Archives of Anesthesiology and Critical Care
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Winter 2022

Tracheal intubation is a life-saving action in situations such as respiratory failure. However, this therapeutic approach may produce a series of side effects and physiological stress, such as pain, insomnia, anxiety, fear, etc.

The present study is a qualitative research with a content analysis method conducted for a period of two years. This study's required information has been collected using non-structured face-to-face interviews with 22 patients hospitalized in emergency and intensive care units. The data were analyzed using open coding and MAXQDA 12.

Findings from the interviews' were divided into two main categories of mental and physical experiences. Mental experiences are divided into 12 sub-categories and physical experiences into 7 sub-categories, each of them is also divided into further categories. Inability to speak is the most frequent complaint of patients in this study. The pain was the most common physical complaint of patients, mostly due to pain in the organs and pain due to blood sampling.

Despite special training of medical staff in emergency and intensive care units to take care of patients and to obviate their special needs, it is observing that some patients under certain conditions such as intubation still face many unmet needs.

Laryngoscopy and intubation cause activation of the sympathetic nervous system and can results in tachycardia, arrhythmias and hypertension. Hypertensive patients demonstrate a relatively greater rise in catecholamine secretion and an increased sensitivity to them. Aim of the study is to compare the haemodynamic stress response associated with orotracheal intubation using videolaryngoscope or Macintosh laryngoscope in controlled hypertensive patients.

Sixty hypertensive, American Society of Anesthesiologist’s class II, patients were randomly divided in to two groups. In group V (videolaryngoscope), intubation was done with i-scope videolaryngoscope. In group M (Macintosh), intubation was done using Macintosh laryngoscope. Primary objectives of the study pulse rate (PR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean blood pressure (MBP) were noted immediately after and at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 minutes after intubation.

The demographic data were comparable in both groups. There was no significant difference at baseline for mean (SD) PR, SBP, DBP and MBP at baseline and after induction/before intubation (p>0.05). The mean (SD) PR, SBP, DBP and MBP were significantly higher in Macintosh laryngoscope group as compared to i-scope videolaryngoscope immediately after intubation, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 minutes after intubation (p<0.001).

We found that intubation with the use of i-scope videolaryngoscope results in less haemodynamic stress response than Macintosh laryngoscope in controlled hypertensive patients.

Data regarding sudden surge of mucormycosis cases with COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on anaesthesia management are lacking. This retrospective study was designed to analyze the number and characteristics of patients posted for mucormycosis surgery in COVID19 pandemic while emphasizing upon the anaesthesia concerns.

Data was collected from all patients who were admitted with mucormycosis in our institute from the year 2020 onwards. Further analysis of patients who were surgically treated was carried out in terms of demographic characteristics, association with COVID19 and perioperative course of mucormycosis and anaesthetic management. All statistical analyses were performed with the Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25·0 software.

We report an incidence of 30 operated patients of the average age 52.60 years with mucormycosis from August 2020 to May 2021. Diabetes as a comorbidity was common (86.90%).  Previous infection with COVID-19 was observed in 29 (96.60%) out of which 80% patients had residual pulmonary involvement. Concomitant medical therapy with Amphotericin B was received by 90% patients and subsequently 70% had deranged renal profile. While 20 % patients had compromised airway, 60 % required blood transfusion and 76.6% patients were electively ventilated while 1 patient (3.3%) succumbed amounting to a survival rate of 96.6%.

To conclude elderly male diabetic patients with history of COVID19 infection is the most vulnerable population for developing mucormycosis. Airway management, glycemic control, concomitant Amphotericin B therapy and intraoperative bleeding are the major challenges for anaesthesiologist along with an element of post Covid respiratory compromise.

Maternal hypotension due to spinal anaesthesia in caesarean section is commonly seen. Alongwith fluid loading, phenylephrine is used to manage the hypotension. However, this drug is associated with cardiovascular side effects.

This is a prospective double blinded study which was conducted on 100 term parturients scheduled from elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia, randomly assigned into two groups. After spinal anaesthesia patients of group N and P were treated with norepinephrine (5mcg) and phenylephrine (50mcg) respectively as an IV bolus for hypotension. Blood pressure, heart rate, number of bolus doses given, and neonatal APGAR score was noted.

