An appropriate hemostatic dressing for prehospital use should lower mortality due to uncontrolled hemorrhage. In this study, the investigators explored the hemostatic effects of Microporous Polysaccharide Hemosphere (MPH) applied in a rat model with severe femoral artery bleeding. Twelve rats were randomly assigned to MPH and control groups: The femoral artery of each rat was pierced to initiate bleeding. Then, 0.25 g MPH was poured into the bleeding site. A 200-g scale weight was placed over the bleeding site for 30 sec. At 30-sec intervals, the scale weight was removed, and hemostasis was assessed visually. After 30 sec, if the bleeding had ceased, the test was scored and checked as "passed at 30 sec." If the bleeding had not stopped, the same procedures were repeated a maximum of 3 times. If hemostasis could not be achieved even after the third application, the test was scored as failed. The same sequence of procedures was repeated for the control group without use of MPH and with only standard compression. Application of MPH resulted in complete control of bleeding in 2 of 6, 4 of 6, and 6 of 6 rats at 30, 60, and 90 sec, respectively. In the control group, however, hemostasis could not be achieved in all 6 rats, even at 90 sec. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P=.007). Application of MPH and compression with a scale weight significantly decreased the time of hemostasis in the rat model with femoral arterial bleeding.

The present study is unique because it has demonstrated that chronic intrathecal administration of ketorolac tromethamine in rats, even at considerably large doses, showed a potent analgesic effect during the formalin test without exhibiting any neurotoxic side effect.

BackgroundPatent ductus arteriosus is a common congenital cardiac condition. Its importance is mostly underestimated and accepted as an “easy” heart disease. Physiological consequences of pulmonary overflow may cause severe mortality in premature neonates. Accurate timing of surgical intervention is essential to decrease the mortality in very low birth weight premature infants. On-site surgery in the intensive care units (ICUs) results excellent surgical quality without jeopardizing the safety of the patients.MethodsWe have summarized the clinical and operative data of 26 premature neonates (<37 weeks of gestational age), which were operated for the diagnosis of PDA in the ICUs of Dokuz Eylül University. Thirteen low birth weight infants (<1000 gr) have been compared with remaining 13 neonates (>1000 gr).ResultsThere was no surgical mortality in both groups. Co-existing problems were observed in both groups, which did not affect surgical mortality and morbidity.ConclusionsSurgery in the ICU is a safe method for premature neonates with physiologically significant PDA. This technique should be the method of choice in experienced centers.

Gastrointestinal dialysis with multiple-dose activated charcoal without cathartics appeared to shorten the elimination half-life of vancomycin.

Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) is a simple, surgeon-administered technique for the treatment of postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of LIA and its effects on functional outcomes in TKA. A total of 135 patients with primary TKA were recruited and randomized either to receive LIA or to receive placebo injection (PI). Pain, active range of motion (ROM), knee function score, functional activities, and hospital length of stay (LOS) were assessed before surgery and from postoperative day (POD) 1 to at discharge. Lower pain scores at rest were recorded on POD1 and POD2 in the LIA group (p = 0.027 and p = 0.020, respectively). Lower pain score on walking was recorded on POD1 in the LIA group (p = 0.002). There was a statistically significant difference in active knee flexion between groups on POD1 (p = 0.038). There was a significant difference in LOS between LIA and PI groups. Shorter stay was seen in LIA group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of knee function score and functional outcomes. LIA technique is effective for pain management in the early postoperative period. LIA added benefit for knee function in terms of active knee flexion ROM after TKA. A shorter hospital LOS was observed in LIA group. However, we did not find any differences in groups in terms of functional assessment such as ability to rise from a chair and walking capacity.The level of evidence is randomized controlled trial, level I.

This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to compare the recovery characteristics of remifentanil and fentanyl in combination with propofol for direct current cardioversion. Patients undergoing elective cardioversion received either intravenous fentanyl 1 µg/kg (n=33) or remifentanil 0.25 µg/kg (n=30) and propofol was titrated to a Ramsay sedation score of 5 by slow intravenous injection. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures decreased significantly following sedation in both groups but did not show a significant difference between the groups. Time to answer a question (306±83 vs 383±131s, mean±SD, P=0.014) and time to sit up (412±90 vs 511±126s, P=0.002) were significantly shorter in the remifentanil group compared to the fentanyl group. Side-effects and patient discomfort were similar for both groups. Remifentanil can be used as a suitable supplement to propofol for direct current cardioversion and may provide a faster recovery profile than fentanyl.

