BackgroundSurgery for aortic coarctation requires special care during anesthesia due to severe pain during the lateral thoracotomy incision, intraoperative hemodynamic instability and the need for large doses of intra- and postoperative analgesics and vasodilators. Additionally, the postoperative care of patients is very important.AimsWe aimed to compare ultrasound-guided paravertebral block performed using bupivacaine alone and bupivacaine with dexamethasone in terms of the intra- and postoperative analgesic requirements and hemodynamics, postoperative complications and ICU stay.Study designThis was a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blinded study.MethodsFifty patients aged four to 12 months scheduled for aortic coarctation surgery were randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 25). Patients in group D (dexamethasone) received 0.5 mg/kg bupivacaine 0.25% mixed with 0.1 mg/kg dexamethasone diluted with isotonic saline and those in group C (control) received 0.5 mg/kg bupivacaine 0.25% diluted with isotonic saline (total volume 15 ml in each group). Intraoperative fentanyl consumption and hemodynamics (heart rate, arterial blood pressure) at baseline, 1 min after induction, at skin incision, after 30 min, after clamping, after declamping and at the end of the surgery were recorded, along with the objective pain score (OPS) immediately postoperatively and at 4 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h postoperatively and the time to the first request for pethidine. The intra- and postoperative vasodilator doses, time to extubation, ICU stay duration and postoperative complications were also recorded.ResultsThe postoperative OPS was significantly lower at 12 and 24 h in group D than in group C. The time to the first request for analgesia was significantly longer in group D than in group C (3.9 ± 2.23 vs 8.6 ± 0.69). Additionally, the time to extubation was significantly shorter in group D.ConclusionThe use of dexamethasone as an adjuvant in ultrasound-guided paravertebral block in paediatric patients undergoing surgery for aortic coarctation increased the duration of postoperative analgesia with a prolonged time to the first request for analgesics It was also associated with a decreased incidence of postoperative complications.Trial registrationTrial registration number: NCT03074773. (Prospectively registered). The initial registration date was 9/3/2017.

No abstract

Background Increased lung water and the resultant atelectasis are significant pulmonary complications after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children undergoing cardiac surgery; these complications are observed after CPB than after anaesthesia alone. Ultrafiltration has been shown to decrease total body water and postoperative blood loss and improve the alveolar to arterial oxygen gradient and pulmonary compliance. This study investigated whether conventional ultrafiltration during CPB in paediatric heart surgeries influences post-bypass extravascular lung water (EVLW) assessed by lung ultrasound (LUS). Methods This randomized controlled study included 60 patients with congenital heart disease (ASA II-III), aged 1 to 48 months, with a body weight > 3 kg. Conventional ultrafiltration targeting a haematocrit (HCT) level of 28% was performed on the ultrafiltration group, while the control group did not receive ultrafiltration. LUS scores were recorded at baseline and at the end of surgery. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio (arterial oxygen tension divided by the fraction of inspired oxygen), urine output, and haemodynamic parameters were also recorded. Results LUS scores were comparable between the two groups both at baseline ( p = 0.92) and at the end of surgery ( p = 0.95); however, within the same group, the scores at the end of surgery significantly differed from their baseline values in both the ultrafiltration ( p = 0.01) and non-ultrafiltration groups ( p = 0.02). The baseline PaO2/FiO2 ratio was comparable between both groups. at the end of surgery, The PaO2/FiO2 ratio increased in the ultrafiltration group compared to that in the non-ultrafiltration group, albeit insignificant ( p = 0.16). no correlation between the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and LUS score was found at baseline (r = − 0.21, p = 0.31). On the other hand, post-surgical measurements were negatively correlated (r = − 0.41, p = 0.045). Conclusion Conventional ultrafiltration did not alter the EVLW when assessed by LUS and oxygenation state. Similarly, ultrafiltration did not affect the urea and creatinine levels, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, ventilation days, or mortality. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03146143 registered on 29-April-2017.

Background: We evaluated furosemide on attenuating lung injury and/or edema during coarctation repair surgery. We evaluated dynamic lung compliance. We measured the degree of lung edema by means of lung ultrasound (LUS). We recorded the (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio) as an indicator for oxygenation. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted on 56 patients. Patients were divided into two groups: control group (Group C) which did not receive furosemide and furosemide group (Group F) at a dose of 1 mg/kg at induction of anesthesia. Dynamic lung compliance was calculated at induction (Cdyn 1) and at the end of the surgery (Cdyn 2). The (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio) was calculated at start and end of surgery as (PF 1) and (PF 2), respectively. LUS was performed after induction (LUS 1) and at the end of the surgery. LUS 2 using the 12 regions method plotting the results on scale from 0 to 36. Mechanical ventilation days were recorded. Results: Administering furosemide attenuated the lung injury/edema and other pulmonary complications. Furosemide administration improved the dynamic lung compliance in the F Group compared to the C Group. Furthermore, it increased the (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio) in the F Group compared to the C Group. LUS scale values were lower in the F Group compared to the C Group. There was also less postoperative mechanical ventilation days. Conclusions: The use of furosemide was accompanied by improved lung injury/edema profile as indicated by a much less drop in dynamic lung compliance, better oxygenation, a more favorable LUS scale with less parenchymal lung affection.

No abstract