Comparison of antioxidant effects of isoflurane and propofol in patients undergoing donor hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The safety of healthy volunteer donors is one of the most important issues in living-donor liver transplantation. Use of the Pringle maneuver during donor hepatectomy can result in liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of isoflurane and propofol on IR injury caused by the Pringle maneuver during donor hepatectomy. METHODS: A total of 70 American Society of Anesthesiology I-II donors aged 18-65 years who underwent hepatectomy were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: propofol and isoflurane. Plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured before surgery (t0) and after surgery (t1). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in demographic features, anesthesia, and times of surgery between the groups (P > .05). Plasma TAC levels at t0 and t1 were significantly lower in the propofol group than in the isoflurane group (P < .05). OSI at t1 was significantly higher in the propofol group than in the isoflurane group (P < .05). MDA levels were significantly higher in the propofol group than in the isoflurane group at t0 (P < .05). MDA levels level were significantly higher in the isoflurane group than in the propofol group at t1 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol may have protective effects against IR injury caused by the Pringle maneuver during donor hepatectomy in living-donor transplantations. However, the effectiveness of propofol for clinical use needs to be investigated further.

Cancer antigen 125 levels and increased risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) levels are associated with cardiopulmonary disorders such as acute and chronic heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and atrial fibrillation (AF). The development of atrial fibrillation (AF) is related to morbidity and mortality in patients with HF: therefore, it is important to identify patients with increased risk for development of AF. We investigated whether plasma CA-125 levels in patients with hospitalized systolic HF could predict the development of AF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 149 consecutive patients with sinus rhythm who were admitted to the emergency department with hospitalized systolic HF were evaluated prospectively. Serum CA-125 levels were obtained after initial stabilization during their hospital stay. RESULTS: AF developed in 36 (% 24.2) patients during a follow-up period of 22.1 ± 11  months (range 3-61). CA-125 levels were significantly higher in patients who developed AF than in patients with sinus rhythm [99 U/ml (48-172) vs. 47 U/ml (18-108), p = 0.001]. The optimal cut-off level of CA-125 to predict development of AF was found to be > 68.49 U/ml. CA-125 > 68.49 U/ml, left atrial diameter, right ventricular dilatation, moderate to severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitations were found to have prognostic significance in univariate analysis. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model with the backward stepwise method, CA-125 > 68.49 U/ml (HR = 2.693, % 95 CI = 1.285-5.641, p = 0.009) and moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (HR = 2.708, % 95 CI = 1.295-5.663, p = 0.008) were associated with an increased risk of new-onset AF after adjustment for variables found to be statistically significant in univariate analysis and correlated with CA-125 level. CONCLUSION: CA-125 level is associated with the development of AF in patients with hospitalized systolic HF.

Effect of alkalinisation of lignocaine for propofol injection pain: a prospective, randomised, double-blind study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether pretreatment with alkalinised lignocaine reduced the incidence and severity of pain during propofol injection. This prospective, randomised, double-blind study included 300 adult, American Society of Anesthesiologists physcial status I to II patients undergoing elective surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups: Group L received 0.05 ml/kg of 1% lignocaine (5 ml normal saline + 5 ml 2% lignocaine), Group A received 0.05 ml/kg alkalinised lignocaine (5 ml 2% lignocaine + 1 ml 8.4% NaHCO3 + 4 ml normal saline), and Group S, the control group, was given the same amount of normal saline (NaCl 0.9%). All drugs were given as a bolus over 20 seconds before propofol administration. A blinded researcher assessed the patient's pain level using a four-point scale. The pain score [median (range)] and the incidence of pain in Group A (6%) was significantly lower than in groups L (41%) and S (88%, P <0.001). In addition, the pain score and the incidence of pain were found to be significantly different between Group L and Group S (P <0.001). The incidence of moderate and severe pain were greater in Group S when compared with groups A and L (P <0.001). Intravenous pretreatment with alkalinised lignocaine appears to be effective in reducing the pain during propofol injection.

Effects of isoflurane and propofol on hepatic and renal functions and coagulation profile after right hepatectomy in living donors.