 Patients of both groups were comparable with respect to haemodynamic parameters (HR, SBP, DBP, AND MAP). Incidence of bradycardia was higher in group P (22%, n=11) compared to group N (14%, n=7). Neonatal APGAR scores at different time intervals were similar in both groups.

Intermittent boluses of norepinephrine were effective in the treatment of spinal anaesthesia induced hypotension during caesarean section and can be considered as an alternative to phenylephrine.

This study used advanced hemodynamic monitoring along with simultaneous echocardiography to assess donated heart function of brain death patients using advanced hemodynamic monitoring and its efficacy in organ donation.

Forty-eight brain death patients who were candidates of heart donation on the basis of primary standard investigations were selected with purposive and convenient sampling methods. They were investigated with advanced hemodynamic monitoring after echocardiography and primary assessments and the gleaned data were recorded.

Echocardiography showed that LVS (left ventricle size) and LVF (left ventricle function) were normal in %100 and %87.5 of patients, respectively. LVEF (left ventricle ejection fraction) was <%50 in %12.5 and >%50 in %87.5 of patients. SVR was smaller than 1200 at the beginning of the study that reached %54.4 at the end of the study. CI (cardiac index) was < 2.4 in %16.7 of the patients at the onset of the study that reached %25 at the end. Reduction of CI and SVR in patients with EF <%50 was significantly higher than that in patients with EF>%50.

Given the extensive pathological changes in the cardiovascular system exerted by brain death, advanced hemodynamic monitoring, if performed continually, can greatly aid in managing inotropic drugs in these patients, decision-making for managing intravascular volume, creating hemodynamic stability, and finally, preventing deterioration of function of the donated heart and loss of a donated organ.

One of the most common problems after spine surgery is very severe pain that usually affects outcome of patients after surgery and duration of hospital stay. Acute postoperative pain has several mechanisms, and multimodal analgesia by different mechanism of action will help control to it. In this study, we intend to investigate the effect of intravenous diphenhydramine injection during induction of anesthesia and morphine before incision on the control of acute pain in postoperative laminectomy.

130 patients scheduled for spine surgeries were assigned to receive a single pre induction dose of diphenhydramine 0.4mg/kg IV (D group) and morphine 0.15mg/kg before incision in addition acetaminophen 1gr IV at the end of surgery and just morphine 0.15mg/kg and acetaminophen 1gr IV (C group) in a randomized, double-blind trial. Postoperative pain, analgesic requirements in recovery and 24 hr after surgery were assessed.

The mean pain intensity in recovery was lower in the diphenhydramine group than in the control group (MD, 2.13; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.72–2.53; P < .0001) and the need for analgesia was much lower in the diphenhydramine group than in the control group. P < 0.001. The severity of pain and the need for analgesics in the diphenhydramine group had a significant decrease in the ward compared to the control group.

Prophylactic diphenhydramine 0.4 mg/kg at induction of general anesthesia in combination with morphin0.15mg/kg before incision and acetaminophen1gr at the end of surgery reduced the postoperative severity of acute pain and opioids requirement in the early postoperative period after spine surgeries.

The occurrence of bleeding during major surgeries is common and requires timely and accurate management in the prevention and treatment of hypovolemia and hemodynamic instability during and after surgery. This study evaluated the correlation and agreement between the two protocols determining the status of the hypovolemia during hysterectomy.

This study was a randomized single-blinded clinical trial. The study population included 30 patients undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy in Shariati Hospital in Tehran between 2015 and 2016. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups using a randomized table of numbers, so that in the FTc group, fluid therapy was performed based on the FTc index and in the PVI group based on the PVI index. The changes in FTc and PVI values were recorded every 5 minutes and the changes in the two indicators from the beginning to the end of the treatment were evaluated. At the beginning and end of the surgery, an arterial blood gas analysis (ABG) was also performed. The amount of bleeding during operation and urinary output were recorded in two groups.

There was no significant difference across the two groups in total fluid intake during surgery, mean volume of blood loss, mean urine output, and duration of surgery. The arterial blood gas status was also similar in both groups at the beginning and the end of the operation. We found a strong adverse correlation between FTC and PVI indices at the different time points evaluated within the surgery. In total, there was a strong correlation between the mean FTC and the mean PVI during the first hour (r=-0.765, P < 0.001) and the second hour (r=-0.941, -P < 0.001) of operation. Considering the cut-off point of 350msec for the FTC and 13% for the PVI in predicting hypovolemia, the agreement between the two protocols in fluid therapy during the first hour after surgery was 79.8% and 76.6%.

There is a strong and significant correlation between the two FTC (with a cut off of 350) and PVI (with a cut point of 13%) to predict need for fluid therapy.

Colistin, is used as the last treatment line for infections concluded from multiple drug-resistant gram-negative microorganisms. Increased consumption of colistin leads to resistance to this antibiotic in many countries. This study investigated the usage pattern of colistin administration in a selected hospital in Iran.

This study was conducted in a selected hospital in Ahvaz. Inclusion criteria were all patients who received colistin during this time according to the health information system. Patients who were received less than three doses of colistin were excluded from the study. Prescription of colistin in all patients was evaluated according to the protocol extracted from the last version of Lexicomp written by Wolters Kluwer. The descriptive and analytical statistics were carried out by the R software.

Among 27 patients who received colistin, pneumonia (15%) and respiratory distress syndrome (15%) were the main diagnoses. Colistin administration was based on the microbiological culture data in 70% of cases. Considering the involved microorganism, most cases were Acinetobacter spp., followed by Klebsiella spp. Loading dose was prescribed for seven (26%) patients. In only five (19%) cases, colistin dosing, including loading dose, maintenance dose, and the interval of colistin administration, was appropriate during the study time. Increasing in serum creatinine was seen in two (7.4%) patients. In 29.4% of patients, the combination of colistin and carbapenems was observed.

Given the lack of appropriate dose adjustment of colistin that may lead to incidence of resistance and adverse effect, applying of the specialist clinical pharmacist will be suggested.

One of the complications of ECT treatment is headache. There is a need to use sedation during ECT. As a result, midazolam has been used to address a safe and effective strategy in this regard.

This study is a double-blind clinical trial that has been performed in three groups: group A, which receives midazolam based on the usual regimen, group B, which receives midazolam after shock, and group C, which is the control group. Patients were asked about headache, nausea, and muscle aches during the recovery time, seizure duration and after becoming fully conscious. Data were analyzed in the PASW version18 software using analysis of variance and repeated measurement tests, ANOVA, independed t and χ2 tests.

Analysis showed that the frequency of muscle pain after full consciousness in group C was significantly higher than group B, with group B being higher than group A. χ2 test showed that the frequency of headache, cough and nausea in group C was significantly higher than the two groups A and B.

The result of this research showed that midazolam prodrug plays an effective role in preventing post-ECT complications in children. The effect of midazolam before and after ECT on headache, muscle pain and nausea was investigated and compared with the control group. Also, due to its anterograde amnesia, midazolam can reduce the patient's stress in the next visits, and this issue is even more important when the patient is a child.

Novel coronavirus 2019 is the cause of the 2020 pandemic that was announced by the world health organization in March 2020. Coronavirus attacks the respiratory system and causes mild to severe hypoxemia. Therefore, a fraction of COVID-19 patients may need intubation and mechanical ventilation.

We performed a narrative review via searching in articles that were published in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, web of scenic, Cochrane library, and Embase that mentioned to time of intubation COVID-19 patients and intubation techniques, manual searching was also completed. All the selected reviews and studies were limited to humans and the English language.

First data from China mention that 5% of patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV), there has been substantial debate about the time of intubation to patients with acute respiratory failure and intubation technique. At first, the specialists recommended early intubation. Although we are more familiar with the pathophysiology of coronavirus, the drawbacks versus the benefits of early intubation are still controversial. In addition, the intubation process itself is an aerosol-generating procedure and a high risk for patients and health care providers. In this review, we aim to review the previous studies and guidelines recommendations related to the time of intubation and intubation technique for COVID-19 patients.

Some previous studies suggested early tracheal intubation in severe COVID-19 patients may have the priority, while other studies advocate late intubation due to poor outcomes of intubation and weaning difficulties. However, intubation timing should be based on personalized medicine and case by case decision making to keep the best care and benefit of patients. And relying only on theoretical justification may have not good consequences.

With the outbreak of COVID19, acute lung injury has been detected as the main etiology for intensive care admission and high mortality rate. Among the infected population, there is some percentage of those who tend to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure. Thus, the intensivist and anesthesiologist must be aware of the of incidence rate of ARDS, risk factors, and try to take measures to reduce its incidence.
To define the rate of incidence of acute lung injury and ARDS among COVID 19 patient.

We performed a narrative review via searching in three databases PubMed, Google Scholar and Embase for all studies that mentioned the incidence of acute lung injury among infected patients with COVID19, manual searching also completed. All the selected reviews were limited to the English language and data also.

Five searches referred to the exact number of patients and the percentage rate of incidence of ARDS related to COVID 19 infection, other articles are merely reviews and case reports.

Incidence of acute lung injury among COVID19 patient was highly reported, and some percentage of these cases tend to develop ARDS especially in those who have preexisting diseases and obesity.

Clinical manifestations of COVID 19 is still unknown. We performed this study to determine the occurrence of pulmonary barotrauma as a complication of this disease. In this retrospective study, a total of 955 COVID 19 patients with respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen support or invasive ventilation admitted to ICU of Sina Hospital from 20 March 2020 to 9 June 2021, were included and their chest imaging reviewed. Here, we report results of chest imaging of first 92 patients of this group. Barotrauma (pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium) occurred in 11 (11.9%) of 92 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection requiring ICU admission for respiratory support and monitoring. It seems barotrauma is a common complication of COVID 19 disease. The role of increased respiratory efforts, patient or ventilation induced lung injury, viral and host response should be assessed. It needs to consider the occurrence of barotrauma in Patients with COVID-19, before expansion of dead space treatment and limiting the ventilation effects.

Insulinoma is a rare, mostly benign and solitary neuroendocrine tumour of the β-cells of islets of langerhans of pancreas.  Clinically it presents with a classical ‘Whipple Triad’ encompassing symptomatic hypoglycemia, fasting hypoglycemia (<50 mg/dl) and immediate relief of symptoms after glucose administration. Definitive treatment is laparoscopic or open surgical excision of the tumour. We report and discuss the distinctive anaesthetic considerations and implications during perioperative period. A comprehensive approach including preoperative optimization of blood glucose levels with various drugs and dietary modifications, scrupulous hemodynamic and blood sugar monitoring with prompt initiation of dextrose infusion during surgical handling of tumour and meticulous management of rebound hyperglycemia with insulin infusion in postoperative period remains the essence for better outcome in these subset of patients.

Rabies is a viral infection involving the central nervous system that is almost always fatal without proper post exposure prophylaxis. Here, we present a 38 years-old male with dog-bite and late attention whom, managed in intensive care unit. After 21 days, the disease progressed to serious neurologic and hemodynamic damage including motor disorders and imbalance in blood pressure and cardiac rhythm. Clinical management of the patient consisted of antiviral agents (Amantadine and Ribavirin), neuroprotection, sedation-paralysis and supportive care. Patient was survived 43 days from the clinical disease onset. Although our patient died in spite of intensive care, advances in the use of sedation-paralysis and early prescription of antiviral agents raised hopes that it may eventually be possible to save rabies patients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a kind of extracorporeal life support for prolonged hemodynamic and respiratory Assist to persons whose cardio vascular and respiratory system are unable to support basic metabolic needs of the body. ECMO re mains an option for the treatment of patients with refractory hypoxemia in SARS-CoV-2 disease despite advanced cardiopulmonary support. It is very sophisticated intensive procedure and dependent to the operator skills and experience, but could be a life-saving treatment. This method of treatment could not be suggested as a solution, but since this strategy is the only way left to prevent on witness patient death so, it is still noticeable as a rescue therapy.