Comparison of Systemic Effects of Midazolam, Ketamine, and Isoflurane Anaesthesia in Rabbits.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical doses of anaesthetic agents were administered to rabbits and effects on the brain, heart, and liver were investigated biochemically and histopathologically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The rabbits were randomly divided into three main groups (16 rabbits each) and each group into study (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups. All study group rabbits received 3 mg/kg of midazolam (M) intramuscularly. Group 1.1 (M) received nothing further, group 2.1 (MK) also received 25 mg/kg of ketamine, and group 3.1 (MKI) besides ketamine was also given 2% isoflurane to induce anaesthesia for 30 min. NaCl solution in the same volume as midazolam and ketamine was injected into the controls. RESULTS: In clinical evaluation significant differences were detected in respiratory and heart rates. In blood gas analysis the PO2 and PCO2 values showed statistical differences in anaesthesia intervals. Significant biochemical value changes were recorded in creatine kinase-Mb, glucose, and total protein. Histopathological liver examinations revealed higher total apoptotic and normal cell numbers in the MK than in the M and MKI groups. Apoptotic cell numbers were statistically significant in M and MK groups. CONCLUSION: Anaesthetic agents may increase programmed apoptosis. The MKI anaesthetics combination was found to cause less cell destruction in general than the other study groups. It was indicated that MKI was the safer anaesthetic combination in rabbits.

A Case of Alveolar Echinococcosis Presenting as Cerebral and Spinal Intradural Metastases.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a chronic and serious, even lethal, parasitic infection caused by the helminth Echinococcus multilocularis. The involvement of Central Nervous System is reported to be 1-3% in literature. Brain involvement is considered a sign of the terminal phase of alveolar echinococcosis. We here in reported a 67-year-old female who had liver alveolar hydatid disease with brain and spinal intradural metastases.

Ultrasound-guided single-injection femoral nerve block provides effective analgesia after total knee arthroplasty up to 48 hours.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of ultrasound (US) guided single-injection femoral nerve block (FNB) spinal anesthesia on pain control, morphine consumption, adverse effects, and patient satisfaction during the postoperative 48-hour period in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: One hundred four ASA physical status I-III patients undergoing single TKA for degenerative joint disease were enrolled in this clinical study. Patients were randomly distributed into two groups: US-guided single-injection FNB with 40 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 1:200,000 epinephrine was administered to Group F (n=51) patients. Preservative-free saline was injected in Group P (n=53) patients using the same method as Group F. Pain scores, morphine consumption, incidences of adverse events, and patient satisfaction were assessed over the course of 48 hours. RESULTS: Group F used significantly less morphine compared with Group P (18.7 mg vs. 39.6 mg) during the first 48 hours after surgery (p<0.001). When compared with group P, the VRS scores both at rest and during movement were significantly lower in Group F at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours after TKA (for all comparisons p<0.001). In addition, patient satisfaction was better in Group F than Group P. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a US-guided single-injection femoral nerve block following TKA improves patient satisfaction and reduces consumption of morphine during the first 48 hours.