Effectiveness of the oxygen reserve index in detecting and preventing hyperoxia in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) titration guided by oxygen reserve index (ORi) in preventing hyperoxia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving mechanical ventilator support. METHODS: Patients aged 18 years and older who were admitted to a tertiary ICU and required mechanical ventilator support were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n=30) and the oxygen saturation (SpO2) +ORi group (n=30). In the SpO2+ORi group, the goal was to maintain SpO2 between 95% and 98% and ORi at 0.00. In both groups, SpO2, ORi, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide, positive end-expiratory pressure, FiO2, and hemodynamic parameters were recorded every six hours for two consecutive days. RESULTS: A very strong positive linear correlation was found between PaO2 and ORi (r=0.937; P<0.001). In the ORi+SpO2 group, PaO2 values were significantly lower and decreased with FiO2 titration over time. Severe hyperoxia was observed in 24.8% of the control group and in only 3.3% of the ORi+SpO2 group. When PaO2>120 mm Hg, FiO2>0.40 was found in 83.5% of the control group, and in 40% of the ORi+SpO2 group. CONCLUSION: FiO2 titration guided by ORi+SpO2 effectively prevents hyperoxia and reduces the exposure time to hyperoxia in critically ill patients.

The role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy monitoring during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy and its routine use into tracheotomy practice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with and without the use of the bronchoscope and compare the safety and complications of the procedure. METHODS: The prospective, randomised-controlled study was conducted at the Professor A. Ilhan Ozdemir State Hospital, Giresun, Turkey, between October 2013 and February 2014, and comprised patients ≥18 years of age who were dependent on mechanical ventilation for an extended duration and were scheduled to undergo percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with Griggs technique. The patients were randomly divided into two groups; group A received standard c that was opened without using fiberoptic bronchoscopy, while group B received percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy that was opened using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Complications and number of applied needle approaches were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, 35(58.3%) were women. The patients were divided into two groups of 30(50%) each. None of the patients developed pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, or oesophageal perforation. The numbers of needle interventions and total complications were significantly higher in group A than group B (p<0.05). Procedure duration was significantly longer in group B (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was reliable when applied with fiberoptic bronchoscopy due to the significantly lower complication rates.

Spectrum and Prevalence of Thyroid Disorders in Patients Admitted to the Anaesthesiology Outpatient Clinic for Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: An anaesthetic approach and surgery are important treatment strategies in patients with thyroid dysfunction due to potential complications. We investigated the prevalence of thyroid disorders, the significance of thyroid function tests (TFTs) with respect to anaesthesia in the preoperative period and the need for routine examinations. METHODS: A total of 10,600 patients who were admitted to the anaesthesiology outpatient clinic for surgery were retrospectively screened and enrolled between 2011 and 2013. Evident hypothyroidism was defined as free tetra-iodothyronine (fT4) <0.7 ng dL(-1) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) >4 mIU mL(-1), and subclinical hypothyroidism was defined as TSH >4 mIU mL(-1) with normal free hormone levels. Evident hyperthyroidism was defined as fT4 >1.7 ng dL(-1) and TSH <0.1 mIU mL(-1), and subclinical hyperthyroidism was defined as TSH <0.1 mIU mL(-1) with normal free hormone levels. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare the difference between groups. RESULTS: Of the participants, 8.5% were found to have hypothyroidism, 2.5% had hyperthyroidism, 3.5% received treatment and 2.5% had their treatment postponed. The likelihood of hypothyroidism was greater among females, and no difference was found between genders with respect to hyperthyroidism. CONCLUSION: We believe that TFTs are important because of regional factors. However, given the high cost of TFTs and because thyroid dysfunction risk increases with age, we concluded that routine TFTs in young patients with normal physical examination findings are not mandatory.

The Decrease of the Duration of Stay in the ICU with Rib Fixation in a Case of Multiple Rib Fracture.

Severe breathing problems arise in multiple rib fractures. As a result, many advantages of the surgical stabilization of the chest wall have been reported. Especially, shortening mechanical ventilation, along with a decrease in the duration of intensive care unit stay, is important for the prevention of possible infection complications. In this study, the dramatic improvement of the breathing pattern, as well as the reduction in ventilator duration after rib fixation time, of a 36-year-old patient with severe respiratory distress who had multiple rib fractures due to a road traffic accident was discussed. Due to this fact, it is concluded that patients could be discharged from the hospital earlier and uncomplicated as a result of fixation of the rib with the right indications.