Iatrogenic systemic botulism after intragastric botulinum neurotoxin injection: Case report.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The recent off-label use of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) for intragastric obesity treatment has led to 67 cases of systemic botulism in Türkiye, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This case report highlights the potential risks and adverse effects associated with this treatment. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old female presented to the emergency room with shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty in eating and holding her head, constipation and double vision after receiving intragastric BoNT injection for obesity treatment. She had bilateral orbicularis oculi weakness, facial diplegia, weak tongue, masseter, neck and extremity muscles. Electromyography showed a presynaptic type neuromuscular junction disorder. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and administered botulinum heptavalent equine-derived antitoxin, but the medication had to be stopped due to a reaction. The patient was started on pyridostigmine for symptomatic treatment and was transferred to an inpatient clinic after minimal improvement. She was discharged after 7 days of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be cautious of the potential risks of intragastric BoNT injection for obesity treatment and consider systemic botulism as a potential adverse effect. Antitoxin treatment should be considered in clinically progressing patients despite negative botulinum toxin testing.

Comparison of Anesthetic Administration According to Method of Hip Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare total hip prosthesis (THP), partial hip prosthesis (PHP), and proximal femoral nail (PFN) patients in terms of the chosen anesthetic method. METHODS: A total of 850 patients who underwent hip surgery were divided into 3 groups according to the operation type: PHP (n=281), PFN (n=393), and THP (n=176). The type of anesthesia administered, interventions during anesthesia, and complications were retrospectively evaluated. The groups were compared in terms of patient age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, chosen anesthetic method, operation duration, colloid use during operation, use of antihypertensive medication, use of vasoconstrictor medication, development of hypotension, blood transfusion administered, development of cardiac arrest, requirements for intensive care after operation, and use of a central catheter. RESULTS: In the THP group, the mean age of patients was significantly lower as compared to the PHP and PFN groups. The duration of operation was lower in the PFN group as compared to the other two groups. In the THP group, general anesthesia was significantly high, while in the PFN group, regional anesthetic administration was high. While colloid use was greater in the PFN group, the blood transfusion rate was higher in the THP group. The use of antihypertensive medication was higher in the THP group as compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: Although all three anesthetic methods could be used in hip surgery, the type of anesthesia should be chosen according to the type of hip surgery considering the duration of operation, age of the patient, and blood lost during the operation.

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: Our study is a prospective, randomized study on patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach-chair position to evaluate the effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on hemodynamic stability, providing a bloodless surgical field and surgical satisfaction. METHODS: Fifty patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=25) had zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) administered under general anesthesia, and group II (n=25) had +5 PEEP administered. During surgery, intraarticular hemorrhage and surgical satisfaction were evaluated on a scale of 0-10. During surgery, at the 5th, 30th, 60th, and 90th minutes and at the end of surgery, heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and positive inspiratory pressure were recorded. At the end of the surgery, the amount of bleeding and duration of the operation were recorded. RESULTS: In group I, the duration of operation and amount of bleeding were found to be significantly greater than those in group II (p<0.05). The surgical satisfaction score and clarity of the surgical field were found to be significantly lower in group I than in group II (p<0.05). MAP values in group I were significantly lower than those in group II. The SPO² values in group I were significantly lower than those in group II. CONCLUSION: Adding PEEP to the ventilation parameters of arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach-chair position reduces the amount of hemorrhage in the surgical field and thus increases surgical satisfaction without requiring the creation of controlled hypotension.

Sedation in hypoalbuminemic geriatric patients under spinal anesthesia in hip surgery. Midazolam or Propofol?

OBJECTIVES: To compare midazolam and propofol sedation in hypoalbuminemic geriatric patients under spinal anesthesia in hip surgery with bispectral index monitoring. METHODS: This prospective and randomized study was completed in the Department of Anesthesiology, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey between February 2013 and December 2014. Sixty patients undergoing elective hip surgery under spinal anesthesia in the geriatric age group with albumin levels below 3 g/dl were randomly divided into Group I and Group II. After administration of spinal block, Group I were given 0.05 mg/kg bolus midazolam, and then 0.02-0.1 mg/kg/hr dose infusion was begun. In Group II, 1 mg/kg bolus propofol was given within 10 minutes, and then 1-3 mg/kg/hr infusion was begun. The systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation values, respiratory rate, and Wilson's 5-stage sedation score were recorded at 15-minute intervals. At the end of the operation, the recovery time and surgeon satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: The recovery times for patients in Group I were found to be longer than in Group II (p less than 0.05). The respiration rate in patients in Group I at the start of surgery, 15th minute of surgery, and after surgery were lower than in Group II (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that propofol is more reliable in terms of hemodynamic stability than midazolam, as it causes less respiratory depression and faster recovery in the propofol group.

