Pain Management via Ultrasound-guided Nerve Block in Emergency Department; a Case Series Study

Introduction: Pain is the most common complaint of patients referring to emergency department (ED). Consideringthe importance of pain management in ED, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and feasibility ofultrasound-guided nerve blocks in this setting. Methods: 46 patients who came to the ED with injured extremitieswere enrolled in the study and received either femoral, axillary or sciatic nerve block depending on theirsite of injury (1.5 mg Bupivacaine per kg of patient’s weight). Patients were asked about their level of pain beforeand after receiving the nerve block based on numerical rating scale. The difference between pre and post blockpain severity was measured. Both patients and physicians were asked about their satisfaction with the nerveblock in 5 tiered Likert scale. Results: 46 patients with the mean age of 37.5 § 12.5 years (8-82 years) receivedultrasound-guided nerve block (84.8% male). 6 Sciatic, 25 axillary, and 15 femoral nerve blocks were performed.Mean pain severity on NRS score at the time of admission was 8.1 § 1.4, which reduced to 2.04 § 2.06 after block.25 (54.3%) patients were highly satisfied (Likert scale 5), 15 (32.6%) were satisfied (Likert scale 4), 3 (6.5%) wereneutral and had no opinion (Likert scale 3), 1 (2.1%) was not satisfied (Likert scale 2), and 2 (4.3%) were highlyunsatisfied (Likert scale 1). There was no significant difference among the satisfaction scores within the threeblock locations (p = 0.8). There was no significant difference in physicians level of satisfaction between the threeblock locations either (p = 0.9). 1 (2.1%) case of agitation and tachycardia and 1 (2.1%) case of vomiting wereobserved after the procedure. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided nerve block of extremities is a safe and effectivemethod that can be used for pain management in the ED. It results in high levels of satisfaction among bothpatients and physicians

Termination of pregnancy in a twin pregnant patient with COVID-19

In this article, we present a pregnant case suspected of COVID-19 with underlying symptoms of respiratory distress; which was referred to Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital. Due to the progressive decrease of O2 saturation, the medical team decided to terminate the pregnancy to save the patient's life. Despite all these efforts including pharmaceutical agents, the patient passed away

Anesthetic Management “Arnold Chiari Malformation” in the well-known Case of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease resulting from a chlorine channel defect with autosomal recessive show, a physical and functional disorder in the transport of chlorine (Cl) through the plasma membrane in epithelial cells in organs such as the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sweat glands, and epididymis. These cases are important for their perioperative respiratory complications. We present an anesthesia method conducted on a 24-year-old men CF case receiving general anesthesia for Arnold Chiari malformation surgery

Magnesium Gargle versus Ketamine Gargle in Postoperative Sore Throat Pain; A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: A wide range of approaches have been tested for the prevention and treatment of postoperative sore throat pain (POST pain). This study attempted to compare the effects of gargling with Ketamine or Magnesium Sulfate on POST pain.  Materials and Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 60 patients scheduled for prone position laminectomy were randomly assigned into three groups: Ketamine (n=20), Magnesium (n=20), and Control (n=20). The Magnesium group received magnesium sulfate gargle (30 mg/kg in a total of 30 ml 5% Dextrose water), the Ketamine group received Ketamine gargle (0.5 mg/kg in a total of 30 ml 5% Dextrose water) and the control group received 30 ml 5% Dextrose water gargle; all these solutions were administered 10 min before anesthesia induction. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for throat pain was recorded in the recovery room; immediately after arrival and then, at 2, 4, and 24 hours postoperatively in the ward. Would there be any VAS equal to or more than 3 of 10, rescue analgesics were administered immediately and their cumulative doses were recorded.  Results: The incidence of complaint-free patients in the Ketamine group was significantly higher than in the other two groups. The incidence of sore throat with VAS≥3, mandating rescue analgesia, was significantly lower than the other two groups. patient satisfaction after surgery was significantly higher in the Ketamine group.  Conclusion: Patients experiencing POST pain treated with “Ketamine gargle” had better results compared with “Magnesium Sulfate” or “Placebo” gargle.&nbsp

Dexmedetomidine is as effective as Ketamine in post operative sore throat a randomized double – blind study

Background: sore throat as one of the common postoperative challenges, with a prevalence of 65%, mandates more attention. Many therapeutic approaches have been tested; including ketamine gargle. This study compares the effect dexmedetomidine versus ketamine, both used as preoperative gargle, on the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat in emergency surgical procedures. Materials and Methods: All patients undergoing emergency surgical procedures who referred to Shohadaye-Tajrish Hospital and needed anesthesia using succinylcholine for rapid sequence induction were considered as the target population and patients with ASA class 1-2, who aged 18-64 years, were enrolled. Inside the operating theatre, patients’ vital signs recorded and they were divided into ketamine and dexmedetomidine groups, each including 20 patients, receiving 0.5 mg/kg ketamine or 0.25µg/kg dexmedetomidine in 100cc water to gargle before induction of anesthesia. Standard similar anesthesia protocols were applied for all patients. In PACU sore throat was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) scoring. Results: in the ketamine group, 8 cases and in the dexmedetomidine group, 12 had dry throat (p= 0.150). The mean severity of the postoperative sore throat was 2.10± (minimum score of one and a maximum of 3) without significant difference between the two groups (p=0.344). mean diastolic pressure and SpO2 were significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group compared with the ketamine group (p=0.047 and 0.001). Conclusion: both dexmedetomidine and ketamine gargle could be equally useful and effective in reducing postoperative sore throat

