A comparison of the effects of desflurane and total intravenous anaesthesia on the motor evoked responses in scoliosis surgery

Background: In the present study, we compared the effects of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and desflurane anaesthesia on tcMEPs in scoliosis surgery.Methods: The study included 45 patients between the ages of 18 to 50 years, and classified as ASAI-II; which were planned to undergo posterior fusion/instrumentation operations for elective scoliosis.  Anaesthesia was maintained using 50-150 mcg/kg/min propofol in Group T(TIVA), and desflurane (0.5 MAC) in Group D, and with infusions of 0.05-0.3 mcg/kg/min remifentanil at 50 % O2 + air in both groups, by applying drugs at doses so that bispectral index (BIS) would be maintained between 40 and 60 throughout the course of anaesthesia. The tcMEP responses were measured four times during the operation, and BIS, train-of-four (TOF), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate(HR), and end tidal CO2(ETCO2) values were recorded simultaneously. In both group the anaesthesia was ended at the final surgical suture.  The recovery parameters were recorded.Results: The groups were found not to differ regarding the demographic characteristics, duration of the anaesthesia and the surgery, remifentanil dosage, tcMEP, the simultaneously recorded TOF, MAP, HR and ETCO2 values, and the amount of perioperative bleeding. The cooperation time and the orientation time were shorter in group D. The tcMEP responses were recorded in the appropriate times and amplitudes in both groups. Conclusions: TIVA is primarily used in routine applications in spinal surgery; however our study results revealed that 0.5 MAC desflurane may also be safely used in association with remifentanil, with the resultant correct tcMEP responses. 

Laboratuvardan Kliniğe Transplantasyon Pratiği

Transplantasyon; Temel Tıbbi Bilimler, Moleküler Tıp, Genetik ve İmmünolojiden klinik uygulamalardan destek alan multidisipliner bir tıp dalıdır. Temel bilimlerdeki başarılı çalışmaların kliniğe uygulanması, klinikte karşılaşılan sorunların da, oluşturulan deneysel hayvan modellerinde irdelenmesi, elde edilen bilgilerin klinik uygulamalara aktarılması; diğer deyişle tecrübelerin “Translational” özellikli olması günümüz transplantasyon çalışmalarında bir gerekliliktir. İmmün sistemin bileşenlerinin ve reaksiyonlarının iyi bilinmesi, hücreler arası ilişkilerde greftin reddi ya da kabul edilmesinin şartlarını doğru anlamak ve uygun laboratuvar yöntemleri ile klinik durumun aydınlatılması transplantasyonda stratejik önemdedir. Bu nedenle, klinik transplantasyon çalışmaları yapanlar temel bilimler bilgileri ile de donanımlı olmalıdırlar. Multidisipliner bir dal olma bilinci ile yapılan klinik transplantasyon çalışmalarında başarı yakalanmaktadır. Laboratuvardan Kliniğe Transplantasyon kitabımızda tüm yönleri ile transplantasyonun organizmaya etkileri ve bunların klinik sonuçlarını, çalışmalarımızın ışığında sunmayı ve tartışmayı hedefledik. Editör: Prof.Dr. Mesut İzzet TİTİZ Yardımcı Editör: Doç.Dr. Pınar AT

Comparison of bilevel positive airway pressure and average volume-assured pressure support mode in terms of patient compliance and treatment success in hypercapnic patients. A cross-sectional study

AIM: It is necessary for an effective NIV application to provide proper modality selection, sufficient minute ventilation (MV), also the amount of leakage on the circuit must be minimized and patient-ventilator adaptation must be achieved. METHODS: 30 patients with acute respiratory failure as a result of either internal or postoperative reasons were included in the study. Patient comfort was analyzed with a scale ranging from 0 to 2. Firstly the patient was used for two hours in BIPAP modality, after then the AVAPS modality (Period Av) was applied by setting the required rates the same mask. During BIPAP and AVAPS, arterial blood gases analysis, comfort scale and hemodynamic parameters were recorded in the 30th minute, 1st hour and 2nd hour. RESULTS: According to the assessment of arterial blood gases, the pH changes of both periods were statistically significant compared to their baseline values (p=0.001). Treatment compliance of the patients was significantly better at AVAPS modality at all times (p = 0.015, p = 0.008, p = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained from this study, the AVAPS modality has positive effects on pH and gas variation and patient comfort; therefore, it can be confidently used in clinical practice

