Perioperative Anaesthetic Management of Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 Patients.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that started in Wuhan, China, has spread to 210 countries, infecting 2,726,274 patients and causing 191,075 deaths by April 24, 2020, and has turned into a global threat. Although various measures have been taken to stop human-to-human transmission in many countries, health care workers are in the high-risk zone for transmission as they deliver patient care. It is evident that anaesthesiologists will keep encountering patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection who will undergo emergency surgeries. Anaesthesiologists carry a higher risk of being infected during aerosol-creating procedures, hence appropriate protective measures should be taken, both during preoperative evaluation and management anaesthesia. Anaesthesia management of patients with COVID-19 also is a challenge for anaesthesiologists as it is an infection that may affect not only the respiratory system but also other vital organs. The aims of this review are to provide prudent safety measures to protect anaesthesiologists and other health care workers in the operating theatre and recommendations or the safest anaesthesia management of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 undergoing surgery.

Does magnetic resonance imaging increase core body temperature in children? Results of the administration of propofol and ketofol: a randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may cause a temperature increase in the imaging area, while intravenous anesthetics may develop a tendency for hypothermia, especially in the pediatric population. The effect of different anesthetics on core body temperature in children during these procedures remains controversial. We examined the effect of propofol and ketofol on core body temperatures in a pediatric population during MRI. Our hypothesis was that the increase in body temperature will be more prominent in pediatric patients receiving ketofol than in those receiving propofol. METHODS: This was a randomized, prospective, double-blind study in pediatric patients aged 6 months to 10 years. The patients were American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical class I-II who had undergone MRI under anesthesia at the Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, MRI Area, between August 2014 and February 2016. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: Group I (propofol group) and Group II (ketofol group). MRIs were performed with a 1.5 Tesla (T) device. Bilateral tympanic membrane temperature measurements before and after the procedure were performed. RESULTS: Body temperature decreased in both groups after MRI. Clinically significant hypothermia or hyperthermia was not observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: Temperature monitoring is not necessary for every patient being imaged. However, temperature changes should be closely monitored in high-risk patients.

A comparison of the efficacy of three different peak airway pressures on intraoperative bleeding point detection in patients undergoing thyroidectomy: a randomized, controlled, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Various techniques are used to detect intraoperative bleeding points in thyroid surgery. We aimed to assess the effect of increasing peak airway pressure to 30, 40 and 50 cm H2O manually in detecting intraoperative bleeding points. METHODS: One hundred and 34 patients scheduled for total thyroidectomy were included to this prospective randomised controlled clinical study. We randomly assigned patients to increase peak airway pressure to 30, 40 and 50 cm H2O manually intraoperatively just before surgical closure during hemostasis control. The primary endpoint was the rate of bleeding points detected by the surgeon during peak airway pressure increase. RESULTS: The rate of detection of the bleeding points was higher in 50 cm H2O Group than the other two groups (15.9 vs 25.5 vs 40%, P = 0.030), after pressure administration, the HR, SpO2, and P peak were similar between groups (P = 0.125, 0.196, 0.187, respectively). The median duration of the bleeding point detection after the pressure application was 21.82 s in 30 cm H2O, 25 s in 40 cm H2O, and 22.50 s in 50 cm H2O groups. Postoperative subcutaneous hematomas or hemorrhages requiring surgery were not seen in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Manually increasing peak airway pressure to 50 cm H2O during at least 22.50 s may be used as an alternative way to detect intraoperative bleeding points in thyroid surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03547648. Registered 6 June2018.

Perioperative Analgesic Effects of Preemptive Ultrasound-Guided Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Prospective, Randomized Trial.

