Intravenous paracetamol and dipyrone for postoperative analgesia after day-case tonsillectomy in children: a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study.

UNLABELLED: Tonsillectomy is associated with severe postoperative pain for which, several drugs are employed for management. OBJECTIVE: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous paracetamol and dipyrone when used for post-tonsillectomy analgesia in children. METHOD: 120 children aged 3-6 yr, undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy and/or ventilation tube insertion were randomized to receive intraoperative infusions of paracetamol (15 mg/kg), dipyrone (15 mg/kg) or placebo (0.9% NaCl). Evaluation was carried out at 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4, 6h postoperatively. Pethidine 0.25 mg/kg was utilized as rescue analgesic. Cumulative pethidine requirement was the primary outcome. Pain intensity measurement, pain relief, sedation level, nausea and vomiting, postoperative bleeding and any other adverse effects were noted. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in pethidine requirement between paracetamol and dipyrone groups. Cumulative pethidine requirement was significantly less in paracetamol and dipyrone groups vs. placebo. No significant difference was observed between groups in postoperative pain intensity scores throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Intravenous paracetamol is found to have a similar analgesic efficacy as intravenous dipyrone and they both help to reduce the opioid requirement for postoperative analgesia in pediatric day-case tonsillectomy.

Paracetamol e dipirona por via endovenosa aplicados à analgesia pós-operatória de pacientes pediátricos submetidos à amigdelectomia em hospital-dia: um estudo prospectivo, randomizado, duplo-cego, placebo controlado / Intravenous paracetamol and dipyrone for postoperative analgesia after day-case tonsillectomy in children: a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study

O manejo da dor pós-amigdelectomia pode ser feito com uma série de medicamentos. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo duplo-cego placebo controlado pretendeu avaliar a eficácia de paracetamol e dipirona administrados por via endovenosa na analgesia de pacientes pediátricos pós-amigdelectomia. MÉTODO: Cento e vinte crianças com idades entre três e seis anos submetidas à amigdelectomia com ou sem adenoidectomia e/ou entubação foram randomizadas para receber infusões de paracetamol (15 mg/kg), dipirona (15 mg/kg) ou placebo (0,9% NaCl) durante a cirurgia. As avaliações foram executadas com 0,25, 0,50, 1, 2, 4, 6h de pós-operatório. Petidina 0,25 mg/kg foi utilizada como analgésico de resgate. Dose acumulada de petidina foi o desfecho primário. Medições de intensidade da dor, alívio da dor, nível de sedação, náusea e vômitos, hemorragia no pós-operatório e outros efeitos adversos foram anotados. RESULTADOS: Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada na dose acumulada de petidina entre os grupos paracetamol e dipirona. A dose acumulada de petidina foi significativamente menor nos grupos paracetamol e dipirona em comparação ao grupo placebo. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi observada entre os escores de dor no pós-operatório dos grupos durante o estudo. CONCLUSÃO: Paracetamol endovenoso tem eficácia analgésica semelhante à da dipirona endovenosa; ambos ajudam a reduzir a necessidade de opioides na analgesia pós-operatória de pacientes pediátricos submetidos à amigdelectomia em hospital-dia.

Tonsillectomy is associated with severe postoperative pain for which, several drugs are employed for management. OBJECTIVE: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous paracetamol and dipyrone when used for post-tonsillectomy analgesia in children. METHOD: 120 children aged 3-6 yr, undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy and/or ventilation tube insertion were randomized to receive intraoperative infusions of paracetamol (15 mg/kg), dipyrone (15 mg/kg) or placebo (0.9% NaCl). Evaluation was carried out at 0.25, 0.50, 1, 2, 4, 6h postoperatively. Pethidine 0.25 mg/kg was utilized as rescue analgesic. Cumulative pethidine requirement was the primary outcome. Pain intensity measurement, pain relief, sedation level, nausea and vomiting, postoperative bleeding and any other adverse effects were noted. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in pethidine requirement between paracetamol and dipyrone groups. Cumulative pethidine requirement was significantly less in paracetamol and dipyrone groups vs. placebo. No significant difference was observed between groups in postoperative pain intensity scores throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Intravenous paracetamol is found to have a similar analgesic efficacy as intravenous dipyrone and they both help to reduce the opioid requirement for postoperative analgesia in pediatric day-case tonsillectomy.