Comparison of the remifentanil and remifentanil+propofol combination for sedoanalgesia in functional endoscopic sinus surgery

AMAÇ: Lokal anestezi altında uygulanan fonksiyonel endoskopik sinüs cerrahisi operasyonlarında sedoanaljezi amacıyla verilen remifentanil ve remifentanil + propofol kombinasyonu karşılaştırıldı. YÖNTEMLER: 18-70 yaş arasındaki ASAI-II grubundan 40 hasta rastgele olarak iki gruba ayrıldı. I. gruba (n=20) 1 mcg/kg remifentanil bolus, 0.1 mcg/kg/dk remifentanil infüzyonu; ikinci gruba (n=20) 0.5 mcg/kg remifentanil bolus, 0.05 mcg/kg/dk remifentanil infüzyonu ve 50 mcg/kg/dk propofol uygulandı. Belirlenen aralıklarla sistolik, diyastolik ve ortalama arter basınçları ile kalp atım hızı, solunum sayısı ve SpO2 değerleri, “discomfort” skoru, ağrıya verilen sözel yanıt, OAA/S (Observer’s Assessment Alertness/Sedation) skalası, Aldrete derlenme skoru ve yan etkiler kaydedildi. BULGULAR: Her iki grupta hemodinamik açıdan fark bulunamadı. Kullanılan dozlarda her iki grupta da sedasyon düzeyinin yeterli olduğu saptandı. 0.1 mcg/kg/dk remifentanil grubunda daha iyi analjezi sağlanmasına rağmen solunum sayısında diğer gruba göre daha fazla azalma ve daha fazla bulantı kusma görüldü. SONUÇ: Fonksiyonel endoskopik sinüs cerrahisi operasyonlarında, gerek remifentanilin gerekse remifentanil + propofol kombinasyonunun, belirlenen doz aralıklarında, monitörize anestezik bakımda sedoanaljezi amacıyla güvenle kullanılabileceği kanaatindeyiz.OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the remifentanil and remifentanil + propofol combination for sedoanalgesia in functional endoscopic sinus surgery performed under local anesthesia. METHODS: Forty patients from American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II patients between the ages of 18-70 years were divided randomly into two groups. The 1st group (n=20) received 1 mcg/kg remifentanil bolus and 0.1 mcg/kg/min infusion and the 2nd group (n=20) received 0.5 mcg/kg remifentanil bolus, 0.05 mcg/kg/min infusion and 50 mcg/kg/min propofol. Systolic, diastolic, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and SpO2 values, discomfort scores, verbal response to pain, OAA/S (Observer’s Assessment Alertness/Sedation) scale, Aldrete recovery scores, and side effects were recorded at particular intervals. RESULTS: There was no difference between groups hemodynamically. The doses used in each group showed adequate levels of sedation. 0.1 mcg/kg/min remifentanil provided better analgesia; however, the respiratory rate was reduced and nausea and vomiting were increased. CONCLUSION: We believe that either remifentanil or remifentanil + propofol combination can be used safely during functional endoscopic sinus surgery operations for sedoanalgesia in monitored anesthetic care at determined dose intervals

Incidence, etiology, and antibiotic resistance patterns of Gram-negative microorganisms isolated from patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia in a medical-surgical intensive care unit of a teaching hospital in Istanbul, Turkey (2004-2006)

The identification of microorganisms causing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is important for formulating appropriate therapies. In this study, we report the incidence, etiology, and antibiotic resistance patterns of Gram-negative microorganisms isolated from patients diagnosed with VAP in our medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) during the years 2004-2006. VAP was diagnosed by using the clinical criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic resistance patterns of isolated microorganisms were defined by standard methods. The VAP incidence rate was 22.6/1,000 ventilator days. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Acinetobacter spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ninety percent of Acinetobacter spp. isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, 64% to imipenem, and 80% to ciprofloxacin. Fifty-nine percent of P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, 32% to imipenem, and 62% to ciprofloxacin. Cefoperazone-sulbactam was the most active agent against Acinetobacter spp. In conclusion, the incidence of VAP and the prevalence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms are quite high in our ICU. Comparison of the resistance rates of isolates demonstrates that certain antibiotic agents are more effective than others

