RESUMEN

In this study 20 paediatric surgical patients were randomized to two groups after induction of general anaesthesia. Group 1 received 0.25% bupivacaine (2 mg/kg) and group 2 received 5% tramadol (2 mg/kg) both as a caudal block. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and pain and sedation scores were recorded at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h post-operatively. Acetaminophen was administered rectally (20 mg/kg) if the pain score was > 3/10. The pain and sedation scores in group 2 were significantly lower compared with group 1. There were no significant differences in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, arterial oxygen saturation and respiratory rate between the two groups. In conclusion, caudal tramadol was superior to bupivacaine in analgesic efficacy and in reducing the need for additional analgesia during the post-operative period in paediatric patients.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In this study, medical records of all casualties admitted to our hospital following the Marmara earthquake, which struck northwest Turkey and resulted in the destruction of several towns in the Marmara region, were evaluated retrospectively. The time buried under the rubble, demographic data, type of medical and surgical therapies performed, type of injury and data on infection were analysed. Between 17 August and 25 September 1999, 630 trauma victims were received at our hospital and 532 (84%) of them were hospitalized. The mean age of hospitalized patients (312 males, 220 females) was 32 years (2-90 years). Two hundred and twenty patients were hospitalized for more than 48 h. Forty-one of them (18.6%) had 43 hospital-acquired infection (HAI) episodes, which were mostly wound infections (46.5%). A total of 143 culture specimens was collected and 48 yielded the following potential pathogens: 15 Acinetobacter baumanii (31.2%), nine Staphylococcus aureus (18.7%), seven Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.6%), six Escherichia coli (12.5%), six Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.5%), two Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (4.2%) and three various Pseudomonas spp. (6.3%). All S. aureus strains were found to be resistant to methicillin in vitro. Two strains of A. baumannii and one P. aeruginosa were found to be resistant to all antimicrobials including carbapenems. Fifty-three victims died (10%) and 36 of those died during the first 48 h because of severe injuries and multi-organ failure. After 48 h of hospitalization, the mortality rate was significantly higher in those patients with HAI (14/41) than those without (3/179) (34.1% vs. 1.7%, P<0.05). In conclusion, trauma is the significant factor associated with HAI and a high incidence of Acinetobacter strains was responsible for HAI in trauma patients.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

During open-heart surgery, the period between cross-clamping and maintenance of homogeneous diastolic arrest is often accompanied by significant ischaemic-hypoxic injury. The topical application of glutamate-aspartate or pentoxifylline may reduce energy demands during this period and thus prevent myocardial damage. Fifty rats were divided into five groups. In group A (control) the pericardial cavity was opened, all inlet and outlet vasculature cross-clamped, and the heart excised after 60 s. In groups B-E, the pericardial cavity was opened, all inlet and outlet vasculature cross-clamped for 60 s (groups B and D) or 90 s (groups C and E), and the pericardial cavity filled with glutamate-aspartate solution (groups B and C) or pentoxifylline solution (groups D and E) for 2 min. Following clamping, blood was withdrawn from the right atrium for biochemical analysis, and the heart excised for histological analysis. Histopathological and biochemical analysis showed a significant reduction in ischaemic-hypoxic cardiac injury in rats treated with topically applied glutamate-aspartate or pentoxifylline.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Haemorrhagic shock, a leading cause of mortality, frequently accompanies cardiac interventions. The administration of small volumes of hypertonic saline solutions and crystalloid solutions may reduce the severity and duration of shock, and result in a decrease in adverse outcomes. Under general anaesthesia, hypotension was induced in 12 healthy dogs. After 30 min, dogs received either hypertonic saline solution or lactated Ringer's solution for fluid, resuscitation. In both groups, decreases in haemodynamic variables were observed during the shock period. Following resuscitation, increases in haemodynamic variables were observed. This increase lasted longer in dogs receiving hypertonic saline. In both groups, haematocrit and oxygen content values decreased after resuscitation and lactate levels increased. During resuscitation, lactate levels decreased. Sodium and osmolarity increased with resuscitation, then subsequently decreased. In conclusion, in a model of haemorrhagic shock, the administration of hypertonic saline solutions provides haemodynamic stability and tissue oxygenation more rapidly.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

To evaluate the effect of nitrous oxide (66%) as used in surgical anesthesia on serum vitamin-B12 levels, 27 patients were studied undergoing operations longer than 2 hours. In addition a group of 10 patients was given oxygen/halothane for comparison. In patients receiving nitrous oxide, serum-B12 concentrations showed significant reductions during anesthesia, but increased at the 24th hour and recovered completely at the 72nd hour postoperatively. No significant changes were seen in vitamin levels during and after anesthesia in patients not receiving nitrous oxide. There was also no macrocytosis or hypersegmentation of neutrophils on blood slides taken concomitantly with blood samples in both groups. In view of the rapid recovery of vitamin levels and the fact that, in spite of the significant reductions caused by nitrous oxide none of the individual values decreased below normal, it is suggested that the effect of nitrous oxide as used in surgical anesthesia may be considered insignificant in patients with normal vitamin-B12 values.

Asunto(s)