We compared postoperative hepatic and renal functions and coagulation profiles in living donors undergoing right hepatectomy under isoflurane (n = 40) versus propofol (n = 40) anesthesia. After induction, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane/air-O2 (group I) or propofol/air-O2 (group P) in addition to remifentanil and atracurium infusion in both groups. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), albumin, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), platelet count, and hemoglobin levels were measured in the preoperative period, after end of the operation, and on the first, third, fifth and seventh postoperative days (PODs). INR was significantly increased on POD 3 and aPTT on POD 5 in group I compared with group P (P < .05). Albumin level was significantly lower in Group I on POD 1 and 3 (P < .05). GFR was significantly lower on POD 1 in the group I compared with group P (P < .05). The postoperative coagulation, GFR, and albumin values were superior following administration of propofol than isoflurane in donors who underwent living hepatectomy; however, both approaches were clinically safe, with no significant clinical difference.

Effect of preoperative iron deficiency in liver transplant recipients on length of intensive care unit stay.

Liver transplant (LT) recipients often display iron deficiency preoperatively, which significantly increases the quantity of blood that needs to be transfused intraoperatively, A risk factor for a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether there was a clinically significant association between iron deficiency and the length of ICU stay, among 153 patients scheduled for OLT from September 2011 to June 2012. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their baseline iron status: iron- deficient (ID) and non-ID (normal iron profile) cohorts. Iron deficiency was assessed on the basis of several parameters; transferrin saturation as well as serum iron, ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, and C-reactive protein levels. We retrospectively analyzed the data regarding demographic and clinical features, preoperative laboratory values, intraoperative transfusions, and length of ICU stay. Patient demographic features and preoperative values were similar between the groups. Preoperative iron deficiency, which was diagnosed in 72 patients (58.6%), was associated with a greater intraoperative use of fresh frozen plasma and red blood cell transfusions (P = .0001). The median length of ICU stay after LT was longer among the ID versus the non-ID group (5 and 3 days per patient, respectively; P = .0001). Therefore, we have suggested that preoperative iron deficiency may be a prognostic factor for the length of ICU stay after LT.

Ketofol (mixture of ketamine and propofol) administration in electroconvulsive therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a ketamine:propofol combination ('ketofol') for electroconvulsive therapy on seizure activity, haemodynamic response and recovery parameters, and to compare with these with the effects of propofol alone. Twenty-four patients underwent a total of 144 electroconvulsive therapy sessions, allocated in this prospective, double-blind, crossover study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 1 mg/kg ketofol (0.5 mg/kg propofol plus 0.5 mg/kg ketamine) or 1 mg/kg propofol 1% for anaesthesia induction. Seizure duration and quality, haemodynamic data, recovery parameters and side-effects were recorded and analysed between groups. Both motor and electroencephalography seizure durations in the ketofol group (29 ± 17 and 41 ± 17 seconds, respectively) were similar to that in the propofol group (28 ± 13 and 38 ± 16 seconds, respectively). Postictal suppression index was higher in the ketofol group (89.63 ± 7.88) than in the propofol group (79.74 ± 14.6) (P <0.05). In the ketofol group, heart rate after the seizure ended and mean arterial pressures, recorded at 0 and 5 minutes after the seizure ended, were higher than in the propofol group. Time to obeying commands was longer in the ketofol group (P <0.05). There were no untoward psychological reactions following ketofol. Although no superiority to propofol in terms of seizure duration, haemodynamic or recovery parameters was found, the ketofol mixture selected in our study provided better seizure quality than propofol. We conclude that ketofol can be an alternative strategy to enhance the seizure quality and clinical efficiency of electroconvulsive therapy.

The effects of pre-operative dexmedetomidine infusion on hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-operative dexmedetomidine infusion on hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery. METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into placebo (group P, n= 16) and dexmedetomidine (group D, n= 16) groups. In group D, a 1 microg/kg bolus dose of dexmedetomidine was administered 10 min before the induction of anesthesia, followed by a 0.4 microg/kg/h infusion until the surgical incision. Anesthesia was induced with lidocaine (1 mg/kg), midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) and fentanyl (5 microg/kg) in both groups. Anesthesia was maintained with 0.5% isoflurane and fentanyl depending on the hemodynamic situation. The hemodynamic values during the investigation were obtained. RESULTS: In group D, the mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were decreased effectively in comparison with the values in the placebo group (P < 0.05), and there was an attenuation in the increase in the systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) at the post-sternotomy period. CONCLUSIONS: The pre-operative administration of the alpha(2)-agonist dexmedetomidine decreases the fentanyl requirement and attenuates the increase in SVRI and PVRI at the post-sternotomy period relative to the baseline levels, and decreases effectively MAP, MPAP and PCWP in comparison with the values in the placebo group, in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery.