: Opioids are mu receptor agonists and have been an important part of pain treatment for thousands of years. In order to use these drugs appropriately and successfully in patients, whether to control pain, to treat opiate-induced side effects, or opiate withdrawal syndromes, a solid understanding of the pharmacology of such drugs is crucial. The most recognized full agonist opioids are heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, meperidine, and fentanyl. Phenanthrenes refer to a naturally occurring plant-based compound that includes three or more fused rings. The opioids derived from the opium plant are phenanthrene derivatives, whereas most synthetic opioids are simpler molecules that do not have multiple rings. Methadone acts as a synthetic opioid analgesic similar to morphine in both quality and quantity; however, methadone lasts longer and in oral form, has higher efficacy, and is considered a diphenylheptane. Fentanyl is a strong synthetic phenylpiperdine derivative that exhibits activity as a mu-selective opioid agonist approximately 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Meperidine is another medication which is a phenylpiperdine. Tramadol is considered a mixed-mechanism opioid drug, as it is a centrally acting analgesic that exerts its effects via binding mu receptors and blocking the reuptake of monoamines. Some of the most common adverse effects shared among all opioids are nausea, vomiting, pruritus, addiction, respiratory depression, constipation, sphincter of Oddi spasm, and miosis (except in the case of meperidine). Chronic opioid usage has also established a relationship to opioid-induced hypogonadism and adrenal suppression. Physicians must be stewards of opioid use and use opioids only when necessary.

Background: The prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, mortality, and healthcare costs. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the elevation of head of bed (HOB) to 30 and 45 degreess on the incidence of VAP. Methods: This study was a 3 group controlled randomized clinical trial. It consisted of 120 patients who were under mechanical ventilation and hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) from February to July 2016 in the selected governmental hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences. The patients were allocated into 3 groups. The patients of intervention groups received interventions consisting of HOB elevation to 30 and 45 degreess for 3 consecutive days. The patients in the control group were in the routine position in the bed for 3 consecutive days. The HOB elevation was measured using the goniometer and recorded by nurses in perticular forms. At the end of the third day, VAP and pressure ulcers were evaluated using the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) as well as Braden scales. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Statistically significant differences were reported in terms of VAP between the groups of the HOB evelation to 30 degrees (32.50%) and 45 degrees (20.00%) and control groups (52.50%) (P = 0.01). However, the mean scores of pressure ulcer showed no statistically significant differences between the groups (P = 0.625). The greatest change in position was performed by the staff nurses

No abstract

: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was first experienced in 1938 and had been conducting without anesthesia for 30 years. In this study, the most common indication for ECT was mood disorder (major depressive disorder and bipolar I disorder). We introduce a patient with a history of COVID-19 and suicide who required emergency ECT. Electroconvulsive therapy can be life-saving in patients with suicide history or catatonic schizophrenia. Health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak control and must follow health instructions. Aerosol-producing procedures such as suction in anesthesia for ECT may facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. When performing aerosol-producing procedures during the pandemic of novel coronavirus, every patient should be considered suspicious.

Background and Aims:The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of high-fat enteral feeding on glycemic control and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: a randomized clinical trial.Materials and Methods:This study was done on 42 normoglycemic patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Patients were randomly classified into three groups of 14 each. Control group (A) received carbohydrate-based diet (protein: 20%, fat: 30%, and carbohydrate: 50%), study groups received two types of high-fat diet; Group B (protein: 20%, fat: 45% including half of olive oil and half sunflower oil, and carbohydrate: 35%); and Group C (protein: 20%, fat: 45% including sunflower oil, and carbohydrate: 35%) in the first 48 h of admission.Results:Basal characteristics of participants were the same. After the feeding trial, there was no difference between the groups in mean plasma and capillary glucose levels and insulin requirements. Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level was increased significantly in Group B on day 10 compared to admission level (40.75 ± 5.58 vs. 43.56 ± 2.25, P = 0.05). We did not find any difference in organ failure involvement and mortality rate between groups. The number of ICU free days was significantly more in Group B compared to the control group (P = 0.04).Conclusion:High-fat diets have no preventive effect on stress hyperglycemia. High monounsaturated fat diet may increase serum HDL-cholesterol level and decrease the length of stay in ICU.

