians to have an idea regarding common causes of AMS in elderly patients at presentation, hence appropriate management approach thus helps in reducing morbidity and mortality.

Postoperative outcomes of peripheral nerve block versus general Endotracheal anesthesia for orthopedic upper limb surgery among pediatric patients: Cohort study

Background@#Compared to adult patients undergoing upper limb surgery who receive general endotracheal anesthesia (GETA), those who receive peripheral nerve block (PNB) have better postoperative outcomes. @*Objective@#To compare postoperative outcomes of PNB and GETA for orthopedic upper limb surgery among pediatric patients. @*Design@#Cohort study. @*Setting@#Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, from December 2015 to May 2016. @*Participants@#94 boys and girls, 3 to 18 years old, who received either PNB or GETA for orthopedic upper limb surgery. @*Main outcome measures@#Postoperative pain by visual analogue scale (VAS), need for postoperative rescue opioid doses. @*Main results@#Of the 94 patients in this study, 47 (50%) received PNB, and the rest received GETA prior to surgery. Patients in the two anesthesia groups were comparable at baseline. The PNB group had lower mean VAS scores compared to the GETA group both at the post-anesthesia care unit (0.70 ± 1.52 versus 4.15 ± 1.78; p<0.001) and at the Orthopedics Ward (0.45 ± 1.49 versus 4.13 ± 1.68; p<0.001). The proportion of patients given postoperative rescue opioid doses was significantly lower in the PNB group (6/47; 12.77%) than in the GETA group (21/47; 44.62%; p=0.0006). @*Conclusion@#Pediatric patients for orthopedic upper limb surgery who received PNB had less pain postoperatively and needed postoperative rescue opioid doses less frequently compared to those who received GETA.

The correlation among the Ramsay sedation scale, Richmond agitation sedation scale and Riker sedation agitation scale during midazolam-remifentanil sedation / Correlação entre a escala de sedação de Ramsay, escala de sedação-agitação de Richmond e escala de sedação-agitação de Riker durante sedação com midazolam-remifentanil