[Our experiences with spinal anesthesia in pediatric patients]. / Pediyatrik hastalarda spinal anestezi deneyimlerimiz.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of spinal anesthesia, including its efficacy, adverse effects and complications, in order to determine if it can be applied safely in pediatric patients at high-risk for general anesthesia. We emphasize our positive outcomes in children undergoing lower abdominal surgery in our previous experience. METHODS: The perioperative data of 86 pediatric patients who received spinal anesthesia between 2007 and 2008 were scanned retrospectively. Demographic data, operation types, anesthetic applications, duration of surgery, motor blockade degree, two dermatomes regression time, postoperative analgesic requirements, adverse effects, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The operation time and two dermatomes regression times were found as 49.8 ± 24.1 minutes and 73.0 ± 21.9 minutes, respectively. At the end of the operation, motor blockade had disappeared in 17 patients and persisted in 68 patients. Block time was measured as 67.3 ± 16.2 minutes in these patients. During the intraoperative period, hypotension was observed in two patients, and bradycardia occurred in one patient. Except for these, hemodynamic parameters did not change more than 20% from control values at any time. In three children, surgery was continued under general anesthesia. Forty-six patients required additional analgesic doses in the postoperative period. The time to first analgesic requirement was 2.3 ± 1.2 hours. During the postoperative period, no hemodynamic or respiratory complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Spinal anesthesia continues to gain acceptance as an alternative to general anesthesia in children. However, we conclude that accumulated experience is required in order to apply this technique safely in pediatric patients. We emphasize the positive outcomes, adverse events and complications observed in our experience.

An alternative central venous route for cardiac surgery: supraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical success rate, safety, and usefulness for intraoperative central venous pressure monitoring, and the intravenous access of the supraclavicular subclavian vein approach when compared with the infraclavicular subclavian vein approach and the internal jugular vein approach for central venous catheterization during open-chest cardiac surgery. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, single-center study. SETTING: A university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety-five patients scheduled for open-chest cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: The study population consisted of patients for whom central vein catheterization was intended during cardiac surgery. Patients were randomized to 3 groups according to the route of central vein catheterization: the supraclavicular group: the supraclavicular approach for the subclavian vein (n = 65); the infraclavicular group: the infraclavicular approach for the subclavian vein (n = 65); and the jugular group: the internal jugular vein approach (n = 65). After the induction of anesthesia, central venous catheterization was performed according to the assigned approach. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The success rates for the assigned approach were 98%, 98%, and 92% for the supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and jugular groups, respectively (p > 0.05). The success rates in the first 3 attempts in patients who were catheterized successfully according to the assigned approach were 96%, 100%, and 96% for the supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and jugular groups, respectively (p > 0.05). There was no difference among groups in catheter insertion time (p > 0.05). After sternal retraction, central venous pressure trace loss and difficulty in fluid infusion were significantly more frequent in the infraclavicular group (21%) when compared with the supraclavicular (3%) and jugular groups (0%) (p = 0.01). There was no difference among groups in terms of catheter malposition, complications during catheterization, and rate of catheter-related infection. CONCLUSION: The supraclavicular approach for subclavian vein catheterization is an acceptable alternative for central venous access during cardiac surgery in terms of procedural success rate, ease of placement, rate of complications, and usability after sternal retractor expansion.

Femoral and sciatic nerve block with 0.25% bupivacaine for surgical management of diabetic foot syndrome: an anesthetic technique for high-risk patients with diabetic nephropathy.

A case series of patients with diabetic nephropathy, who underwent lower limb debridement or amputation below the knee during successful combined sciatic and femoral nerve block with bupivacaine 0.25%, is presented. Because impaired nerve conduction in diabetes mellitus results in lower local anesthetic agent requirement, a dose-sparing, minimal effective concentration for surgical anesthesia for peripheral nerve blockade may be more favorable for patients with diabetes and chronic renal disease.

