Analgesic and hemodynamic effects of intravenous infusion of magnesium sulphate versus dexmedetomidine in patients undergoing bilateral inguinal hernial surgeries under spinal anesthesia: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia is commonly employed during inguinal hernial surgeries. Its short duration may, however, be considered a limitation, especially for bilateral hernial repair. The aim of this research is to investigate the analgesic and hemodynamic effects of intravenous infusion of both MgSO4 and dexmedetomidine on patients undergoing bilateral inguinal hernia surgeries under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: This study was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded controlled trail. It included 60 male patients who had been scheduled for bilateral elective inguinal hernia surgery under spinal anesthesia at Kasr Al-Aini hospital. Patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups (n = 20 each) to receive 50 mL of 0.9% saline intravenous infusion of either dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg.kg-1. h-1 (Group D) or magnesium sulphate 15 mg.kg-1. h-1 (Group M) or normal saline (Group S). The primary outcome of this study was set as the total duration of analgesia. Secondary outcomes were set as the onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade, perioperative hemodynamics, and the total 24-hour postoperative morphine consumption. RESULTS: Durations of sensory and motor blockades as well as durations of analgesia were all significantly longer among patients in Group D (mean 2.2, 3.5, 5.8 hours respectively) and Group M (mean 2.2, 3.3, 5.2 hours respectively), in comparison to Group S (mean 1.5, 2.7, 3.9 hours respectively). No significant differences were found in systolic or diastolic arterial blood pressure, heart rate oxygen saturation, cardiac output, or stroke volume among the study groups. Seven patients in Group D and four patients in Groups M and S developed hypotension. CONCLUSION: Intravenous infusion of either dexmedetomidine or MgSO4 with spinal anesthesia effectively improves the quality of spinal anesthesia and prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia and decreases the 24-hour postoperative morphine consumption. Results also demonstrated that the use of dexmedetomidine resulted in a slightly longer duration of analgesia, whilst the use of MgSO4 resulted in slightly better hemodynamic stability.

Ketamine-based Versus Fentanyl-based Regimen for Rapid-sequence Endotracheal Intubation in Patients with Septic Shock: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of this work is to compared ketamine-based versus fentanyl-based regimens for endotracheal intubation in patients with septic shock undergoing emergency surgery. Design: This was a randomised double-blinded controlled trial. Participants: Patients with septic shock on norepinephrine infusion scheduled for emergency surgery. Setting and Interventions: At induction of anaesthesia, patients were allocated into ketamine group (n=23) in which the participants received ketamine 1 mg/kg, and fentanyl group (n=19) in which the participants received fentanyl 2.5 mcg/ kg. Both groups received midazolam (0.05 mg/kg) and succinyl choline (1 mg/kg). Measurement: The primary outcome was mean arterial blood pressure. The secondary outcomes included: heart rate, cardiac output, and incidence of postintubation hypotension defined as mean arterial pressure ≤80% of baseline value. Results: Forty-two patients were available for final analysis. The mean blood pressure was higher in the ketamine group than in the fentanyl group at 1, 2 and 5 minutes after the induction of anaesthesia. Furthermore, the incidence of postinduction hypotension was lower in the ketamine group than in the fentanyl group (11 [47.8%] versus 16 [84.2%], P-value= 0.014). Other hypodynamic parameters, namely the heart rate and cardiac output, were comparable between both groups; and were generally maintained in relation to the baseline reading in each group. Conclusion: The ketamine-based regimen provided better hemodynamic profile compared to fentanyl-based regimen for rapid-sequence intubation in patients with septic shock undergoing emergency surgery.

Comparative study between intrathecal dexmedetomidine and intrathecal magnesium sulfate for the prevention of post-spinal anaesthesia shivering in uroscopic surgery; (RCT).

BACKGROUND: Hypothermia and shivering are common complications after spinal anaesthesia, especially after uroscopic procedures in which large amounts of cold intraluminal irrigation fluids are used. Magnesium sulfate and dexmedetomidine are the most effective adjuvants with the least side effects. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of intrathecal dexmedetomidine versus intrathecal magnesium sulfate on the prevention of post-spinal anaesthesia shivering. METHODS: This prospective randomized, double-blinded controlled study included 105 patients who were scheduled for uroscopic surgery at the Kasr El-Aini Hospital. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups. Group C (n = 35) received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (12.5 mg) + 0.5 ml of normal saline, Group M (n = 35) received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (12.5 mg) + 25 mg of magnesium sulfate in 0.5 ml saline, and Group D (n = 35) received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (12.5 mg) + 5 µg of dexmedetomidine in 0.5 ml saline. The primary outcomes were the incidence and intensity of shivering. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of hypothermia, sedation, the use of meperidine to control shivering and complications. RESULTS: Group C had significantly higher proportions of patients who developed shivering (21), developed grade IV shivering (20) and required meperidine (21) to treat shivering than group M (8,5,5) and group D (5,3,6), which were comparable to each other. The time between block administration and meperidine administration was similar among the three groups. Hypothermia did not occur in any of the patients. The three groups were comparable regarding the occurrence of nausea, vomiting, bradycardia and hypotension. All the patients in group C, 32 patients in group M and 33 patients in group D had a sedation score of 2. Three patients in group M and 2 patients in group D had a sedation score of 3. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal injections of both dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulfate were effective in reducing the incidence of post-spinal anaesthesia shivering. Therefore, we encourage the use of magnesium sulfate, as it is more physiologically available, more readily available in most operating theatres and much less expensive than dexmedetomidine. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial registration ID: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR) Trial Number PACTR201801003001727 ; January 2018, "retrospectively registered".

Nalbuphine as an adjuvant to 0.25% levobupivacaine in ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block provided prolonged sensory block and similar motor block durations (RCT).

PURPOSE: Prolonged postoperative analgesia with early motor recovery for early rehabilitation is a challenge in regional block. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of adding 20 mg nalbuphine to 25 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. METHODS: One hundred thirty-five (135) patients scheduled for hand and forearm surgeries with supraclavicular block were randomly allocated into three equal groups. Group L received 25 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine + 1 ml normal saline; group H received 25 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine + 1 ml normal saline; and group N received 25 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine + 1 ml (20 mg) nalbuphine. Onset time and duration of sensory and motor block, and time to first analgesic dose were recorded. RESULTS: Sensory block onset was comparable between the three groups. Motor block onset in group L and group N was comparable (13.16 ± 3.07 and 13.84 ± 3.05 min, respectively) and was shorter than that in group H (15.71 ± 2 0.91 min). Sensory block duration in group L and group N was comparable (522.22 ± 69.57 and 533.78 ± 66.03 min, respectively) and was longer than that in group H (342.67 ± 92.80 min). Motor block duration in group N and group H was comparable (272.00 ± 59.45 and 249.78 ± 66.01 min, respectively) and was shorter than that in group L (334.67 ± 57.90 min). Time to first analgesic dose was significantly longer in group N (649.78 ± 114.76 min) than that of group L and group H (575.56 ± 96.85 and 375.56 ± 84.49 min, respectively) and longer in group L when compared to group H. CONCLUSIONS: Adding 20 mg nalbuphine to 25 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine in supraclavicular block provided prolonged duration of sensory block with similar duration of motor block.