Background and Objectives: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a minimally invasive procedure for removing kidney stones, but patients still suffer from moderate postoperative pain. The aim of this study is to evaluate the perioperative analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block performed before PCNL procedure. Materials and Methods: Patients scheduled for elective PCNL were randomized into two groups: Group TAP and Group IV. General anesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl, and rocuronium and maintained with sevoflurane, fentanyl, and rocuronium. Unilateral ultrasound-guided TAP block was performed with total of 30 mL volume of local anesthetic solution (20 mL bupivacaine 0.125% plus 10 mL lidocaine 1%) after intubation but before surgery to the Group TAP patients. Paracetamol 1 g was given to the Group IV. Tramadol 100 mg and morphine IV-patient-controlled analgesia were applied to both groups. Perioperative fentanyl consumption, postoperative verbal analog scale (VAS), morphine consumption, and additional analgesic drug requirement were assessed. Chi square with Yates correction and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Eighty patients were assessed for enrollment. One patient developed septicemia at the recovery room so data of 79 patients were collected for statistical analysis. Total morphine consumption at 48th hour after the surgery was lower at Group TAP (p = 0.022). Perioperative fentanyl consumption was lower at Group TAP (p < 0.001). Additional analgesic requirement and VAS were comparable between groups. Conclusions: Preemptive unilateral ultrasound-guided subcostal TAP block decreases perioperative fentanyl and postoperative total morphine consumption in PCNL patients compared to IV analgesic management.

Bilateral postoperative ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block in open abdominal hysterectomy: a case series and cadaveric investigation.

We anticipated that bilateral Erector spinae plane (ESP) block, which was applied in 10 patients starting from lower thoracic levels (T9) might provide effective postoperative analgesia in open abdominal hysterectomies. In addition, we aimed to obtain anatomic observation of the local anaesthetic (LA) spread in the ESP block by injecting methylene blue on 4 cadavers. All the patients had excellent pain relief. There was an extensive spread to the erector spinae muscle (ESM) involving several segmental levels on cadavers. We observed the spread of dye on the ventral and dorsal rami in the paravertebral space and as an additional finding, the dye had extended to the canal vertebralis. There was a spread of dye on the dura mater. ESP block can be used with new indications and it is an effective technique for major abdominal surgery when is applied to the lower vertebral levels. Randomized controlled trials are required to explore the clinical implications of our findings.

Correlation of Neck Circumference with Difficult Mask Ventilation and Difficult Laryngoscopy in Morbidly Obese Patients: an Observational Study.

PURPOSE: Mask ventilation and laryngoscopy can be challenging in morbidly obese patients because of excessive fat tissue. There are studies suggesting that neck circumference is associated with difficult mask ventilation, difficult laryngoscopy, and difficult intubation. The primary aim of our study is to evaluate predictive value of neck circumference for difficult mask ventilation and difficult laryngoscopy in female and male morbidly obese patients separately. METHODS: This observational cross-sectional study was performed in the period between March 2015 and December 2015. One hundred and twenty (37 male and 83 female) patients undergoing elective surgery were included. Neck circumference, BMI, Mallampati scores, neck movements, dentition, upper lip bite test, breast, thorax, waist, hip circumferences, mouth opening, and sternomental and thyromental distances were evaluated preoperatively. Mask ventilation was graded using four-grade classification. Laryngoscopy was evaluated by Cormack Lehane score. RESULTS: The incidence of difficult mask ventilation was 13.5% in male and 3.6% in female patients. Mouth opening ≤ 6.5 cm and inadequate flexion were found as significant predictors for difficult mask ventilation in male patients. The incidence of difficult laryngoscopy was 10.8% in male and 4.8% in female patients. Mallampati score > II was found as a significant predictor for difficult laryngoscopy in both male and female patients. Sternomental distance ≤ 16 cm and inadequate flexion were also significant predictors for difficult laryngoscopy in male patients. Neck circumference was not found statistically significant predictor for difficult mask ventilation and laryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients in our study. CONCLUSION: Neck circumference is not a statistically significant predictor for difficult mask ventilation and laryngoscopy in morbidly Turkish obese male and female patients. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02589015.