Mortality predictors in earthquake victims admitted to intensive care unit in Kahramanmaras earthquakes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to report the data for patients followed-up in our intensive care unit due to the 6th February 2023, earthquake in Kahramanmaras, Türkiye, and to investigate parameters affecting mortality. METHODS: The demographic characteristics of patients followed-up in intensive care due to trauma following the earthquake, the treatments administered, developing complications, lengths of stay in the hospital and intensive care, and laboratory data were scanned retrospectively and recorded. These data were then compared between the surviving and non-surviving patients. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients, 13 (50 %) male, were followed-up in our intensive care, 24 (92 %) due to being buried under earthquake debris, and 2 (8 %) due to falling from heights. Increased Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (p = 0.027), higher initial serum potassium (p = 0.043), higher initial serum phosphorus (p = 0.035), higher initial and peak serum magnesium (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001), lower initial and peak bicarbonate (p = 0.021 and p = 0.012) and higher initial and peak serum base deficit values (p = 0.012 and p = 0.009) were associated with mortality. In the subgroup with crush injuries, higher initial and peak serum potassium (p = 0.001 and p = 0.025), higher initial and peak serum magnesium (p = 0.005 and p = 0.004), lower initial and peak bicarbonate (p = 0.019 and p = 0.021) and higher initial and peak serum base deficit values (p = 0.017 and p = 0.025) were associated with mortality. Multiorgan dysfunction failure developed in nine patients, sepsis in seven, dissemine intravascular coagulation in four, and acute respiratory distress syndrome in two. Fasciotomy was performed on 2 (8 %) patients and amputation on 8 (31 %). Extremity injuries were most frequently observed. 10 (38.5 %) of the 12 (46 %) patients developing acute kidney injury required renal replacement therapy. 7 (27 %) patients died during follow-up. In logistic regression analysis, higher SOFA scores, lower initial bicarbonate and BE levels, higher serum initial potassium and magnesium levels were a risk factor for mortality. Higher SOFA scores, lower initial bicarbonate and base deficit and higher initial phosphorus values affected mortality in patients with crush syndrome. CONCLUSION: Not only increased SOFA, serum potassium, serum phosphorus, and serum magnesium, but also decreased bicarbonate, and base deficit were associated with mortality in earthquake victims with crush syndrome in ICU.

Hydrocortisone may act through the angiotensin II receptor-2 level in patients with catecholamine-resistant septic shock.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the serum angiotensin II and its receptor levels (AT1, AT2) in septic patients with catecholamine-responsive or resistant. The effect of hydrocortisone treatment on angiotensin II levels in the catecholamine-resistant septic patients was evaluated. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled 40 patients diagnosed with septic shock based on sepsis-3 criteria. Patients were divided into two groups according to the noradrenalin infusion rate required to keep the mean arterial pressure above 65 mmHg: control group and hydrocortisone group (control group: below 0.5 µg/kg/min, hydrocortisone group: above 0.5 µg/kg/min). Serum angiotensin II, AT1, AT2 levels were measured at the time of diagnosis (A), one hour after hydrocortisone treatment (B), and three days later (C). RESULTS: In the catecholamine-resistant group, angiotensin II and AT1 levels were higher than the catecholamine-responder group in all periods. The sensitivity and specificity of AT-1 was observed to be high in all periods. AT2 levels decreased after hydrocortisone treatment in the catecholamine-resistant group and cut-off value was found 11%. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that angiotensin II and AT1 can be used as a biomarker of refractory septic shock and hydrocortisone may provide their blood pressure correcting effect by reducing AT2 level in these patients. AT2 can be a therapeutic target in the catecholamine-resistant septic shock patients.

Angiotensin II and angiotensin II receptor 2 levels can predict shock and mortality in septic patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the place of angiotensin II and its receptors in the prognosis of septic patients. METHODS: Patients with sepsis and septic shock were included in the study group. The control group consisted of patients who were followed up in the ICU and had no sepsis/septic shock. Plasma angiotensin II, angiotensin receptor-1 and 2 (AT-1, AT-2) levels were evaluated first and third days. RESULTS: Angiotensin II levels were significantly lower in the septic shock and non-survivor. AT-1 levels were lower in all septic patients on the first day compared to the control. While AT-1 levels on the third day decreased in the septic shock group, it increased in the sepsis group. AT-2 levels were significantly higher in sepsis, and lower in septic shock compared to controls on the first day. Angiotensin II (95%, 82%) and AT-2 levels (100%, 87%) were observed to have high sensitivity and specificity in demonstrating the presence of shock in septic patients. Angiotensin II and AT-1/AT-2 ratios were observed to have high sensitivity and low specificity in the development of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In septic patients, angiotensin II, AT-2 and AT-1/AT-2 levels can predict the probability of shock development and mortality.

