A 5-year surveillance of healthcare-associated infections in a university hospital: A retrospective analysis.

Objectives: "Nosocomial infections" or "healthcare-associated infections" are a significant public health problem around the world. This study aimed to assess the rate of laboratory-confirmed healthcare-associated infections, frequency of nosocomial pathogens, and the antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial isolates in a University Hospital. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of healthcare-associated infections in a University Hospital, between the years 2015 and 2019 in Tekirdag, Turkey. Results: During the 5 years, the incidence densities of healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units and clinics were 10.31 and 1.70/1000 patient-days, respectively. The rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections in intensive care units were 11.57, 4.02, and 1.99 per 1000 device-days, respectively. The most common healthcare-associated infections according to the primary sites were bloodstream infections (55.3%) and pneumonia (20.4%). 67.5% of the isolated microorganisms as nosocomial agents were Gram-negative bacteria, 24.9% of Gram-positive bacteria, and 7.6% of Candida. The most frequently isolated causative agents were Escherichia coli (16.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.7%). The rate of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production among E. coli isolates was 51.1%. Carbapenem resistance was 29.8% among isolates of P. aeruginosa, 95.1% among isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, and 18.2% among isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Colistin resistance was 2.4% among isolates of A. baumannii. Vancomycin resistance was 5.3% among isolates of Enterococci. Conclusion: Our study results demonstrate that healthcare-associated infections are predominantly originated by intensive care units. The microorganisms isolated from intensive care units are highly resistant to many antimicrobial agents. The rising incidence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms indicates that more interventions are urgently needed to reduce healthcare-associated infections in our intensive care units.

Can Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia Techniques For Tracheostomy Be An Alternative To General Anesthesia?

Introduction The cervical plexus block (CPB) has been used for a long time for both analgesia and anesthesia in carotid endarterectomy and thyroid operations. To be unfamiliar with the technique and its perceived difficulty, potential risks, and possible adverse effects such as intravascular injection has limited broader use before the practical use of ultrasound. We hypothesize that the cervical plexus block can provide adequate anesthesia in tracheostomy cases and provide excellent anesthesia comfort when combined with a translaryngeal block. Methods This double-blinded, randomized 29 patients undergoing primary tracheostomy operation to receive either CPB (Group S) or CPB with translaryngeal block (Group ST). The primary outcome was cumulated analgesic consumption during the first 24 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes were as follows: pain related to incision, patient tolerance as assessed by tracheostomy cannula comfort score, cough and gag, pain at rest, nausea and vomiting, and time to first analgesic demand. Results The patient tolerance for tracheostomy was higher in Group ST than Group S. The median tracheostomy cannula comfort score was 4.0 in Group S. In contrast, the median score was significantly lower in group ST (P<.001). The cough and gag reflex scores were significantly lower in Group ST than Group S (1.0 vs 4.0, P<.001). Conclusion This trial supported the hypothesis that the CPB combined with the translaryngeal block yields excellent anesthesia for tracheostomies. The technique we briefly described, in a way, is the equivalent of awake fiberoptic intubation to awake tracheostomy with minimal sedation adjusted according to airway patency.

Ultrasound-guided serratus plane block combined with intercostal block for a high-risk patient with pericardial tamponade: A case report.

Anesthetic management of patients with pericardial tamponade is challenging. A 65-year-old man diagnosed with small-cell lung carcinoma and bilateral malignant pleural effusion in the lungs and pericardial effusion was scheduled for pericardial-window-opening surgery. The severely compromised lung function of the patient led to an anesthetic plan of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block combined with an intercostal block. Although serratus plane block was initially developed for postoperative analgesia, we have shown here that it can be used under deep sedation in combination with an intercostal block for anesthesia for surgeries involving the hemithorax; the block may be promising in high-risk cases.

Modified 45-degree head-up tilt increases success rate of lumbar puncture in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia.

