Hepatitis E Virus Outbreak among Tigray War Refugees from Ethiopia, Sudan.

We report hepatitis E virus (HEV) outbreaks among refugees from Ethiopia in Sudan during June 2021-February 2022. We identified 1,589 cases of acute jaundice syndrome and used PCR to confirm HEV infection in 64% of cases. Implementing vaccination, water, sanitation, and hygiene programs might reduce HEV outbreak risk.

Esmolol Infusion Reduces Blood Loss and Opiate Consumption during Fertility Preserving Myomectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of esmolol-induced hypotensive anesthesia (EIHA) on intra-operative (IO) bleeding during open myomectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight women were randomly divided into the study group received EIHA without uterine tourniquet and control group who received normotensive anesthesia with uterine tourniquet. EIHA was provided as priming dose of esmolol (0.5 mg.kg-1) before the induction of anesthesia and esmolol infusion (0.05-0.3 mg.kg-1.min-1) to maintain mean arterial pressure at 60-70 mmHg that was stopped on completion of myomectomy. Fentanyl was used as IO analgesia (loading dose: 1.0 µg.kg-1 then infusion of 0.2-0.4 µg.kg-1.h-1). All patients received 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES; initially, 3 mL.kg-1 over 5-10 minutes and supplemental doses according to requirements) and Lactated Ringer's solution (LR; 5 mL.kg-1.h-1). Trigger for blood transfusion was hemoglobin concentration (HBC) <7 g.dL-1. Study outcomes included the extent of postoperative (PO) HBC deficit in relation to preoperative HBC, frequency of tourniquet application for the study patients, and total fentanyl consumption. RESULTS: EIHA significantly reduced blood pressure measures since laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation till the end of surgery in the study group compared to control group. Eight study patients (18.9%) required tourniquet application for control of bleeding; however, amount of IO blood loss; total field visibility score and PO HBC deficit were non significantly lower in the study group. EIHA allowed significant reduction of the IO amount of LR and additional amounts of HES infusions. Study patients group consumed significantly lower IO fentanyl doses with significantly longer duration till the 1st PO request and the number of additional fentanyl, and lower numeric rating scale scores in study group compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Open myomectomy under EIHA is feasible and safe and allows fertility-sparing with minimal risk of blood transfusion. The applied procedure of EIHA allowed blunting of pressor reflexes secondary to LIT, surgical stresses and extubation, and allowed reduction of IO and PO opioid doses.

Dexmedetomidine Compared to Remifentanil Infusion as Adjuvant to Sevoflurane Anesthesia during Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of postoperative (PO) analgesic effects of intraoperative (IO) Dexmedetomidine (DEX) compared to remifentanil (REMI) infusions during sevoflurane anesthesia for laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-two patients with body mass index >35 kg.m-2 and ASA Grades II or III were randomly divided into group R received REMI infusion (6-18 µg.kg-1.h-1) and Group D received DEX infusion (0.2-0.5 µg.kg-1.h-1) after tracheal intubation till before stoppage of inhalational anesthetic. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were noninvasively monitored during and after surgery. Emergence time, time until postanesthetic care unit transfer, and total operating room (OR) time was recorded. PO shoulder-tip pain and wound pain scores were recorded and rescue analgesia was provided as 50 mg pethidine intramuscular injection. Occurrence of PO nausea and vomiting (PONV) and frequency of the need for antiemetic therapy were recorded. Primary study outcome was the ability of the study infusions to reduce consumption of PO pethidine down to one dose during 24-hr PO. RESULTS: IO use of REMI or DEX infusion allowed hemodynamic control to surgical stresses with nonsignificant difference between both infusions. REMI infusion insured significantly rapid recovery and short OR times but required larger volume of sevoflurane during surgery and proper PO follow-up for pain and PONV. DEX infusion significantly improved control of PO pain with a larger number of patient requested rescue analgesia only once, reduced the dose of PO analgesia, reduced the frequency of PONV, and the need for antiemetic therapy. CONCLUSION: REMI or DEX infusion as IO adjuvant to general anesthesia is appropriate option to achieve hemodynamic control of surgical stresses and to improve perioperative outcomes. REMI infusion may be preferred for its induced rapid recovery and short OR time, whereas DEX infusion may be chosen for its improved control of PO pain and reduction of PO analgesia and frequency of PONV.