Comparison of recovery properties of desflurane and sevoflurane according to gender differences

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the recovery properties of desflurane and sevoflurane in patients undergoing elective surgery, according to the gender differences

Comparison of prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in septic and non-septic intensive care patients

Introduction : The aim of this study is to compare the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in septic and non-septic intensive care patients. Material and methods : Fifty consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were enrolled in either the septic or non-septic group according to the criteria in the International Sepsis Definitions Conference in 2001. Demographic and clinical data, procalcitonin and lactate levels at admission, and death within 28 days were registered. Five blood samples were collected from all patients for NT-proBNP measurements. Results: Septic patients had higher APACHE II (19 (16.00–24.25) vs. 16 (13.00–18.25)), and SOFA (8 (5–10) vs. 6 (4–7)) scores (p <0.05). Procalcitonin levels were also higher in septic patients (3.33 (1.06–10.96) vs. 0.46 (0.26–1.01) ng/ml) and more patients required vasopressors in this group (9 (36%) vs. 2 (8%)) (p < 0.05). In the septic group, the correlation between mortality and the level of NT-proBNP was significant for each measurement, starting from the admission. In the non-septic group the correlation between mortality and the level of NT-proBNP was significant only at the 120th h. Conclusions : We concluded that the level of NT-proBNP at admission is well correlated with 28-day mortality in septic ICU patients. However, single measurement of NT-proBNP levels in non-septic patients does not correlate with the 28-day mortality. Repeated measurements and an increasing trend of the NT-proBNP levels may show a correlation with mortality in non-septic intensive care patients

Hemodynamic and blockade effects of high/low epinephrine doses during axillary brachial plexus blockade with lidocaine 1.5%: A randomized, double-blinded study

Background and Objectives: Although epinephrine commonly is added to local anesthetics for regional anesthesia, rarely it may cause undesirable hemodynamic side effects. This study compared the hemodynamic and blockade effects of 25 and 200 jig epinephrine during axillary brachial plexus blockade with lidocaine 1.5%

The effects of intravenous fentanyl and intravenous fentanyl combined with bupivacaine infiltration on the hemodynamic response to skull pin insertion

This study was conducted to compare the effects of intravenous fentanyl and intravenous fentanyl combined with bupivacaine infiltration on the hemodynamic response to skull pin insertion. 120 ASA I-II patients scheduled for elective craniotomy were included. The fentanyl group (group F, n - 60) received fentanyl during induction and prior to skull pin insertion (2 and 1 mug circle kg(-1), respectively). The fentanyl-bupivacaine group (group FB, n = 60) received the same doses of fentanyl as well as scalp infiltration with 0.25% bupivacaine. The heart rate (HR) was not significantly different between the groups. HR, at 5 minutes after skull pin insertion in the group F and at 1 and 5 minutes after skull pin insertion in group FB, significantly decreased in comparison to the baseline values (P < 0.05). In both groups, HR at 1 and 5 minutes after skull pin insertion was significantly lower than HR just before skull pin insertion (P < 0.05). In group FB, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 1 and 5 minutes after skull pin insertion were significantly lower than that in group F (P < 0.05). In group F, MAP at 1 minute after skull pin insertion was higher than that of just before skull pin insertion (P < 0.05),- however, MAP at 5 minutes after skull pin insertion was lower than that of just before skull pin insertion (P < 0.05). In group FB, MAP at 1 and 5 minutes after skull pin insertion was lower than that of just before skull pin insertion (P < 0.05). The hemodynamic response to skull pin insertion was effectively suppressed with both methods. Still, the addition of scalp infiltration to fentanyl did not provide any additional benefit. Administering an additional dose (I mug circle kg(-1)) of fentanyl just before skull pin insertion is recommended as a simple and effective option that requires no extra time

Effects of isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane on platelet function: A prospective, randomized, single-blind, in vivo study

Background: The primary physiologic function of platelets is to facilitate hemostasis by aggregation. Volatile anesthetics have been reported to decrease platelet aggregation in vivo and in vitro