The efficacy of intravenous patient-controlled remifentanil versus morphine anesthesia after coronary artery surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of remifentanil and morphine after coronary artery surgery in a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) protocol. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical study. SETTING: Single institution, university hospital. PARTICIPANT: Sixty cardiac surgical patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. INTERVENTIONS: After the operation, patients were allocated to 1 of 2 groups. In the first group (group R, n = 30), the following intravenous PCA protocol was programmed: remifentanil infusion, 0.05 microg/kg/min; bolus, 0.25 microg/kg; and lockout time, 5 minutes. In the second group (group M, n = 30), the intravenous PCA protocol was as follows: morphine infusion, 0.3 mg/h; bolus, 1 mg; and lockout time, 5 minutes. In addition to intravenous opioids, paracetamol was administered during the study. In both groups, tramadol was added to the regimen after PCA had been terminated at 24 hours after surgery. In addition to tramadol and paracetamol, 10 mg of morphine sulfate was administered if the numeric rating scale (NRS) score for pain was 3 or more after the first postoperative day. Pain was assessed with an NRS in each patient at rest, while coughing, and during movement for 72 hours. Sedation levels were measured with the Ramsay sedation scale. Overall effectiveness of pain relief was evaluated with a 4-stage scale ("very good," "good," "moderate," or "bad"). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: During coughing, the NRS values were statistically significantly lower in group R than they were in group M at 12 and 24 hours after surgery (median 1 vs 3 at 12 hours and 2 v 3.5 at 24 hours) (p < 0.05). On movement, NRS values were statistically significantly lower in group R than they were in group M at 12 hours after surgery (median 1 v 2.5) (p < 0.05). After the first 24 hours, the requirement for additional analgesia was similar in both groups. The overall effectiveness of pain relief was rated "very good" or "good"' in 87% of patients in group R and in 72% of patients in group M (p > .05). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in patient satisfaction between the 2 groups. On the basis of the reduction of pain scores (with cough and movement) at 1 or 2 postoperative time points, PCA-remifentanil infusion is a better analgesic technique; overall, both PCA techniques provided for effective pain scores (<3). In patients in whom PCA morphine is contraindicated after CABG surgery, PCA remifentanil is a safe alternative.

Laryngeal Mask Airway insertion with total intravenous anesthesia for transsternal thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis: report of 5 cases.

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a reduction of postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. Most myasthenia gravis patients require thymectomy. Intravenous (IV) anesthetics may be superior to inhalation agents in these patients. The Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA), when compared with the endotracheal tube, causes less airway resistance, which in turn may lead to a decreased bronchoconstrictive reflex, less atelectasis, and fewer pulmonary infections. We report 5 patients with myasthenia gravis, who underwent transsternal thymectomy with total IV anesthesia and LMA.

Efficacy of lornoxicam for acute postoperative pain relief after septoplasty: a comparison with diclofenac, ketoprofen, and dipyrone.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of injectable lornoxicam with diclofenac, ketoprofen, and dipyrone for acute postoperative pain. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: 200 ASA physical status I patients who were scheduled for elective septoplasty with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were divided into 5 groups according to the intramuscularly administered analgesic drug: lornoxicam 8 mg (twice daily), diclofenac 75 mg (twice daily), ketoprofen 100 mg (twice daily), dipyrone 1 g (three times daily), and placebo (twice daily). MEASUREMENTS: Pain intensity was evaluated with a 0 to 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th, and 24th hour postoperatively. Intramuscular pethidine 1 mg/kg was administered to patients requiring additional analgesia, and treatment-related adverse effects were noted. MAIN RESULTS: Pethidine requirement was found to be significantly higher in the placebo group (1.8 mg/kg per 24 hours; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.2) than in the other groups (P = 0.001). No significant difference in opioid requirement was found among the treated groups (P > 0.05). Postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower at specific hours in the treatment groups when compared with placebo group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in adverse effects was found among the groups studied (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy of lornoxicam in the management of acute postoperative pain was not superior to that of other nonopioid analgesics used in this study.

