Spouses and family members of relatively young patients had higher rates of anxiety and depression. In contrast to the literature, depression was more common than anxiety among the relatives of ICU patients. Further research is needed on the impact of cultural and regional differences on anxiety and depression rates in family members of ICU patients.

Background We aimed to evaluate pain scores one year after impar ganglion block in patients with coccydynia who did not benefit from conservative treatment. Methods The medical records of 29 patients with coccydynia were reviewed. Patients who were referred to the algology clinic and underwent impar ganglion blocks were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic data, time to the onset of pain, causes of pain, X-ray findings, administered invasive procedures, and visual analog scale (pain) scores were recorded. Results A total of 29 patients were included in the study, 10 males (34%) and 19 females (66%). The average age and body mass index were 53.45 ± 9.6 and 29.55 ± 4.21 respectively. In 21 patients, the onset of pain was associated with trauma. Nineteen patients (65.5%) had anterior coccygeal angulation. The average visual analog scale score before undergoing an impar ganglion block was 7.4 ± 1. After the procedure, the scores at < 3 months, 3–6 months and 6 months-1 year follow-up intervals were significantly lower (p < 0.05). Furthermore, visual analog scale scores at the 3–6 months and 6 months-1 year periods were significantly lower in patients who received diagnostic blocks plus pulse radiofrequency thermocoagulation than in patients who underwent a diagnostic block only. Conclusions The impar ganglion block provides effective analgesia without complications in patients with coccydynia. Pulse radiofrequency thermocoagulation combined with a diagnostic block prolongs the analgesic effect of the procedure.

Purpose The incidence, patient features, risk factors and outcomes of surgery-associated postoperative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) across different countries and health care systems is unclear. Methods We conducted an international prospective, observational, multi-center study in 30 countries in patients undergoing major surgery (> 2-h duration and postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) or high dependency unit admission). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of PO-AKI within 72 h of surgery defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Secondary endpoints included PO-AKI severity and duration, use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality, and ICU and hospital length of stay. Results We studied 10,568 patients and 1945 (18.4%) developed PO-AKI (1236 (63.5%) KDIGO stage 1500 (25.7%) KDIGO stage 2209 (10.7%) KDIGO stage 3). In 33.8% PO-AKI was persistent, and 170/1945 (8.7%) of patients with PO-AKI received RRT in the ICU. Patients with PO-AKI had greater ICU (6.3% vs. 0.7%) and hospital (8.6% vs. 1.4%) mortality, and longer ICU (median 2 (Q1-Q3, 1–3) days vs. 3 (Q1-Q3, 1–6) days) and hospital length of stay (median 14 (Q1-Q3, 9–24) days vs. 10 (Q1-Q3, 7–17) days). Risk factors for PO-AKI included older age, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease), type, duration and urgency of surgery as well as intraoperative vasopressors, and aminoglycosides administration. Conclusion In a comprehensive multinational study, approximately one in five patients develop PO-AKI after major surgery. Increasing severity of PO-AKI is associated with a progressive increase in adverse outcomes. Our findings indicate that PO-AKI represents a significant burden for health care worldwide. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00134-023-07169-7.

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the effects of two different doses of intraarticular ketamine on visual analog scale (VAS) scores at rest and movement, time to first analgesic requirement, and 24-h morphine consumption in patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy as well as to assess the frequency of postoperative nausea&vomiting, respiratory depression, pruritus, urinary retention, and constipation and to compare the time to discharge. Patients and methods This prospective randomized double- blind study was performed between August 2013 and August 2014 on 75 patients (32 males, 43 females; mean age 46.7±13 years; range, 18 to 75 years) with American Society of Anesthesiologists scores of I-II scheduled for unilateral meniscectomy. Patients were randomized to receive 0.5 mg.kg -1 ketamine (group K1), 1 mg.kg -1 ketamine (group K2) or saline (group S) to a total volume of 20 mL intraarticularly at the end of the surgery. All patients were performed periarticular 10 mL 0.5% bupivacaine infiltration. Visual analog scale at rest and during passive knee movement was used to evaluate pain both preoperatively and at postoperative 0, 30 min, and 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h. Time to first analgesic requirement and morphine consumption were recorded. Results Visual analog scale scores at rest and during movement at postoperative 0 were significantly reduced in group K2 compared with group S (p<0.05). The first analgesic requirement time was significantly longer in group K1 (76.9±25.2 min) and group K2 (93.4±26.1 min) than group S (29.3±7.1 min). Morphine consumption was lower in group K2 compared to group K1 and group S at postoperative 30 min, and 1 and 2 h. However, 24-h morphine consumption was similar in all groups. Conclusion Intraarticular injection of 0.5 mg.kg -1 and 1 mg.kg -1 ketamine for postoperative pain management provided similar analgesic efficacy. However, high dose ketamine more noticeably decreased opioid requirement in the early postoperative period.