Background: Earlier studies have suggested the liberal administration of fluids in favor of reducing the risk of rhabdomyolysis in obese patients, but the results are conflicting. Objectives: The present study aimed at comparing the effects of liberal and restrictive fluid therapy on renal indices in laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Methods: In a double-blinded randomized clinical trial, 72 candidates of bariatric surgery were randomly assigned into two groups of restrictive and liberal fluid therapy. Indices, including BUN, creatinine, creatine kinase, GFR, and urine output were measured before and 24 hours after the surgery. The clinical trial was registered at IRCT.ir under code IRCT20170109031852N3. Results: There was no significant difference in BUN, creatinine, creatinine kinase, and GFR indices between the two groups of liberal and restrictive fluid therapy both before and 24 hours after surgery (P > 0.05). Intragroup comparisons before and after surgery revealed that BUN decreased in both groups after the surgery (P < 0.05). Also, creatinine and GFR values improved in patients who received a liberal fluid regimen, whereas these indices remained statistically unchanged in the restrictive group before and 24 hours after the surgery (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Two methods of liberal and restrictive fluid therapy have comparable effects on traditional renal functional indices in laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The clinical significance of observed differences in outcomes should be investigated in further studies. The use of early biomarkers of acute kidney injury is warranted.

Background & Aim: The prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and healthcare costs. One of the interventions is raising the head of bed (HOB) to 45 degrees. This study was perfomed with the aim of determining the effect of the HOB elevation to 45 degree on the incidence of VAP on hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Materials & Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial. It consisted of 80 patients who were under mechanical ventilation and hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from February to July 2016 in the selected governmental hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences. The samples were assigned to two groups, i.e. control and intervention, using a randomised block method. The patients in intervention and control groups had HOB elevation to 45 degree and routine position for three consecutive days. In both groups, HOB elevation in every shift was measured using the goniometer and was recorded by nurses in the angel of bed form. At the end of the third day, ventilator-associated pneumonia was evaluated, using the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS). Data analysis was performed with chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and T-Test via SPSS v.20. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between two groups with regard to VAP (P-value=0.002). The incidence of VAP were 52.5% in the control group and 20% in the intervention group. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, HOB elevation of 45 degree were effective in preventing VAP. Hence, it is recommended that the patients hospitalized in ICU,and under mechanical ventilation, should be positioned 45 degree according to their conditions.

Background: Treatment of multi-drug-resistant strains of pneumonia with common antibiotics in renal patients is aborted and physicians are compelled to use Colistin for such cases. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the mortality, length of stay, and renal damages in the treatment of multi-drugresistant pneumonia with Colistin among multiple trauma patients admitted to the emergency department and transferred to the ICU. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2011 and 2016. 102 multiple trauma (MT) patients with multidrug-resistant strains of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) admitted to the emergency department then transferred to the ICU were assessed. All patients received Colistin according to their weight. Renal damage was evaluated according to the RIFLE criteria. The mortality and the length of stay were assessed. In order to statistically analyze the data, SPSS version 23 software was used to conduct t-test and chi-square test. Results: Out of 102 patients, 55 (54%) died and 50 (49.1%) developed acute renal failure; 64 cases had no hypertension. Patients according to the RIFLE index were assessed: Risk (11.01%), Injury (14%), Failure (18%), Loss (6%), and End-stage renal disease. The prevalence and prognosis of acute kidney injury in multiple trauma patients treated with Colistin were significantly correlated with drug dosage, body mass index, and use of corticosteroids (when assessed using relevant scoring systems, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The use of a scoring system in the intensive care unit, determining those patients requiring Colistin, and adjusting the dosage of this drug for treatment of MT patients with multi-drug resistant strains of HAP are vital. Creatinine levels must be carefully monitored.