Bu çalışmada açık kalp ameliyatlarında perkütan internal jugüler ven kanülasyonunun kullanımı değerlendirildi ve kullanılan kanül ve işlemle ilgili deneyimlerimiz bildirildi. Ça lış mapla nı:Şubat 2010-Ekim 2012 tarihleri arasında perkütan internal jugüler ven kanülasyonu ile ameliyat edilen 42 hasta (23 erkek, 19 kadın; ort. yaş 45±21.9 yıl; dağılım 2-82 yıl) retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Arteriyel kullanım için tasarlanmış Edwards ® Fem-Flex II perkütan femoral arter kanülleri kullanıldı. Kanülasyonlar Seldinger tekniği ile perkütan olarak yapıldı. Vücut yüzey alanı 1.7 m 2 altında olan erişkinlerde 16 Fr, 1.7 m 2 üstünde olan erişkinlerde 18 Fr kanüller kullanıldı. Hastaların 25'i minimal invaziv kalp cerrahisi yapılan hastalar, 17'si tekrar ameliyat gerektiren hastalardı. Superior vena kava drenajının yeterliliğini izlemek için sol internal jugüler venden ilerletilen kanüller ile santral venöz basınç kaydedildi. Bul gu lar: Çalışma grubunda hastane mortalitesi gözlenmedi. Tüm olgularda internal jugüler ven kanülasyonu majör bir perkütan komplikasyon olmadan başarı ile yapıldı. Üç hastada femoral ven kanülü tam yerleştirilemediği için medyan sternotomi sonrası ek atriyal kanül gerekti. On altı ve 18 Fr kanül konulan erişkin hastalar arasında santral ven basıncı ve vakum kullanılması açısından anlamlı bir fark gözlenmedi. So nuç:Femoral arter kanüllerinin internal jugülerden perkütan uygulanması, teknik olarak kolaydır ve ciddi bir komplikasyona yol açmadan uygulanabilir. Ayrıca superior vena kavanın yeterli drenajını sağlamakta ve sağ taraflı kardiyak yapıların atriyumun açılmasını gerektiren işlemlerin periferik vasküler kanüllerle yapılabilmesine olanak vermektedir. Anah tar söz cük ler: Kanülasyon; ekstrakorporeal dolaşım; internal jugüler ven; perkütan. Background: In this study, we evaluated the use of percutaneous internal jugular vein cannulation for open cardiac surgeries and reported our experience on the cannulation and the procedure. Methods: Between February 2010 and October 2012, 42 patients (23 males, 19 females; mean age 45±21.9 years; range 2-82 years) who were operated through percutaneous internal jugular vein cannulation were retrospectively analyzed. An Edwards ® Fem-Flex II percutaneous femoral artery cannula which was designed for arterial procedures was used. Cannulation was performed percutaneously with the Seldinger technique. Sixteen Fr cannulas were used for adults with a body surface area less than 1.7 m 2 , while 18 Fr cannulas were used for patients adults with a body surface area above 1.7 m 2. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery was performed on 25 patients, whereas redo operations were required in 17 patients. Central venous pressure was recorded by cannulae which were advanced through the left internal jugular vein to monitor the adequacy of superior vena cava drainage. Results: No hospital mortality was observed in the study group. Internal jugular venous cannulation was accomplished without a major percutaneous complication in all patients. An additional atrial cannula...

BackgroundAccidental intravenous exposure to bupivacaine is highly cardiotoxic and may lead to death. Positive inotropic agents are usually utilized in resuscitative efforts. We have compared the efficacy of levosimendan, a novel inotropic agent, with dobutamine and their combination in a rat model of bupivacaine intoxication.MethodsTwenty-eight male Wistar albino rats weighing between 250-300 g were divided into these four groups: control (C), levosimendan (L), dobutamine (D) and dobutamine+levosimendan (D+L). Bupivacaine was administered at a dose of 3 mg/kg/min until cardiac arrest occurred or for 120 min. ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, arterial blood gases, and end tidal CO2 levels were monitored. Levosimendan was administered as a bolus of 12 μg/kg for 10 min and continued as an infusion at 0.3 μg/kg/min. Dobutamine was infused at a dose of 3 μg/kg/min. The time required for a 50% and 75% decrease in heart rate and blood pressure with a total time to cardiac arrest and bupivacaine dose for obtaining cardiac arrest were analyzed.ResultsTime periods for heart rate reductions of 50% and 75% were significantly longer in groups L (903, 1198 s), D (984, 1542 s) and L+D (1705, 3152 s) compared with the control group (345, 538 s p < 0.001). Median times to mean blood pressure reductions of 50% and 75% were 399 - 504 s in the control group, 1005 -1204 s in group L, 685 - 1009 s in group D and 1544- 2982 s in group L+D, and the difference was significant compared with the control group. Median time duration to asystole was 703 s in the control group compared with 1385 s in group L, 1789 s in group D and 3557 s in group L+D. Time to cardiac arrest was significantly higher in all 3 study groups. It was also significantly higher in the L+D group compared with both groups L and D separately.ConclusionA combination of dobutamine with levosimendan significantly increased survival times in this bupivacaine-induced toxicity rat model compared with the control, levosimendan, and dobutamine groups.