A prospective randomized double-blind study to determine the effect of thoracic epidural neostigmine on postoperative ileus after abdominal aortic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus is a major gastrointestinal complication of abdominal aortic surgery leading to increased rates of morbidity and mortality, longer lengths of hospital stay, and higher costs. In this study, we evaluated the effect of epidurally administered neostigmine on postoperative ileus after abdominal aortic surgery. METHODS: We enrolled 45 patients who were scheduled for elective abdominal aortic surgery at our institution. All patients received identical general and epidural anesthesia. Before the induction of general anesthesia, an epidural catheter was placed at the T7-T8 intervertebral space, and 20 mL bupivacaine (0.5%) was injected over 15 min. Patients were randomized into two groups. Patients received a 5 mL bolus of neostigmine (1 microg/kg) diluted with normal saline (Group 1) or a 5 mL bolus of normal saline (Group 2) via an epidural catheter at the end of surgery and 8 h postoperatively. Times of bowel sounds were recorded postoperatively in the intensive care unit. Times of daily passage of flatus and defecation also were recorded. RESULTS: Times to the first bowel sounds and the first flatus were significantly shorter in Group 1 than they were in Group 2 (11.6 +/- 11.2 h vs 22.6 +/- 12.8 h and 21.8 +/- 15.6 h vs 36.6 +/- 19.1 h, respectively, P < 0.05). The times to first defecation were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Nausea was more frequent in patients in Group 2 than in Group 1 (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications was similar between the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic epidural neostigmine enables faster restoration of bowel sounds and shortens duration of postoperative ileus after abdominal aortic surgery.

Caudal epidural anesthesia for a 2-year old child with congenital myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease with antibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction. Anesthetists have a special interest in myasthenia gravis because of its interaction with various anesthetic agents. Unlike adult myasthenic patients; very little report has been written about the anesthetic management in children, other than in relation to thymectomy. Although the use of caudal anesthesia in pediatric patients is common, have not seen any report concerning its use in a myasthenic child. In this case report, we represented a 2 year-old boy was performed caudal anesthesia for orchiopexy operation. He had presented difficulty in breathing, generalized weakness and droopy eyes due to congenital myasthenia gravis. In the operating room, following the routine monitoring, the patient was sedated with intravenous 1mg midazolam and 10 mg ketamine. Then caudal block was performed. 17 minutes later from the local anesthetic injection; operation was started and lasted 45 minutes. The patient did not require intraoperative supplemental analgesia and postoperative course was uneventful. Specific attention should be paid to voluntary and respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis patients. Caudal anesthesia allowed airway control of myasthenia gravis patients without endotracheal intubations and muscle relaxant. In conclusion, we think that caudal anesthetic technique may be considered as a safe and suitable for the myasthenic child and it may represent a valid alternative to general anesthesia for these patients.

Wake-up test after carotid endarterectomy for combined carotid-coronary artery surgery: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: In combined carotid-coronary artery surgery, it is important to determine patients' neurologic status after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). An initial stroke could be exacerbated by cardiopulmonary bypass required for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Various monitoring methods (eg, electroencephalogram) have been used to reduce neurologic deficits during CEA under general anesthesia. However, none of the methods of determining neurologic status of patients are ideal during the time between the end of CEA and the beginning of CABG surgery. In this study, patient's neurologic status was assessed after CEA with a wake-up test to identify stroke before CABG surgery. DESIGN: A prospective nonrandomized case series. SETTING: Single institution, university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four patients with carotid artery stenosis and coronary artery disease underwent combined carotid-coronary artery surgery. INTERVENTIONS: After CEA, propofol and remifentanil anesthesia was discontinued, the wake-up test was performed, and then anesthesia was reinstituted for CABG surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: A total of 48 wake-up tests were performed in 43 patients. Two wake-up tests were performed in each of the 5 patients who underwent bilateral CEA. Postoperative stroke were seen in 2 patients. In the first patient, despite a normal wake-up test, the stroke occurred in the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to the CEA, and the patient recovered within 12 days. In the second patient, there was a positive wake-up test after CEA, and he recovered within 3 days. One patient died postoperatively because of ventricular failure. CONCLUSIONS: Although this is a case series, the authors believe that performing a neurologic examination using a wake-up test may make a contribution and increases the safety of combined surgical procedures in patients with coronary and carotid artery disease.

