The influence of N-acetyl-L-cystein infusion on cytokine levels and gastric intramucosal pH during severe sepsis

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of continuously infused N-acetyl-L-cystein (NAC) on serum cytokine levels and gastric intramucosal pH in humans suffering from severe sepsis. METHODS: Fifty-three patients were included in the study. In the NAC group (n = 27), after an initial intravenous bolus of NAC (150 mg/kg over 5 min), a continuous intravenous infusion of 12.5 mg/kg per hour was given for 6 hours. Patients in the control group (n = 26) were administered dextrose (5% solution) at the same dosage. We recorded the following: haemodynamic parameters, nasopharyngeal temperature, arterial blood gas changes, plasma cytokine levels, biochemical parameters, intramucosal pH, length of stay in the intensive care unit, duration of of mechanical ventilation and mortality. All measurements were taken at baseline (15 min before the start of the study) and were repeated immediately after the bolus infusion, and at 24 and 48 hours after initiation of the continuous NAC infusion. RESULTS: No differences were found between groups in levels of the major cytokines, duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay, gastric intramucosal pH and arterial oxygen tension/inspired fractional oxygen ratio (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We found that NAC infusion at the doses given did not affect cytokine levels, outcomes, or gastric intramucosal pH in patients with severe sepsis. Because of the limited number of patients included in the study and the short period of observation, our findings need confirmation in larger clinical trials of NAC infused in a dose-titrated manner. However, our results do not support the use of NAC in patients with severe sepsis

The effects of total intravenous anesthesia and inhalational anesthesia on intra-abdominal pressure in the supine prone positions

Amaç: Sırtüstü ve yüzüstü pozisyonları verilerek ameliyat edilen olgularda, total intravenöz anestezi ve inhalasyonda sevofluran anestezisinin intraabdominal basınç, kardiyovasküler ve solunum sistemlerine etkileri karşılaştırıldı. Çalışma Planı: Çalışmaya, lomber diskektomi ameliyatı geçirecek ASA I-II 30 olgu (17 erkek, 13 kadın; ort. yaş 50; dağılım 35-70) total intravenöz anestezi (grup I, n=15) ve sevofluran anestezisi (grup II, n=15) uygulanmak üzere rastgele iki gruba ayrıldı. Grup I’de, intravenöz olarak uygulanan alfentanil ve propofol ile sağlanan indüksiyondan sonra entübasyon atrakuryum ile gerçekleştirildi. Anestezinin idamesinde ise alfentanil ve 10 dakikalık sürelerle azalan dozlarda propofol infüzyon şeklinde kullanıldı. Grup II’de, intravenöz propofol ile sağlanan indüksiyondan sonra atrakuryum ile entübasyon gerçekleştirildi. Anestezi sürekliliği sevofluran ile sağlandı. Olguların sırtüstü pozisyonda anestezi indüksiyonundan önce ve hemen sonra; yüzüstü pozisyonuna çevrildikten hemen sonra, ameliyat boyunca her 30 dakikada bir ve sırtüstü pozisyonda ekstübasyondan hemen sonra intraabdominal basınç, arter basıncı, kalp atım hızı, periferik oksijen satürasyonu, endtidal CO2 basıncı ölçülerek kaydedildi. Bulgular: İki grup arasında bütün ölçüm zamanlarında, intraabdominal basınç, hemodinamik ve solunum parametre değerleri arasında anlamlı farklılık bulunmadı. Sonuç: Her iki pozisyonda uygulanan total intravenöz anestezi ve sevofluran anestezisinin, intraabdominal basınç ile hemodinamik ve solunum parametrelerinde değişiklik oluşturmadığı belirlendi.Objectives: We compared the effects of total intravenous anesthesia and inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane on intra-abdominal pressure and cardiovascular and respiratory systems in patients undergoing surgery in the supine and prone positions. Study Design: Thirty ASA I-II patients (17 males, 13 females; mean age 50 years; range 35 to 70 years) undergoing elective lumbar discectomy were randomly assigned to total intravenous anesthesia (group I, n=15) and inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane (group II, n=15). In group I, after anesthesia induction with intravenous alfentanil and propofol, entubation was performed with atracurium. Anesthesia was maintained with alfentanil and decreasing doses of propofol. In group II, induction was obtained with intravenous propofol, entubation with atracurium, and maintenance with sevoflurane. Intra-abdominal pressure, arterial pressures, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, and endtidal CO2 were monitored and recorded in the supine position before and after anesthesia induction, immediately after turning to the prone position, every 30 minutes throughout the operation, and immediately after extubation in the supine position. Results: At all times of monitoring, no significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to intraabdominal pressure, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters. Conclusion: Total intravenous anesthesia and sevoflurane anesthesia do not appear to affect intra-abdominal pressure, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters in both positions