The effect of sugammadex on steroid hormones: A randomized clinical study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Sugammadex is an alternative drug to traditional decurarization by cholinesterase inhibitors. It has been examined the effect of sugammadex on steroid hormones in this study. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: The study was conducted in a University Teaching Hospital from January 2013 to May 2014. PATIENTS: Fifty male patients between 18 and 45years of age with an American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class I or II undergoing elective lower extremity surgery were included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were categorized into two groups (neostigmin group, Group N; and sugammadex group, Group S). In addition to standard monitorization, train-of-four (TOF) was also used to monitorize the level of neuromuscular blockade. Standard induction and maintenance of anesthesia were performed. At the termination of surgery, neuromuscular blockade was antagonized using 0.05mg/kg of neostigmine and 0.01mg/kg of atropin when spontaneous recovery of neuromuscular blockade occurred with the reappearance of T2 in Group N and using 4mg/kg sugammadex in Group S. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome in this study was to determine serum aldosterone, cortisol, progesterone, and free testosterone levels. Three blood samples were obtained in each patient just before and 15minutes and 4hours after antagonism, MAIN RESULTS: No significant differences were found in demographic characteristics between the groups. While there were no differences in serum progesterone levels, patients in neostigmin group had significantly higher cortisol levels at 15minutes as compared to baseline. Also, patients in sugammadex group had significantly higher serum aldosterone and testosterone levels 15minutes after antagonism as compared to those in the neostigmine group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that sugammadex is not associated with adverse effects on steroid hormones progesterone and cortisol, while it may lead to a temporary increase in aldosterone and testosterone.

An intensive care approach to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES): An analysis of 7 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the intensive care unit treatments applied to obstetrics patients with a diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cases of 7 pregnant patients who had been diagnosed with PRES between July 2011 and July 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' clinical data, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images before and after treatment, and neuropsychological tests were evaluated. RESULTS: Five out of 7 patients had eclampsia, 1 patient had severe preeclampsia, and 1 patient developed HELLP syndrome secondary to PRES. Calcium channel blockers and ß-blockers were used as antihypertensive treatment. All patients were treated with parenteral magnesium sulfate. In addition, sodium thiopental was given to control sedation and convulsions in all patients except 1. The neurological and radiological findings of all cases treated in the intensive care unit improved. CONCLUSION: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a clinical condition with a multifactorial etiology and can result in different clinical findings. Radiological imaging techniques can be used for the diagnosis of PRES. Pregnancy and the postpartum period often lead to this syndrome. In some cases, PRES can cause irreversible neurological deficits or death. For patients with severe radiological findings, early diagnosis and thiopental infusion, in addition to treatment with antihypertensive agents and magnesium sulfate, may lead to quicker and more effective recovery from clinical manifestations. We suggest supplementation of standard treatment with early thiopental infusion.

Effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate solution intake on thermoregulation.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the oral carbohydrate solution administered preoperatively on thermoregulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 40 female patients under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group CONT (stopped oral implementation 8 h before the operation) and Group CHO (800ml oral carbohydrate fluid 8 h before the operation and 400ml oral carbohydrate fluid 2 h before the operation). Patients were monitored as standard and temperature probes were placed. Temperatures were recorded immediately before anesthetics induction, 5 min after the anesthetics induction, and in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) every 10 min. Mean skin temperature (Tsk), mean body temperature (Tb), and vasoconstriction threshold were estimated. RESULTS: In general, we observed a decrease in tympanic temperature and Tb following anesthetic administration in groups, and increase in Tsk, and an increase in all 3 of these levels in the recovery unit. Tympanic temperature was significantly higher at 25, 55, 65, and 95 min after induction in Group CONT compared to Group CHO (p<0.05). Tsk was found to be lower in Group CONT compared to Group CHO in almost all periods. In PACU, it was found that the tympanic temperature was higher in Group CONT compared to Group CHO at 60 min (p<0.05). Postoperative shivering score was found to be significantly higher in Group C (p<0.01). Vasoconstriction threshold was higher in Group CONT than Group CHO. CONCLUSIONS: Oral carbohydrate solution administered was established to have effects thought to be negative on tympanic temperature, vasoconstriction, and vasoconstriction threshold.