Abstract Background and objectives: Sedative and analgesic treatment administered to critically ill patients need to be regularly assessed to ensure that previously stated goals are well achieved as the risk of complications of oversedation is minimized. We revised and prospectively tested the Ramsay Sedation scale (RSS) for interrater reliability and compared it with the Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) and the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) to test construct validity during midazolam-remifentanil sedation. Methods: A convenience sample of ICU patients was simultaneously and independently examined by pairs of trained evaluators by using the revised SAS, RSS, and RASS. Ninety-two ICU patients were examined a total of 276 times by evaluator pairs. Results: The mean patient age was 61.32 ± 18.68 years, 45,7% were female (n = 42), 54.3% male (n = 50). Their APACHE values varied between 3 and 39 with an average of 13.27 ± 7.86 and 75% of the cases were under mechanical ventilation. When classified by using RSS (2.70 ± 1.28), 10.9% were anxious or agitated (RSS1), 68.5% were calm (RSS 2-3), and 20.6% were sedated (RSS 4-6). When classified by using RASS (-0.64 ± 1.58), 20.7% were anxious or agitated (RASS+1 to +4), 63.0% were calm (RASS 0 to -2), and 16.3% were sedated (RASS -3 to -5). When classified by using SAS (2.63 ± 1.00), 12% were anxious or agitated (SAS 5-7), 57.6% were calm (SAS 4), and 30.4% were sedated (SAS 1-3). RSS was correlated with the SAS (r = -0.656, p < 0.001) and RASS was correlated with the SAS (r = 0.565, p < 0.001). RSS was highly correlated with the RASS (r = -0.664, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Ramsay is both reliable and valid (high correlation with the RASS and SAS scales) in assessing agitation and sedation in adult ICU patients.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: O tratamento de pacientes em estado crítico com sedativos e analgésicos deve ser regularmente avaliado para garantir que as metas pré-definidas sejam atingidas, bem como minimizar o risco de complicações resultantes de sedação em excesso. Conduzimos uma revisão e testamos prospectivamente a Escala de Sedação de Ramsay (Ramsay Sedation Scale [RSS]) para a confiabilidade interavaliador e a comparamos com a Escala de Sedação e Agitação de Riker (Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale [RRSAS]) e a Escala de Sedação e Agitação de Richmond (Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale [RASS]) para testar a validade de construto durante a sedação com midazolam-remifentanil. Métodos: Uma amostra de conveniência de pacientes de UTI foi simultânea e independentemente examinada por pares de avaliadores treinados com o uso das escalas revisadas RRSAS, RSS e RASS. Foram examinados 92 pacientes de UTI por pares de avaliadores em 276 momentos. Resultados: A média dos pacientes foi de 61,32 ± 18,68 anos; 45,7% eram do sexo feminino (n = 42) e 54,3% do masculino (n = 50). Seus escores APACHE variaram entre 3-39, com média de 13,27 ± 7,86, e 75% dos casos receberam ventilação mecânica. Quando RSS foi usada para a classificação (2,70 ± 1,28), 10,9% dos pacientes estavam ansiosos ou agitados (RSS1), 68,5% estavam calmos (RSS 2 a 3) e 20,6% estavam sedados (RSS 4 a 6). Quando RASS foi usada para a classificação (-0,64 ± 1,58), 20,7% dos pacientes estavam ansiosos ou agitados (RASS +1 a +4), 63,0% estavam calmos (RASS 0 a -2) e 16,3% estavam sedados (RASS -3 a -5). Quando RSAS foi usada para a classificação (2,63 ± 1,00), 12% dos pacientes estavam ansiosos ou agitados (RSAS 5 a 7), 57,6% estavam calmos (RSAS 4) e 30,4% estavam sedados (RSAS 1 a 3). Houve correlação de RSS com RSAS (r = -0,656, p < 0,001) e de RASS com RSAS (r = 0,565, p < 0,001). Houve forte correlação de RSS com RASS (r = -0,664, p < 0,001). Conclusões: A RSS é confiável e válida (forte correlação com RASS e RSAS) para avaliar a sedação e agitação em pacientes adultos internados em UTI.

Midazolam frente a dexmedetomidina en sedación en cirug¡a ginecológica en el Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza 2015 / Midazolam versus dexmedetomidine in sedation in gynecological surgery in the National HospitalArzobispo Loayza 2015

Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de sedación y de depresión respiratorio entre el midazolam y la dexmedetomidina. Material y M‚todos: estudio cuantitativo, observacional, anal¡tico, y prospectivo. Resultados: La sedación con midazolam fue m s profunda que el de la dexmedetomidina; con respecto a la depresión respiratoria usando la prueba de ANOVA los niveles de Sp02 con midazolam fueron menores que el de la dexmedetomidina con una p = 0,010; en la variable de frecuencia respiratoria no hubo diferencia estad¡sticamente significativa p = 0,190, en la variable de amplexación con dexmedetomidina estuvo disminuida estad¡sticamente significativo con p < 0,001. Conclusiones: La dexmedetomidina tiene efectos sedativos, sin producir depresión respiratoria, el midazolam tiene un buen efecto sedativo con algún nivel de depresión respiratoria.

Objective: To determine the level of sedation and respiratory depression between midazolam and dexmedetomidine. Material and Methods: quantitative, observational, analytic, prospective study, experimental and inferential. Results: Sedation with midazolam was higher than the dexmedetomidine, with respect to respiratory depression using ANOVA test sp02 levels with midazolam were lower than the dexmedetomidine, p = 0.010 ,frequency variable and in amplexation variable with dexmedetomidine was decreased statistically significant with p < 0.001. Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine has sedative effects, without producing respiratory depression; the midazolam has a good sedative effect with some levet of respiratory.

Development and Linguistic Validation of the Japanese Version of the Modified Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale

<p>The modified Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) seems to be one of the best monitoring indicators for palliative sedation. We translated the modified RASS into Japanese according to the standard methods of conducting linguistic validation. The modified RASS revised two points from the original RASS for use in palliative care setting: deleted the description about the ventilator, and added some descriptions to clarify the meaning of RASS+1. In addition, we have deleted the description “rubbing sternum” in the procedure for RASS assessment, and then translated the modified RASS into Japanese. The translators and our research team members repeatedly discussed the linguistic validity until we agreed that the translated Japanese version is equivalent to the English one. The use of the Japanese version of the modified RASS to monitor palliative sedation may help to perform appropriate, and safe palliative sedation.</p>

Bispectral index monitoring to assess the level of consciousness in patients with brain injury / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: It is important to assess the level of consciousness in patients with brain injuries to determine modes of treatment and prognosis. We evaluated the Bispectral Index (BIS) to determine if it could be used as an objective tool for evaluation of the level of consciousness in brain-injured patients. We also compared the BIS values to clinical sedation scales such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), and the Reaction Level Scale (RLS). METHODS: Thirty eight patients with brain injuries that were admitted to the neurosurgery intensive care unit (NSICU) were enrolled in this study. An investigator evaluated the clinical sedation scales (GCS, RASS, RLS), while a blind observer noted the BIS in the same patient. The BIS score was obtained three times at an interval of 5 hours. The BISs were measured for 1 minute at 5 min prior to the nursing assessment, during the nursing assessment, and at 5 min after the nursing assessment. The BISs used in the data analysis were the maximal, minimal, and mean values obtained during 1 min, which were defined as BISmax, BISmin, and BISmean. A Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine if the clinical sedation scales were correlated with the BIS scores. RESULTS: In 38 patients, the BISmax, BISmin, and BISmean were found to be significantly correlated with the GCS, RASS, and RLS. The BISmean had the highest correlation with GCS (r = 0.445, P < 0.01), while the BIS min had the lowest correlation with RLS (r = -0.278, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of BIS monitoring were found to be significantly correlated with sedation scales in patients with brain injuries. These findings suggest that BIS can be used as an objective and continuous method for assessment of the level of consciousness in patients with brain injury.

The Bispectral Index and Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale Comparable to Effect Site Concentration of Propofol in Koreans / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Propofol has been frequently used for sedation or hypnosis in anesthesia and is relatively accurate in the dose-response relationship for hypnosis. The aim of this study was to define the bispectral index and modified observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) scale at various effect site concentrations (Ce) of propofol in Koreans. METHODS: Fifty premedicated (atropine 0.5 mg, I.M.) adult patients (ASA class I or II, 20 55 yrs) scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were studied. Propofol was infused until 2 min after the target concentration equilibrated with the effect site concentration (Ce) of propofol using Master TCI. The target concentration of propofol was stepwise increased at intervals of 0.5 microgram/ml until BIS reached 40, BIS and OAA/S at each Ce of propofol were checked. If SpO2 decreased below 90%, oxygen (4 l/min) was given via nasal cannula. RESULTS: BIS was 97.9 +/- 0.2 and OAA/S 5 +/- 0.0 at a Ce of propofol of 0 microgram/ml; the Ce of propofol was 3.5 microgram/ml and OAA/S 0.1 +/- 0.3 at a BIS of 41.1 +/- 2.5. Also, systolic BP at a Ce of propofol above 1.0 microgram/ml and diasolic BP at a Ce of propofol above 1.5 microgram/ml significantly decreased compared to the control (P < 0.05). However, heart rate did not show any difference compared to the control value. Above a 1.0 microgram/ml Ce, fifty-eight percent of patients showed SpO2 < 90%, but there was no incidence of apnea. There were significant correlations between Ce of propofol, BIS and OAA/S. CONCLUSIONS: BIS showed a significant correlation with Ce of propofol (Spearman's r = 1.0) (P < 0.0001). The Ce of propofol was above 3.0 microgram/ml for BIS50.