Comparison of Analgesia in Subcutaneous Infiltration of Ropivacaine and Magnesium Sulfate for Postoperative Pain Control of Cholecystectomy

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of analgesia of Ropivacaine and magnesium sulfate as subcutaneous infiltration at the site of surgical cutaneous cholecystectomy in the postoperative period.Materials and Methods: To achieve the research goals, 80 patients referred to Shohada Tajrish Hospital in Tehran in 2016, which were randomly divided into two groups: Ropivacaine and magnesium sulfate. Patients in both groups had similar anesthetic procedures and all of them were monitored standard were recorded within 24 hours of operation. Overall morphine dose was also recorded for postoperative pain.Results: The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the Ropivacaine group in the next hours despite the no significant difference in age, sex, BMI, duration of operation and pain scoring at first and third hours. In addition, the comparison of the number of requests for at least one dose of morphine in the Ropivacaine group is significantly lower. In addition, the comparison of the number of requests for at least one dose of morphine in the Ropivacaine group is significantly lower. The occurrence of PONV is also higher in the magnesium sulfate group, but this difference is not significant.Conclusion: Local injection of Ropivacaine reduced acute pain after open cholecystectomy surgery in comparison to local injection of magnesium sulfate. In addition, the use of Ropivacaine is associated with a significant reduction in the need for intravenous morphine for analgesia

Unusual Airway Obstruction during General Anesthesia following Endotracheal Tube Cuff Herniation; A Case Report

Abstract Background: Airway management is always of great concern for anesthesiologists especially in the prone position. Utilizing an Armored endotracheal tube is considered to be safe in such patients. Cases Report: In this current case, we introduce a patient undergoing a wake-up test during spinal surgery who suffered from hypoventilation at the end of surgery. His condition improved only after extubation. After extubation, we confronted a herniated cuff that was not deflated, although we tried twice. We concluded that the patient's respiratory effort against obstructed airway produced a negative pressure, which made the cuff herniated, resulting in airway obstruction. Moreover, the patient biting the tube during the wake-up test damaged the tube and cuff deflation pathway. Conclusion: It is important to consider cuff herniation as a cause of obstruction when other possible etiologies are ruled out

Anesthesia considerations in surgical deep brain stimulation for Tourette syndrome management

Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a neuro-behavioral disease associated by phonic and motor tics with a high frequency of psychiatric co-morbidities. For these cases, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a developing neuro-modulated treatment option since the first report on a successful surgery in 1999. A male thirty-one years old (77 kg, 178 cm) with diagnosis of Gilles De La Tourette syndrome admitted to neurosurgery ward. His medication included Aripiprazole, pimozide, buspirone, clomipramine, citalopram, phenytoin, Desmopressin and Lithium. The patient underwent implanting DBS (Deep Brain Stimulator) surgery and battery implantation in two steps with two weeks interval. General anesthesia with considerations and according to behavior of disease and drug interactions was performed. The cause and symptoms may be due to central dopaminergic hyperactivity or anomalous dopamine neurotransmission and interventions and anesthesia should be done considering these abnormalities

The Effect of Propofol on the Success Rate of Transurethral Lithotripsy by Holmium Laser: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Urinary stone disease is the third most common affliction of the urinary tract that has been associated with an increasing incidence. Over decades, great advances have been made in the minimally invasive treatment of urinary stones. Recently, transurethral lithotripsy (TUL) by holmium laser was introduced as a possible therapeutic option. This study evaluated the effect of propofol on the success rate of TUL by holmium laser.Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 180 patients to investigate the effect of propofol on the success and complication rate of TUL by holmium laser. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups: the first group received sodium thiopental (n = 89) while the second group received propofol (n = 91). The two groups were compared in terms of the fluctuations of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), operation time, future stone-free rate (SFR), stone migration, post-operative fever, and ureteral complications such as perforation and mucosal damage. Other developed complications were also recorded. After data gathering, statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 21.Results: the patients’ data such as age, sex, stone diameter, stone laterality, duration of stone impaction, primary SBP, DBP and HR were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). TUL and anesthesia duration, first-minute and fifth-minute SBP and DBP, and also changes of HR were significantly lower in the propofol group compared with the sodium thiopental group (P < 0.001). Moreover, SFR of TUL was more evident in the propofol group. Ureteral mucosal damage was significantly less in the propofol group.Conclusion: Propofol was associated with a higher reduction in SBP and DBP, decreased duration of TUL, fewer fluctuations in HR, and an increased success rate of stone removal by TUL with holmium laser