The results of the present study demonstrate that pre-emptive epidural ketamine is effective in reducing intra- and postoperative analgesic requirements, hyperalgesia and touch allodynia.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to analyse the epidemiological and demographic features, prognosis and length of stay of patients admitted to the hospital ICU with poisoning over a two-year period. Materials and Methods: Patients accepted to the ICU with poisoning from 1 January, 2008-1 January, 2011 were evaluated according to their demographic characteristics, ethology, admission time to emergency service and length of stay in the ICU. Results: Seventy-six (70.4%) of 108 patients who were accepted to the ICU with poisoning were female and 32 (29.6%) were male. The mean age was 27.9 years. Eightyseven percent of all patients were drug overdoses as suicide attempts; 64.90% of these patients took multiple drugs and 35.10% took one kind of drug. The most frequent drug combination were antidepressants and NSAIDs. Four of the patients were exposed to carbon monoxide, five to mushrooms, three to insecticides, one to methanol and there was one case of honey intoxication. The mean admission time to the emergency department was 4.4 hours, while the mean time for ICU admission was 2.4 hours. The mean duration of stay in the ICU was 2.7 days. Antidotes were used in 100 patients, six patients were intubated and one patient died. The mortality rate was 0.92%. Conclusion: Cases of poisoning admitted to the ICU with a drug overdose as a suicide attempt were mostly young women. The most common agents were NSAIDs and antidepressants. With this retrospective study, we determined the patient profile for intoxication cases in our ICU and also we have a chance of self-evaluation. (Yoğun Bakım Derg 2011; 3: 59-62)

The incidence of HAI in the ICU of our hospital was high, compared to the Turkish overall rates obtained at the Refik Saydam Center in 2007. When the rates of device-related infections between 2007 and 2008 were compared, they were higher in 2007. The rates of device-related infections were diminished in 2008 to below-national mean rates by infection control measures. Since the rate of urinary catheter-related infections are still high, we should exert continuous efforts for infection control.

Propofol-ketamine combination is an advantageous choice in means of achieving sedation in a shorter period of time, a better hemodynamic stability, less nausea and vomiting and respiratory complication rates. Yet it seems that this choice might be related with longer recovery duration.

Purpose: Postoperative pain and nausea/vomitting (PNV) are common in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients. Sympatholytic agents might decrease requirements for intravenous or inhalation anesthetics and opioids. In this study we aimed to analyze effects of esmolol on intraoperative anesthetic-postoperative analgesic requirements, postoperative pain and PNV. Methods: Sixty patients have been included. Propofol, remifentanil and vecuronium were used for induction. Study groups were as follows; I ---Esmolol infusion was added to maintenance anesthetics (propofol and remifentanil), II ---Only propofol and remifentanil was used during maintenance, III ---Esmolol infusion was added to maintenance anesthetics (desflurane and remifentanil), IV ---Only desflurane and remifentanil was used during maintenance. They have been followed up for 24 h for PNV and analgesic requirements. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain was also been evaluated. Results: VAS scores were significantly lowest in group I (p = 0.001---0.028). PNV incidence was significantly lowest in group I (p = 0.026). PNV incidence was also lower in group III compared to group IV (p = 0.032). Analgesic requirements were significantly lower in group I and was lower in group III compared to group IV (p = 0.005). Heart rates were significantly lower in esmolol groups (group I and III) compared to their controls (p = 0.001) however blood pressures were similar in all groups (p = 0.594). Comparison of esmolol groups with controls revealed that there is a significant decrease in anesthetic and opioid requirements (p = 0.024---0.03). Conclusion: Using esmolol during anesthetic maintenance significantly decreases anestheticanalgesic requirements, postoperative pain and PNV.Esmolol; Dor no pós-operatório; Vômito no pós-operatório Efeito da infusão de esmolol sobre a necessidade de anestesia no intraoperatório e analgesia, náusea e vômito no pós-operatório em um grupo de pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia laparoscópica Resumo Objetivo: A dor e a incidência de náusea e vômito no período pós-operatório (NVP) são comuns em pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia laparoscópica. Os agentes simpatolíticos podem diminuir a necessidade de opiáceos ou anestésicos inalatórios ou intravenosos. Neste estudo, nosso objetivo foi analisar os efeitos de esmolol sobre a necessidade de anestésico no período intraoperatório e de analgésico no pós-operatório e a incidência de dor e NVP. Métodos: Sessenta pacientes foram incluídos. Propofol, remifentanil e vecurônio foram usados para a indução. Os grupos de estudo foram os seguintes: grupo I, a infusão de esmolol foi adicionada aos anestésicos (propofol e remifentanil) para manutenção; grupo II, apenas propofol e remifentanil foram usados durante a manutenção; grupo III, a infusão de esmolol foi adicionada aos anestésicos (desflurano e remifentanil) para manutenção; grupo IV, apenas desflurano e remifentanil foram usados durante a manutenção. O período de acompanhamento foi de 24 horas para avaliar a incidência de NVP e a necessidade ...

The incidence of HAI in the ICU of our hospital was high, compared to the Turkish overall rates obtained at the Refik Saydam Center in 2007. When the rates of device-related infections between 2007 and 2008 were compared, they were higher in 2007. The rates of device- related infections were diminished in 2008 to below-national mean rates by infection control measures. Since the rate of urinary catheter-related infections are still high, we should exert continuous efforts for infection control.

spinal saddle block using hyperbaric levobupivacaine with both 12.5 μg and 25 μg fentanyl provided good quality of anesthesia without motor block for anorectal surgery in the prone position.

The incidence of HAI in the ICU of our hospital was high, compared to the Turkish overall rates obtained at the Refik Saydam Center in 2007. When the rates of device-related infections between 2007 and 2008 were compared, they were higher in 2007. The rates of device-related infections were diminished in 2008 to below-national mean rates by infection control measures. Since the rate of urinary catheter-related infections are still high, we should exert continuous efforts for infection control.