Background Postoperative sore throat is one of the common postoperative complications following general anesthesia. Postoperative sore throat causes decreased patient satisfaction, and it affects patients’ well-being after surgery, thus identifying its incidence and predictors helps to distinguish the preventable causes of postoperative sore throat. This study aimed to assess the incidence and associated factors of postoperative sore throat among pediatric patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted among children in the age range 6–16 years old who underwent emergency and elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software packages. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the independent predictors. The presence and severity of postoperative sore throat were assessed by using a four-point categorical pain scale at the 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 24th-hour postoperative time. Results A total of 102 children were recruited in this study, from which 27 children (26.5%) complained of sore throat postoperatively. This study found that endotracheal intubation (P value: 0.030; AOR: 3.155; 95% CI [1.114–8.933]) and several attempts greater than one (P value: 0.027 and AOR: 4.890; 95% CI: [1.203–19.883]) had statistically significant association with a postoperative sore throat. Conclusion The overall incidence of postoperative sore throat was 26.5%. Endotracheal intubation and the number of attempts greater than one were independent factors that were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative sore throat in this study.

Background: Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening condition associated with at least 5 min of continuous seizures or repeated seizures without regaining consciousness between episodes. It is a medical emergency with significant morbidity and mortality. The most common causes of SE are previous seizures, stroke, trauma, metabolic disorders, and central nervous system tumor. The aim of this review was to systematically review articles and ultimately develop evidence-based guidelines for the management of SE in resource-limited settings. Methods: This review was presented under the Protocol for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A literature search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Medline databases from 2007 to 2021. The keywords for the literature search were (SE or controlled clinical trial) AND (SE or randomized controlled trial), (SE or multicenter trial) AND (SE or meta-analysis) AND (SE or crossover study). Conclusion: SE is an urgent medical emergency that requires early recognition and aggressive treatment. Medical treatment is initiated when seizures continue for more than 5 min after all stabilization measures have been taken. Based on the available evidence, diazepam can be used as a substitute for lorazepam in the treatment of SE. Ketamine is effective when given before other anesthetics as a third-line treatment in refractory and very refractory epilepsy. Propofol reduced the number of days of mechanical ventilation in the treatment of SE and has better seizure control than thiopental. Music has been recommended as an adjunctive therapy for epilepsy medication.

Background Due to their advanced age and the prevalence of numerous co-morbid conditions, elderly patients scheduled for surgery are at risk for preoperative ECG abnormalities. Although preoperative ECG is frequently used to identify cardiovascular diseases and reduce intraoperative morbidity and mortality, its impact in predicting perioperative cardiovascular complications is under debate. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the impact of preoperative abnormal ECG on anesthesia management among older surgical patients in southern Ethiopia, 2022. Method ology: A multicenter prospective observational study on 246 elderly surgical patients recruited consecutively was conducted at three teaching hospitals in southern Ethiopia. Data were entered into Epidata version 4.6, then exported and analyzed in STATA version 16. The data was presented in the appropriate manner, using numbers, frequencies, tables, charts, and figures. To test categorical variables, the Chi-square test was used. P-values of 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result In this study, 120 (48.78%) of older surgical patients had abnormal preoperative ECGs. In terms of severity, 55.3% were classified as minor, while 44.16% were major ECG abnormalities. 26 (21.66%) of patients with abnormal ECG were decided as unfit for anesthesia and reasons for the decision were the need for further investigation, consultation, and optimization. In addition, 7.31% of patients were delayed due to an abnormal ECG with a mean operative delay of 4.23 days. Preoperative abnormal ECG influenced the decision of anesthesia plan in four (1.62%) of the cases. Patients with an abnormal ECG prior to surgery were more likely to experience an intraoperative arrhythmia (p-value = 0.001). Conclusion and recommendation: Almost half (48.78%) of elderly patients presenting for surgery have an abnormal ECG, which impacts patients by postponing surgery and necessitating further investigation. Preoperative ECG is recommended prior to any elective surgery as early as 50 years, especially for those with risk factors. Highlights

Background: The prevalence of abnormal electrocardiography (ECG) increases with aging, and these abnormalities may have an impact on anesthesia management. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of preoperative abnormal electrocardiography among older surgical patients at selected teaching hospitals in southern Ethiopia, from February 15 to June 15, 2022. Methodology: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted on 246 elderly surgical patients. A binary logistic regression model was used, and a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: In the current study, 120 (48.78%) of older surgical patients had abnormal preoperative ECGs. In terms of severity, 44.16% were with major ECG abnormalities. The most common ECG abnormalities were left axis deviation, left ventricular hypertrophy, and ST segment changes. The presence of comorbidity (AOR=3.44, P =0.001), age ≥70 years (AOR=2.5, P=0.011), history of angina (AOR=5.9, P=0.011), history of smoking (AOR=5.07, P=0.024) and urban residency (AOR=1.89, P=0.039) were associated factors for an abnormal ECG. Conclusion and recommendation: Our study showed that the prevalence of preoperative abnormal ECG increased with age, even in asymptomatic patients with no risk factors and younger than 65 years. Therefore, a preoperative ECG is advisable in all older patients.

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