It is important to protect the heart from injury by ischemia and reperfusion. The current study demonstrates that in the isolated rat heart, propofol attenuates mechanical, biochemical, and histological changes causes by ischemia and reperfusion.

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Hem-o-Lok clips (Weck Surgical Instruments, Teleflex Medical, Durham, NC, USA) are widely used in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy because of their easy application and secure clamping. To date, there have been some reports of intravesical migration of these clips causing urethral erosion, bladder neck contractures, and subsequent calculus formation. We report the first case of bladder migration of Hem-o-Lok clips without stone formation after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The Hem-o-Lok clips were found during urethral dilation with a guide wire for bladder neck contracture under cystourethroscopy. The Hem-o-Lok clips were floating in the bladder without stone formation and were removed by a cystoscopic procedure.

BackgroundCaudal epidural injections have been commonly performed in patients with low back pain and radiculopathy. Although caudal injection has generally been accepted as a safe procedure, serious complications such as inadvertent intravascular injection and dural puncture can occur. The present prospective study was designed to investigate the influence of the depth of the inserted needle on the success rate of caudal epidural blocks.MethodsA total of 49 adults scheduled to receive caudal epidural injections were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group 1 to receive the caudal injection through a conventional method, i.e., caudal injection after advancement of the needle 1 cm into the sacral canal (n = 25), and Group 2 to receive the injection through a new method, i.e., injection right after penetrating the sacrococcygeal ligament (n = 24). Ultrasound was used to identify the sacral hiatus and to achieve accurate needle placement according to the allocated groups. Contrast dyed fluoroscopy was obtained to evaluate the epidural spread of injected materials and to monitor the possible complications.ResultsThe success rates of the caudal injections were 68.0% in Group 1 and 95.8% in Group 2 (P = 0.023). The incidences of intravascular injections were 24.0% in Group 1 and 0% in Group 2 (P = 0.022). No intrathecal injection was found in either of the two groups.ConclusionsThe new caudal epidural injection technique tested in this study is a reliable alternative, with a higher success rate and lower risk of accidental intravascular injection than the conventional technique.

Ketamine inhibited KATP channel activity in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that ketamine may attenuate the cardioprotective effects of the KATP channel during ischemia and reperfusion in the rat myocardium.

BackgroundAlthough the positive effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate administration on clinical outcomes followingmajor surgery have been reported continuously, there are few investigations of them in minor surgical patients. Thepresent study was designed to examine the effects of preoperative oral carbohydrate administration on patient well-beingand satisfaction in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.MethodsFifty adults aged 20–65 years and scheduled for elective thyroidectomy in first schedule in the morning wereallocated to one of two groups. The Control group (n = 25) was requested to obey traditional preoperative fasting aftermidnight prior to the day of surgery. The Carbohydrate group (n = 25) also fasted overnight but drank 400 ml of carbohydrate-richdrink 2 hours before induction of anesthesia. Patient well-being (thirst, hunger, mouth dryness, nauseaand vomiting, fatigue, anxiety and sleep quality) and satisfaction were assessed just before the operating room admission(preoperative) and 6 hours following surgery (postoperative). Other secondary outcomes including oral Schirmer’s testand plasma glucose concentrations were also evaluated.ResultsThe two groups were homogenous in patient characteristics. Seven parameters representing patient well-beingevaluated on NRS (0–10) and patient satisfaction scored on a 5-point scale were not statistically different between thetwo groups preoperatively and postoperatively. There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes.ConclusionsPreoperative oral carbohydrate administration does not appear to improve patient well-being and satisfactioncompared with midnight fasting in patients undergoing thyroidectomy in first schedule in the morning.

BackgroundAlthough the use of postoperative opioids is a well-known risk factor for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), few studies have been performed on the effects of intraoperative opioids on PONV. We examined the effects of a single bolus administration of fentanyl during anesthesia induction and the intraoperative infusion of remifentanil on PONV.MethodsTwo hundred and fifty women, aged 20 to 65 years and scheduled for thyroidectomy, were allocated to a control group (Group C), a single bolus administration of fentanyl 2 µg/kg during anesthesia induction (Group F), or 2 ng/ ml of effect-site concentration-controlled intraoperative infusion of remifentanil (Group R) groups. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N2O. The incidence and severity of PONV and use of rescue antiemetics were recorded at 2, 6, and 24 h postoperatively.ResultsGroup F showed higher incidences of nausea (60/82, 73% vs. 38/77, 49%; P = 0.008), vomiting (40/82, 49% vs. 23/77 30%; P = 0.041) and the use of rescue antiemetics (47/82, 57% vs. 29/77, 38%; P = 0.044) compared with Group C at postoperative 24 h. However, there were no significant differences in the incidence of PONV between Groups C and R. The overall incidences of PONV for postoperative 24 h were 49%, 73%, and 59% in Groups C, F, and R, respectively (P = 0.008).ConclusionsA single bolus administration of fentanyl 2 µg/kg during anesthesia induction increases the incidence of PONV, but intraoperative remifentanil infusion with 2 ng/ml effect-site concentration did not affect the incidence of PONV.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ketorolac on the incidence and severity of emergence agitation in children recovering from sevoflurane anesthesia.MethodsEighty-five children aged 3 to 7 years were randomly assigned to the control group or the ketorolac group (1 mg/kg ketorolac). The children were evaluated by the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium Scale and a four-point agitation scale.ResultsThe median agitation scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. The overall incidence of emergence agitation was similar in the two groups (41% in the control group vs. 32% in the ketorolac group, P = 0.526). The number of children who received rescue drugs for treatment of emergence agitation was not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionsThe administration of 1 mg/kg of ketorolac is not effective in decreasing the incidence and severity of emergence agitation in children aged 3 to 7 years after sevoflurane anesthesia.