The impact of melatonin on postoperative delirium in geriatric patients after colorectal surgery: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The current study was designed to evaluate the role of prophylactic melatonin administration in reducing delirium occurrence in elderly patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgeries. METHODS: One hundred patients of both genders undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgeries under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two equal groups. A treatment group of patients (Melatonin group) received five mg of melatonin the night before surgery, twelve hours before the scheduled surgery time, and an additional five mg of melatonin two hours before surgery. The control group of patients received placebo tablets at the same time points. Delirium score, sedation score, pain score, hemodynamics, oxygen saturation, and blood requirements were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (56%) in the control group versus 18 (36%) in the melatonin group developed delirium (P=0.045), OR=2.26, 95% CI: 1.013-5.05. Five patients (18%) in the control group versus six (33%) in the melatonin group developed delirium on discharge from the recovery room (P=0.749), OR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.34-4.31, while 23 patients (82%) in the control group versus 12 (66%) in the melatonin group developed delirium six hours postoperative (P=0.021), OR=1.705, 95% CI: 1.02-2.81 with higher nursing delirium screening score in the control group 2 (1, 4) versus 1 (0, 2) in the melatonin group (P=0.002), 95% CI: 1.77-2.71. CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic administration of melatonin may decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing colorectal surgeries under general anesthesia.

Combined Nasal, Oropharyngeal Povidone Iodine Plus Glycyrrhizic Acid Sprays, Accelerate Clinical and Laboratory Recovery and Reduces Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still posing challenging health and economic problems. Effective broad-spectrum antiviral therapy is urgently needed for the control of early SARS-CoV-2 infection to limit its spread and mutations. In this randomized placebo-controlled clinical study, we tested the effects of intranasal and oropharyngeal delivery of a compound of povidone-iodine 0.5% and glycyrrhizic acid 2.5 mg/ml on the laboratory (PCR) and clinical recovery from SARS-CoV-2 patients and their household contacts. 353 patients suspected of having COVID-19 infection were screened by chest CT and nasopharyngeal swab tests (PCR). 200 patients were randomly allocated to two equal groups: treatment and placebo groups. Treatment accelerated the recovery of PCR on days 4, 7, and 10, as evidenced by PCR-positive patients (70, vs. 99%, 20 vs. 65%, 1 vs. 10%) in both the treated and placebo groups, respectively. Treatment enhanced the early recovery of symptoms [day 7.6 ± 2 (CI 7:8.3) vs. 8.9 ± 2 (CI 8.3:9.6)]. Treatment promoted early recovery of anosmia and ageusia [5.6 ± 1 (CI, 4.8:6.4) vs. 11 ± 3 days, (CI, 10.8:12)] in both the treated and control groups (P < 0.0001). There was a notable reduction in transmission of the virus among the household close contacts in the treatment group (4%) vs. 76% in the placebo group. Combined PVI-GA nasal and oropharyngeal spray accelerates both laboratory and clinical recovery of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in the early phases of the disease and reduces the household spread of the virus; thus, it may play an important role in controlling coronavirus outbreaks. Clinical Trial Registration: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za, PACTR202101875903773.

A comparison between inhalational (Desflurane) and total intravenous anaesthesia (Propofol and dexmedetomidine) in improving postoperative recovery for morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: A double-blinded randomised controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is commonly performed under total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) or balanced anaesthesia using an intravenous and inhalation agent. It is still unclear which anaesthesia regimen is better for this group of patients. The present study has been conducted to compare the use of the inhalation anaesthesia technique using desflurane with the TIVA technique, using propofol and dexmedetomidine. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, double-blinded study. SETTING: Menoufia Univeristy Hospital. PATIENTS: This randomised trial was carried out on 100 morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The patients were randomised into two equally sized groups; one group received the inhalation anaesthesia technique and the other received the TIVA technique. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received general anaesthesia, which was induced by propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium. Anaesthesia was maintained using desflurane in oxygen air mixture in the inhalation group, whilst anaesthesia was maintained by intravenous infusion of propofol and dexmedetomidine in the TIVA group. MEASUREMENTS: Intra-operative vital signs, anaesthesia recovery time, postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain score, post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) stay time, total first 24h post-operative analgesic needs and the onset of first bowel movement were recorded. Main results The TIVA group had lower intra-operative heart rates and mean arterial blood pressure (P<0.0001). The TIVA group also had a lower post-operative visual analogue score for pain assessment (VAS) (P<0.0001), lower total analgesic requirements (P<0.0001), a lower incidence of nausea (P=0.01) and vomiting (P=0.03), and shorter PACU stays (P=0.01). There was no significant difference between groups with regard to the onset of bowel movement (P=0.16). CONCLUSIONS: TIVA using propofol and dexmedetomidine is a better anaesthetic regimen than inhalation anaesthesia using desflurane for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients. The TIVA technique provided better postoperative recovery with fewer postoperative side effects and analgesic requirements. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTERY NUMBER: NCT03029715.

Propofol-dexmedetomidine versus propofol-remifentanil conscious sedation for awake craniotomy during epilepsy surgery.

BACKGROUND: Conscious sedation during awake craniotomy requires balanced anesthesia technique to achieve optimum sedation and analgesia. This technique should be done without causing respiratory depression or loss of consciousness. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of propofol-dexmedetomidine versus propofol-remifentanil conscious sedation during awake craniotomy for epilepsy surgery. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing awake craniotomy for epilepsy surgery were randomly divided into two groups, PD group and PR group. Thirty patients were included in each group. Patients in PD group received propofol and dexmedetomidine intravenous infusion and patients in PR group received propofol and remifentanil intravenous infusion for conscious sedation. Sedation Score, patients' satisfaction, surgeons' satisfaction, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were recorded. Side effects such as respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, airway obstruction, and oxygen desaturation were also recorded. RESULTS: Sedation Score was higher in PR group compared to PD group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in patients' satisfaction scores between both groups. The heart rate was lower in the PD group compared to the PR group (P<0.05). The incidences of nausea, vomiting, oxygen desaturation and respiratory depression were statistically higher in PR group compared to PD group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol-dexmedetomidine combination is as effective as propofol-remifentanil combination but with fewer side effects for conscious sedation during awake craniotomy for epilepsy surgery.