Incidence, Etiology and Risk Factors Associated with Mortality of Nosocomial Candidemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, etiology and risk factors for mortality of patients with nosocomial candidemia. Subjects and Methods: This observational study was performed at Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, a tertiary care hospital with 750 beds, between the years 2004 and 2007. Fifty defined cases with a nosocomial bloodstream infection caused by Candida species were included in the study. All demographic, microbiological and clinical records for each patient were collected using a standardized form. Blood culture was performed by automated blood culture system, and those samples positive for yeast were subcultured on Sabouraud agar. Results: The mean incidence density of nosocomial candidemia was 0.58/10,000 patient-days/year (range 0.17-1.4). Candidemia episodes increased from 0.17/10,000 to 1.4/10,000 patient-days/year (p < 0.0001). Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida accounted for 15 (30%) and 35 (70%) cases, respectively. The overall mortality was 56% and was significantly associated with staying in the intensive care unit (odds ratio: 3.667, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-12.54, p = 0.034). Conclusion: This study showed that there was a significantly increased trend in the incidence of candidemia with high mortality during the study period. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Hand Hygiene Approach, over 8 years, in 11 cities of Turkey

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Hand Hygiene Approach in Turkey and analyse predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance. Design: An observational, prospective, interventional, before-and-after study was conducted from August 2003 to August 2011 in 12 intensive care units (ICU) of 12 hospitals in 11 cities. The study was divided into a baseline and a follow-up period and included random 30-minute observations for hand hygiene compliance in ICU. The hand hygiene approach included administrative support, supplies availability, education and training, reminders in the workplace, process surveillance, and performance feedback. Results: We observed 21,145 opportunities for hand hygiene. Overall hand hygiene compliance increased from 28.8% to 91% (95% CI 87.6–93.0, p 0.0001). Multivariate and univariate analyses showed that several variables were significantly associated with poor hand hygiene compliance: males vs. females (39% vs. 48%; 95% CI 0.79–0.84, p 0.0001), ancillary staff vs. physicians (35% vs. 46%, 95% CI 0.73–0.78, p 0.0001), and adult vs. pediatric ICUs (42% vs. 74%, 95% CI 0.54–0.60, p 0.0001). Conclusions: Adherence to hand hygiene was significantly increased with the INICC Hand Hygiene Approach. Specific programmes should be directed to improve hand hygiene in variables found to be predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance. © 2014, © The Author(s) 2014

Incidence, etiology, and antibiotic resistance patterns of Gram-negative microorganisms isolated from patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia in a medical-surgical hospital in Istanbul, intensive care unit of a teaching Turkey (2004-2006)

The identification of microorganisms causing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is important for formulating appropriate therapies. In this study, we report the incidence, etiology, and antibiotic resistance patterns of Gram-negative microorganisms isolated from patients diagnosed with VAP in our medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) during the years 2004-2006. VAP was diagnosed by using the clinical criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic resistance patterns of isolated microorganisms were defined by standard methods. The VAP incidence rate was 22.6/1,000 ventilator days. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Acinetobacter spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ninety percent of Acinetobacter spp. isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, 64% to imipenem, and 80% to ciprofloxacin. Fifty-nine percent of P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, 32% to imipenem, and 62% to ciprofloxacin. Cefoperazone-sulbactam was the most active agent against Acinetobacter spp. In conclusion, the incidence of VAP and the prevalence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms are quite high in our ICU. Comparison of the resistance rates of isolates demonstrates that certain antibiotic agents are more effective than others

Bloodstream infections in a medical-surgical intensive care unit: incidence, aetiology, antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

P>In the present study, the incidence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of the microorganisms that caused bloodstream infections (BSIs) in a medical-surgical intensive care unit during the years 2005-2007 were determined. The mean BSI incidence density was 6.56 per 1000 patient-days. The incidence density increased linearly during the study period (from 3.57 to 9.60 per 1000 patient-days). Staphylococcus aureus was most frequently isolated (47.3%), followed by Enterococcus spp. (10.8%) and Candida spp. (10.1%). There was a high rate of resistance to several of the prescribed antimicrobials among the bacteria isolated from patients with BSIs