PURPOSE: Lumbar puncture (LP) is one of the most common procedures performed in medicine. The aim of this prospective study is to determine the success rate of LP in lateral decubitus with 45-degree head-up tilt position, and compare it with traditional positions like sitting and lateral decubitus. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty patients between 25 and 85 years of age who had undergone abdominal, urologic, and lower limb extremities surgeries were enrolled and 300 patients were divided into three different groups. The LP was performed with a 25-G atraumatic needle, either in the standard sitting position (group S, n = 100), lateral decubitus, knee-chest position (group L, n = 100) or lateral decubitus, knee-chest position with a 45-degree head-up tilt (group M, n = 100). The free flow of clear cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) upon first attempt was considered to be evidence of a successful LP. RESULTS: Total LP success rate was significantly higher in group M (85 %) than in groups S and L (70 and 65 %, respectively) (p = 0.004). When the significance between the groups was evaluated according to age, the increase in the LP success rate was not significant for ≤65 and >65 age groups. There were no differences among the three groups in terms of bloody CSF (p = 0.229) and the number of attempts before dural puncture (p = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS: The lateral decubitus in knee-chest position with a 45-degree head-up tilt may be the preferred position for spinal anesthesia in young and elderly patients, due to the high success rate.

Lateral Trendelenburg with the injected side down after the block improves the efficacy of the axillary approach to brachial plexus block.

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that, after axillary block, positioning the patient in a lateral position with the injected side down and simultaneously in a 20° Trendelenburg position will increase the success rate and quality of the block. METHODS: Fifty patients with chronic renal failure (ASA 2-3) scheduled for arteriovenous fistula surgery were included in this study. In all patients, 30-40 ml of 0.25 % levobupivacaine were injected into the axillary sheath. The block was performed as three injections (multiple injection technique) with the arm in 90° abduction and 90° flexion in the supine position. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I (n = 25) patients were kept in the supine position after the block. Group II (n = 25) patients were positioned laterally after the block with the injected arm down and in a 20° Trendelenburg position. Sensory and motor block were evaluated at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min after the administration of the block. Thus, the patients in group II were evaluated in a lateral position during the first 30 min. Throughout the surgery and the recovery period, sensory and motor block were evaluated at 30-min intervals. RESULTS: There were no significant intergroup differences in the effects on radial, ulnar, median, and musculoskeletal nerve blockade. Thirty minutes after the injection, the patients in group II had higher levels of sensory axillary nerve blockade. Subscapular and thoracodorsal nerve motor block were not detected in group I, while 84 % of the patients in group II experienced blockade of both of these nerves (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We conclude that, for patients undergoing an axillary block, positioning the patient laterally with the injected side down and in a 20° Trendelenburg position increases the success rate and quality of the block.

A retrospective trial comparing the effects of different anesthetic techniques on phantom pain after lower limb amputation.

BACKGROUND: Pain and other sensations from an amputated or absent limb, called phantom pain and phantom sensations, are well-known phenomena. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of anesthetic techniques on phantom pain, phantom sensations, and stump pain after lower limb amputation. METHODS: Ninety-two patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III were analyzed for 1 to 24 months after lower limb amputation in this retrospective study. Patients received general, spinal, or epidural anesthesia or peripheral nerve block for their amputations. Standardized questions were used to assess phantom limb pain, phantom sensation, and stump pain postoperatively. Pain intensity was assessed on a numeric rating scale (NRS) of 0 to 10. Patients' medical histories were determined from hospital records. RESULTS: Patients who received epidural anesthesia and peripheral nerve block perceived significantly less pain in the week after surgery compared with patients who received general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia (NRS [SD] values, 2.68 [1.0] and 2.70 [1.0], respectively). After approximately 14 to 17 months, there was no difference in phantom limb pain, phantom sensation, or stump pain among the anesthetic techniques for amputation. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing lower limb amputation, performing epidural anesthesia or peripheral nerve block, instead of general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia, might attenuate phantom and stump pain in the first week after operation. Anesthetic technique might not have an effect on phantom limb pain, phantom sensation, or stump pain at 14 to 17 months after lower limb amputation.