The effects of anesthetic technique and ambient temperature on thermoregulation in lower extremity surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to determine the effects of anesthetic technique and ambient temperature on thermoregulation for patients undergoing lower extremity surgery. METHODS: Our study included 90 male patients aged 18-60 years in American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status groups I or II who were scheduled for lower extremity surgery. Patients were randomly divided into three groups according to anesthetic technique: general anesthesia (GA), epidural anesthesia (EA), and femoral-sciatic block (FS). These groups were divided into subgroups according to room temperature: the temperature for group I was 20-22 °C and that for group II was 23-25 °C. Therefore, we labeled the groups as follows: GA I, GA II, EA I, EA II, FS I, and FS II. Probes for measuring tympanic membrane and peripheral temperature were placed in and on the patients, and mean skin temperature (MST) and mean body temperature (MBT) were assessed. Postoperative shivering scores were recorded. RESULTS: During anesthesia, tympanic temperature and MBT decreased whereas MST increased for all patients. There was no significant difference between tympanic temperatures in either the room temperature or anesthetic method groups. MST was lower in group GA I than in group GA II after 5, 10, 15, 20, 60 and 90 min whereas MBT was significantly lower at the basal level (p < 0.05). MST after 5 min was significantly lower in group GA I than in group FS I (p < 0.05). Shivering score was significantly higher in group GA I (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in thermoregulation among anesthetic techniques. Room temperature affected thermoregulation in Group GA.

TURP syndrome and severe hyponatremia under general anaesthesia.

Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) syndrome is a complication characterised by symptoms changing from an asymptomatic hyponatremic state to convulsions, coma and death due to absorption of irrigation fluid during TURP. The syndrome appears to be related to the amount of fluid that enters the circulation via the blood vessels in the resection area. The first step in the course of action for therapy is to control bleeding and suspend the operation. In the case presented, we aimed to emphasise the importance of an early diagnosis and treatment of TURP syndrome in a patient that developed hyponatremia (90 mmol/l) while under general anaesthesia during a TURP procedure. In addition, multiple cystoscopic applications in the same session may facilitate development of the TURP syndrome.

Dental avulsion due to direct laryngoscopy during the induction of general anaesthesia and avulsed teeth in nasopharynx.

General anaesthesia was induced to a 32-year-old female patient. During direct laryngoscopy, the four upper front incisors were avulsed and fell into the patient's oral cavity without fracture. After endotracheal intubation, her oral cavity was searched laryngoscopically but the teeth were not found. Radiological findings of her chest and abdomen obtained by the C-armed x-ray device and endoscopic findings of the oesophagus were normal. Her head and neck imaging revealed a radiopaque lesion in the nasopharyngeal area. Later, the nasopharyngeal area was examined endoscopically and the teeth were removed following adenoidectomy. We emphasise that preoperative evaluation is essential for dental injuries, and patients with a risk of dental injury must be detected before surgery. The localisation of the broken teeth must be identified and removed, and one must keep in mind that the dental fragments can travel to the nasopharynx.

Administration of anesthesia in a patient with allgrove syndrome.

The aim of the present paper is to report the anesthesia administration to a patient who was planned to undergo Heller myotomy for achalasia. There wasnot property in the patient whom allgrove syndrome was excepted any steroid treatment in preoperative period. The night before the operation 18 mg of prednisolone was administered intravenously. Induction of anesthesia was performed with thiopental sodium, vecuronium and fentanyl and the patient received endotracheal intubation. Eyes were taped closed and protected with ointment during surgery. Maintenance of anesthesia was achieved with 2% sevoflurane concentration in 50% O(2)-50% N(2)O. 25 mg of prednisolone was infused preoperatively, and intervention with insulin treatment was initiated when blood glucose level rose to 18 mmol/L at 2 hours. Safe anesthesia can be achieved by observing the preoperative development of tracheal aspiration, adrenal insufficiency and, autonomic dysfunction carefully and maintaining eye protection.