Preemptive intraarticular tramadol for pain control after arthroscopic knee surgery.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of intraarticular (ia) bupivacaine and tramadol injection and preemptive intraarticular tramadol in providing pain control after arthroscopic knee surgery. Following local research ethics committee approval, 60 patients were assigned in a randomized manner into three groups: Group I received ia 20 ml of 0.25 % bupivacaine at the end of the operation, Group II received ia 20 ml of 0.25 % bupivacaine and 100 mg of tramadol at the end of the operation and Group III received ia 100 mg of tramadol diluted in 20 ml of saline solution 30 minutes before skin inscision and 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine at the end of the operation as well. Analgesic duration, total analgesic consumption and postoperative VAS pain scores recorded at rest and with movement were significantly lower and patient satisfaction was significantly higher in Group II and III, compared to Group I. Total analgesic consumption and the number of patients requiring supplementary analgesics were significantly lower in the preemptive tramadol group compared to the postoperative tramadol group. In conclusion, preemptive ia tramadol provided effective and reliable pain control after artroscopic knee surgeries and may be preferred to postoperative administration.

Hemodynamic effects, recovery profiles, and costs of remifentanil-based anesthesia with propofol or desflurane for septorhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To compare hemodynamics, recovery profiles, postoperative side effects and costs of desflurane-remifentanil and propofol-remifentanil anesthesia for septorhinoplasty operations. METHODS: A prospective and randomized study was carried out at the Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey from April to September 2003. Forty patients undergoing septorhinoplasty operations were randomly allocated to receive desflurane-remifentanil (Group DES-REM) or total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) (Group TIVA). Anesthesia was induced in both groups with remifentanil 1 microg x ml (-1), propofol 2-2.5 mg.kg-1 and pancuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1. Maintenance was achieved with O2 50% in air at 4 L.min-1 and infusion of remifentanil 0.1 microg x ml (-1).min-1 in both groups. Group DES-REM received desflurane at 1 minimum alveolar concentration and Group TIVA received 10-4 mg.kg-1.hour-1 of propofol. Propofol infusion and desflurane were discontinued with the last surgical stitches, but remifentanil infusion continued in both groups until the nose was covered with plaster. Hemodynamic variables were recorded during the operation and one hour postoperatively in 5 min intervals. We recorded time of extubation, spontaneous eye opening and response to verbal commands times, visual analog scale pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting and Aldrete Recovery Score. Drug dosages and costs of each technique were determined. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to hemodynamic parameters, recovery profile, adverse effects, Aldrete Recovery Score and cost analysis. Visual analog scale at 5 min postoperatively was higher in group desflurane-remifentanil compared to group propofol-remifentanil (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both desflurane-remifentanil and TIVA provide perioperative hemodynamic stability, early and easy recovery with similar cost profiles for septorhinoplasty operations.

Postoperative analgesic effects of lornoxicam after thyroidectomy: a placebo controlled randomized study.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the postoperative analgesic effects of lornoxicam and the reduction in tramadol consumption. Fourty patients of ASA class I-II, 18-70 years of age, undergoing thyroidectomy were assigned in a randomized manner into two groups: GroupL received 8 mg of lornoxicam i.v. at the end of the operation followed by 8 mg of lornoxicam b.i.d., i.v. for 24 hours postoperatively. GroupP received 4 ml of saline solution i.v. at the end of the operation and the same amount b.i.d., i.v. for 24 hours postoperatively. The requirements for supplemental analgesics were recorded at 0-6, 6-12 and 12-24 hour intervals. Postoperative pain scores were evaluated at 15th min. and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24th hours using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The time to first analgesic requirement was significantly longer in GroupL compared to GroupP (101.7 vs 37.9 min, p<0.001). Pain scores were significantly lower in GroupL compared to GroupP at 15th min, 1, 8 ,12 and 18th hours. Twenty four hour analgesic consumption was significantly lower in GroupL compared to GroupP (p<0.05). The amount of tramadol consumed in GroupL was 60% lower compared to GroupP (100 mg and 250 mg (mean), respectively). 100% of the patients in GroupL and 60 % of the patients in GroupP needed supplemental analgesics. The degree of satisfaction with postoperative pain management was excellent in 95 % of patients in GroupL and 25 % of patients in GroupP. Eighteen patients in GroupP and 9 patients in GroupL had nausea (p=0.002), and fifteen patients in GroupP and 8 patients in GroupL had vomiting (p=0.025). Lornoxicam decreased the opioid need, the incidence of nausea and vomiting and postoperative pain scores. Moreover, it was observed that the time needed for the first analgesic requirement was prolonged following thyroidectomies.

Anesthesia for proteus syndrome.

Proteus syndrome is a complex disorder comprising malformations and overgrowth of multiple tissues. The disorder is highly variable affecting tissues in a mosaic pattern. A 2-year-old boy with Proteus syndrome, with epidermal verrucal naevus, hyperplastic lesions of connective tissue, hyperostosis, overgrowth of tubular bones, bilateral inguinal hernia, and juvenile intestinal polyposis was scheduled for vertebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for further evaluation of malignancies. In addition to the pathological findings of this syndrome, potential complications such as difficult intubation, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary thromboembolism necessitate a careful preoperative and anesthetic preparation. MRI was performed under general anesthesia. There were no anesthetic complications. There are few previous reports on anesthesia in a patient with Proteus syndrome.

Comparison of hemodynamics, recovery profile, and early postoperative pain control and costs of remifentanil versus alfentanil-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare hemodynamics, recovery profiles, early postoperative pain control and costs of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and remifentanil and propofol and alfentanil. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: 40 ASA physical status I and II adult patients scheduled for lumbar discectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either remifentanil-propofol or alfentanil-propofol. Anesthesia was induced with remifentanil 1 microg kg(-1) or alfentanil 20 microg kg(-1) with propofol 2 mg kg(-1), and maintained with infusions of propofol 150 to 100 microg kg(-1)min(-1) and either remifentanil 0.1 microg kg(-1) min(-1) or alfentanil 0.5 microg kg(-1) min(-1). MEASUREMENTS: Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and mean arterial pressure), times to awakening, and tracheal extubation were recorded. In the postanesthesia care unit, pain level, frequency of analgesic demand, frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), partial oxygen saturation (SpO2), and respiratory rates were noted. Drug dosages and costs of each technique were determined. MAIN RESULTS: The mean arterial pressure significantly decreased compared to baseline values 1 minute after induction (p < 0.05) in both groups, and it significantly decreased at 5, 15, and 30 minutes perioperatively in the remifentanil group compared to the alfentanil group (p < 0.05). Time of extubation, spontaneous eye opening, and response to verbal command were similar in both groups. Visual analog scale pain scores at 30 minutes and 60 minutes were significantly lower in the alfentanil group than remifentanil group (p < 0.05). At 15, 30, and 60 minutes after terminating the operation oxygen saturation and respiratory rate were significantly higher (p < 0.05) and analgesics were required sooner in the remifentanil group than the alfentanil group (p < 0.05). The frequency of PONV was similar in both groups. The remifentanil-propofol anesthesia was found to be slightly more expensive as compared to the alfentanil based TIVA (33.41 +/- 4.53 vs. 29.97 +/- 4.1 USD) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both remifentanil and alfentanil provided a reasonably rapid and reliable recovery. The remifentanil-based TIVA was associated with high intraoperative cost and early postoperative pain, but it allowed a more rapid respiratory recovery.