Effects of bupivacaine versus levobupivacaine on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing urologic surgery: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data to determine the impact of subarachnoid blockade with local anesthetics on perioperative pulmonary function. The effects of local anesthetics used in spinal anesthesia are very important in terms of respiratory function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bupivacaine versus levobupivacaine on pulmonary function in patients with COPD undergoing urologic surgery. METHODS: Patients were randomized into 2 groups: group B (n = 25) received 3 mL of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine; group L (n = 25) received 3 mL of isobaric 0.5% levobupivacaine. Both agents were administered intrathecally. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), vital capacity (VC), and FEV1/FVC ratio were measured using spirometry 10 and 30 minutes after spinal anesthesia and 30 minutes after completion of the operation. An arterial blood gas test was performed before and after spinal anesthesia. RESULTS: Fifty male patients aged 40 to 80 years completed the study. There were no differences in the results of preoperative and postoperative FVC, FEV1, PEFR, VC, FEV1/FVC ratio, and arterial blood gas between the bupivacaine (n = 25) and levobupivacaine (n = 25) groups. However, patients who took bupivacaine showed a significant decrease in intraoperative PEFR at 30 minutes compared with baseline, a result not seen in patients who took levobupivacaine (P = 0.036 and P = 0.282, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In 50 patients with moderate COPD undergoing urologic surgery, hyperbaric bupivacaine caused a decrease in intraoperative PEFR compared with baseline because of higher level block; however, the effects of hyperbaric bupivacaine and isobaric levobupivacaine on pulmonary function in these patients showed equally effective potencies for spinal anesthesia.

Analysis of C-reactive protein and biochemical parameters in pericardial fluid.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between pericardial fluid and plasma CRP levels, and to alterations in other biochemical parameters in patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The study group consisted of 96 Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients who were referred to our clinic for a CABG procedure and from whom sufficient amount of pericardial fluid could be collected. The patients were classified into 3 groups: Stable Angina Pectoris (SAP) (n=27), Unstable Angina Pectoris (USAP) (n=36), and Post-Myocardial Infarction (PMI) (n=33). Levels of CRP, glucose, albumin, total protein, Creatine Kinase (CK), Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB), and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in pericardial fluid samples and in simultaneously collected blood samples from radial artery. The pericardial CRP and LDH levels in the PMI group were higher than in the SAP (p=0.015 and p=0.000, respectively) and USAP (p=0.011, p=0.047) groups. Serum CRP levels in USAP (p=0.014) and PMI (p= 0.000) groups were higher than those in the SAP group. Pericardial albumin levels in the PMI group were higher than in the USAP group (p=0.038). In all groups, the pericardial fluid/serum protein ratio was > 0.5, the LDL ratio was > 0.6, and pericardial fluid LDH concentrations were > 300 mg/dl. CRP level of pericardial fluid was significantly higher in the PMI group than in other groups. However, pericardial fluid LDH levels were higher than blood LDH levels in this group and were also higher than pericardial fluid LDH levels of other groups.

Importance of pulmonary artery perfusion in cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the importance of pulmonary artery perfusion in cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in whom the cross-clamp was applied only to the aorta were defined as group 1 (n = 11) and patients in whom the cross-clamp was applied to both the aorta and pulmonary artery were defined as group 2 (n = 11). MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS: Tissue samples obtained from the lower lobe of the left lung before CPB, 20 minutes after cross-clamping, and 20 minutes after declamping were examined under light and electron microscopes. Electron microscopic examination revealed changes in the blood-air barrier, epithelial cells, pneumocytes, and basal membrane were more prominent in group 2. Changes in the leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts of blood samples obtained from the right atrium and right superior pulmonary vein before CPB and 5, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the removal of clamp were also investigated. The transpulmonary difference was statistically significant at 5 and 30 minutes after declamping in group 1. In group 2, transpulmonary differences continued to be significant at 5, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after declamping. There was no difference between groups in terms of PaO(2)/F(I)O(2) ratio before CPB (group 1: 342.0 +/- 80.0 mmHg, group 2: 349.0 +/- 67.0 mmHg); however, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups 2 hours after declamping (group 1: 418.0 +/- 87.0 mmHg and group 2: 290.0 +/- 110.0 mmHg; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary artery perfusion was found to be important in cardiac surgery.