Oral versus intranasal midazolam premedication for infants during echocardiographic study.

Movement and anxiety during echocardiographic study may reduce the reliability and affect the quality of echocardiographic images. Thus, sedation is an essential component when it is performed in infants. This randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of intranasal midazolam (INM) versus oral midazolam (OM) in infants during transthoracic echocardiography. Eighty patients between the ages of 6 mo and 3 y who presented for elective echocardiographic study were divided into 3 groups: the OM group received 0.4 mg/kg of injectable midazolam mixed with an equal volume of cherry juice, the INM group received 0.2 mg/kg as drops,and the control group was given oral cherry juice or intranasal serum physiologic. A blinded clinician assessed and scored the level of sedation and comfort during the procedure for each child, and a score for ease of administration was recorded by the nurse. The intranasal route was more acceptable to infants than the oral route (P<.001). No significant difference in the effects of sedation was observed between the OM group and the INM group (P=.583), but significant differences were observed between the sedated groups and the control group (P<.001). The procedure was significantly more comfortable in groups given OM and INM than in the control group (P<.001). Although no difference in sedation score was seen between the oral and nasal routes, INM was better accepted by infants than OM. Echocardiography was performed more reliably and comfortably in those given midazolam than in those in the control group.

Effects of isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane on platelet function: A prospective, randomized, single-blind, in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: The primary physiologic function of platelets is to facilitate hemostasisby aggregation. Volatile anesthetics have been reported to decrease platelet aggregation in vivo and in vitro. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the hematologic effectsof the anesthetics isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane on hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), and platelet aggregation after minor surgery. METHODS: Patients aged 20 to 60 years who were scheduled to undergominor surgery and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status P1 or P2 (healthy or mild systemic disease) were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane. None of the patients received premedication. Anesthesia was induced using IV thiopental 5 to 6 mg/kg, fentanyl 1 to 2 µg/kg, and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg, and maintained with 1 MAC of isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane in 66% nitrous oxide and 33% oxygen. Vecuronium 0.03 mg/kg was given when necessary for muscle relaxation. All patients were monitored throughout surgery; isotonic saline was given at a rate of 5 mL/kg · h. Hematologic studies were performed preoperatively, 15 minutes after intubation, and 1 hour after the end of surgery. Platelet aggregation tests were performed in a laboratory using a platelet function analyzer (PFA), collagen/epinephrine PFA test cartridges, collagen/adenosine diphosphate PFA test cartridges, and PFA trigger solution. RESULTS: This prospective, randomized, single-blind, in vivo study was conducted at Gevher Nesibe Teaching Hospital, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. Thirty patients (15 men, 15 women) were randomized to the 3 treatment groups (each, n = 10). Hb, Hct, platelet count, aPTT, PT, and INR were statistically similar between all 3 groups. The measured parameters were not significantly different between the isoflurane and desflurane groups at any time point. However, in the sevoflurane group, mean (5D) platelet aggregation was significantly delayed 15 minutes after intubation and 1 hour after surgery compared with the preoperative values (collagen/epinephrine, 81.70 [9.85] seconds vs 196.20 [27.84] seconds and 115.40 [25.80] seconds; both, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study of the effects of isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane in patients undergoing minor surgery, clinically relevant antithrombotic effects were observed 15 minutes after intubation with all 3 drugs, although the effects in patients receiving sevoflurane were significantly greater compared with those in patients receiving isoflurane and desflurane. The antithrombotic effects of isoflurane and desflurane were not continued at 1 hour after surgery; however, the inhibitory effects of sevoflurane on platelet function were continued at 1 hour after surgery but were significantly decreased from levels found at 15 minutes after intubation.