Does preemptive gabapentin modulate cytokine response in total knee arthroplasty? A placebo controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Gabapentin, as a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid, has been investigated to provide pain relief in the early postoperative period following various surgical interventions. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate whether preemptive oral administration of gabapentin 800 mg can reduce postoperative pain and modulate the inflammatory cytokine response in comparison to placebo in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients were randomly divided into 2 groups before surgery, either to receive peroral gabapentin 800 mg or placebo drug, 1 h before surgery. All patients had general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, in a standardized fashion, by the same anesthetist. Thirty min before completion of surgery, intramuscular diclofenac sodium 75 mg was administered. Following extubation, visual analogue pain scale (VAS) scores and additional analgesic requirements were recorded at 15 min at post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and at 4th and 24th h postoperatively. Plasma levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor R (TNF-R) were measured at predetermined time points (T0 1 h before administration of gabapentin, T1 at postoperative the 4th h mark, and T2 at postoperative at the 24th h mark). RESULTS: The VAS scores at postoperative 4th h were significantly higher in placebo and gabapentin groups compared with VAS scores at PACU and at 24th h. The groups did not differ in terms of additional analgesic requirements. In gabapentin group, IL-6 levels at T1 and T2 were significantly lower in comparison to values measured in placebo group at the same time points. This difference was not significant in TNF-R levels between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Though preemptive oral gabapentin administration did not reduce postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in total knee arthroplasty surgery, it attenuated IL-6 production on the first postoperative day.

Our Anaesthetic Experiences in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Mitraclip Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous mitraclip implantation system, is a new technique developed for patients with high surgical risks. It is generally performed in a catheterisation laboratory with the guidance of fluoroscopy and transesophageal echocardiography. In this study, we aimed to share our experiences on anaesthetic in patients undergoing mitraclip implantation under general anaesthesia. METHODS: Eighty four patients with severe, symptomatic mitral insufficiency, who had undergone MitraClip implantation under general anaesthesia between July 2012 and March 2015 (54 male, 30 female; mean age: 68.5±10.2 years) were retrospectively investigated in terms of anaesthetic management. RESULTS: Of the 84 patients undergoing percutaneous mitraclip implantation under general anaesthesia, 84.5% had sodium thiopental and 75% had midazolam for anaesthesia induction. For the maintenance of anaesthesia, 57% of the patients were reported to have sevoflurane, whereas the rest had desflurane. The mean duration of the procedure and anaesthesia was 140.9±48.2 mins and 165.7±50.6 min, respectively. Seventy seven patients were transported to the intensive care unit and intubated after the procedure. The median extubation time was 3 h. Length of stay in the intensive care unit was 2 days, whereas it was 4 days for hospital stay. One patient died during the procedure and six patients died after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous mitraclip implantation procedure is quite difficult for anaesthesiologists because of the procedure itself and the population on which the procedure is performed. The primary aim of anaesthesia management is to provide haemodynamic stability. The preoperative preparation and anaesthesia methods should be the same as for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. It is reported that as the experience regarding this subject increases, success of the procedure increases, with better protected haemodynamic stability, less inotropic and vasopressor requirement and shorter length of hospital stay.