[Comparison of hemodynamics, recovery profile and postoperative analgesia of unilateral spinal anaesthesia with combined sciatic-femoral nerve block in knee arthroscopy]. / Diz artroskopilerinde tek tarafli spinal anestezi ve kombine siyatik-femoral sinir blogunun hemodinami, ameliyat sonrasi analjezi ve derlenme özellikleri açisindan karsilastirilmasi

OBJECTIVES: In this randomized, controlled, blind study, a combined sciatic-femoral nerve block with levobupivacaine was compared with a unilateral spinal anaesthesia with respect to effectiveness, patient and surgeon satisfaction, and the effect on postoperative pain in arthroscopic knee surgery. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group I (n=20) received a combined sciatic-femoral nerve block with levobupivacaine 0.5% totalling 40 ml. In group II (n=20), a spinal anaesthesia in the lateral decubitus position (ULSA) with 7.5 mg levobupivacaine 0.5% was performed, and patients were kept in the same position to achieve an anaesthesia level of T12 (maximum 10 minutes). The development of motor and sensorial block on both sides and onset time to surgical anaesthesia were recorded. The time required for the postoperative recovery score to be ≥12 was recorded. In the postoperative period, postoperative analgesia (VAS), motor block, side effects, and patient and surgeon satisfaction were recorded at the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th hours. RESULTS: Time of readiness for surgery was significantly shorter in Group II (p<0.05). All patients were satisfied with both techniques. There were no differences in judgement between the groups. VAS scores at the 6th hour were significantly lower in group I than in group II (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined sciatic-femoral nerve block for outpatient arthroscopic knee surgery offers satisfactory anaesthesia, with a clinical profile similar to that of low-dose spinal anesthesia. Sciatic-femoral nerve blocks are associated with significantly lower pain scores during the first 6 postoperative hours.

Spinal Anaesthesia and Perioperative Anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety is a pathological condition with a feeling of fear accompanied by somatic symptoms due to hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system. In this study, we aimed to compare perioperative anxiety status and the effects of age, gender, educational status, and The American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA) score on perioperative anxiety in patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia. METHODS: After IRB approval and signed informed consent, 100 healthy patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled. The demographic data of patients and ASA scores were recorded. After spinal anaesthesia, State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and anxiety levels were measured. RESULTS: The mean anxiety score in patients undergoing surgery under spinal anaesthesia indicate the presence of an intermediate level of anxiety (44.58±19.06). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between anxiety scores and age of patients with increased age (p<0.01). Statistically significant differences were found between anxiety scores of patients according to gender, and women's anxiety scores were found to be significantly higher than in men (p<0.05). Anxiety scores did not differ significantly between education levels. A statistically significant difference was found between anxiety scores regarding ASA scores (p<0.05). Evaluation of patients revealed that the anxiety score of patients with ASA score 1 was significantly higher than the anxiety score of patients with ASA score 2. There was no significant difference between anxiety score of patients with ASA scores 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: There is a mid-level anxiety, associated more with advanced age, female gender, and low ASA score, in patients undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia.

Comparison of the Haemodynamic Effects of Three Different Methods at the Induction of Anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: Haemodynamic variations are inevitable during induction of anaesthetic drugs. The present study investigates the haemodynamic variations of three different drugs (thiopental, propofol, and etomidate) used for induction of general anaesthesia together with fentanyl. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind study, 45 patients were assigned to one of three groups (n=15 each). Fentanyl 1 µg kg(-1) was injected over 60 sec followed by propofol 2 mg kg(-1) (Group P), thiopentone 6 mg kg(-1) (Group T), or etomidate 0.3 mg kg(-1) (Group E). Noninvasive measurements of systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) was performed on admittance, immediately before the induction of anaesthesia, and 1, 3, and 5 min thereafter. Cardiac output (CO) values were recorded before induction, immediately after the injection of the drug, and at 1 min after the intubation. RESULTS: In all groups, during the study period, SAP, DAP, MAP, and CO values decreased with respect to time before induction. Following the administration of the induction dose of propofol (Group P), a significantly greater decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed with etomidate (Group E) or thiopentone (Group T). Decrease in CO was also more marked with propofol (Group P) than with etomidate (Group E) or thiopentone (Group T). CONCLUSION: It's concluded that, in this study, the combination of fentanyl-etomidate is safer than both the groups of fentanyl-propofol and fentanyl-thiopental in terms of providing haemodynamic stability.