Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Volume:3 Issue: 3, Mar 2014

Hydatid cysts are most commonly found in the liver and lungs but they are rarely found in pericardium.. We present a rare case of isolated hydatid cyst in pericardium of heart of a 70 year old female presented in casualty with unusual features like, dyspnea, palpitation and chest pain mimicking acute coronary syndrome.. Hydatid cyst in Pericardium represents only 0.5-2% of cases of systemic echinoccocal infection. Isolated pericardial cyst is very rare in endemic region and may present mimicking acute coronary syndrome. Cardiac hydatid cysts should always be considered in presence of eosinophilia as present like acute coronary syndrome in endemic area..

This case report aims to discuss the clinical and radiological outcomes of prolotherapy at a patient whom to total knee prosthesis had been planned but surgery couldn’t be performed due to co-morbidities..

A 72 year old woman presented with severe pain at her knees for over 5 years. Treatment methods include weight loss, decreasing the weight bearing on the joint, stretching exercises, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory and steroid drugs, and physiotherapy. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale was applied to measure the osteoarthritis level of the patient: Pain level; 25 points, stiffness level; 10 points, Physical function loss; 80 points, and total WOMAC 115 points. At radiological evaluation, the patient was diagnosed as grade IV osteoarthritis due to significant osteophyte presence and complete joint space narrowing. Six sessions of knee prolotherapy protocol was applied to the patient, one session monthly..

Significant improvement was noted at WOMAC scale (Pain level; 5 points, stiffness level; 2 points, Physical function loss; 15 points, and total WOMAC 22 points). Osteoarthritis level of the patient was improved to grade I at radiological evaluation after a year. Our case is the report that presents radiological evidence in addition to clinical findings of improvement of osteoarthritis level. As a result of this case report, further studies aiming to offer a different minimally invasive treatment option to the patients before surgery may be performed. We are in the opinion that prolotherapy may be preferred more commonly as an efficient method once the importance of ligamentous structures at pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is established..

One of the most important complications in cesarean surgery is postoperative pain, and different ways have been proposed to control it.. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Diclofenac and Paracetamol combination in comparison with Meperidine on postoperative pain after cesarean surgery..Patients and One hundred and twenty women candidates for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia categorized as ASA class I were selected and randomly assigned to receive either Diclofenac suppository at the end of the operation and thereafter 1 gram infused bolus of Paracetamol (group A), or 20 mg bolus of Meperidine after transition to recovery room (group B) to control postoperative pain.. Postoperative pain was present in recovery in 38.3% and 23.3% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.009). Postoperative pain was seen after six hours of operation in 38.7% and 16.7% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.010). Postoperative pain was present after 12 hours of operation in 38.3% and 15% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.002). The additive Meperidine use was the same between the two groups in recovery (P > 0.05). The additive Meperidine use was seen after six hours of operation in 26.7% and 6.7% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.013). The additive Meperidine use was seen after 12 hours of operation in 16.7% and none of the patients in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.004). The frequency of drug adverse effects was the same between the two groups (P > 0.05).. Totally, according to the obtained results it may be concluded that Paracetamol and Diclofenac combination would have a better efficacy in postoperative pain control and need reduction to additive analgesia compared to Meperidine..

Despite the advances in pain control following surgery, data on the location and distribution of pain following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are lacking.. This study was intended to investigate the location, distribution, and intensity of pain in patients undergoing CABG during their postoperative hospital stay from the operation to the end of the first postoperative week. Factors that could affect pain intensity and distribution were analyzed as well..Patients and The present study was conducted on 138 patients who underwent CABG surgery at Rajaei cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center during May and July 2011. Location and intensity of pain were assessed using numeric rating scale (NRS) over time: every six hours after the operation on the first day (T1-T4, respectively), and on two (POD2), three (POD3), and seven days after the operation (POD7).. Among 138 patients assessed in the study, the greatest severity of pain was reported on T2, with the mean severity of 3.4, followed by POD2 with the mean severity of 2.9 (P < 0.01). The location of the surgical incision had the most severity of pain in all patients (P < 0.01). On the site of surgical incision, a negative correlation was seen between the age and the severity of pain on T1 (P = 0.03, r = -0.180). Women experienced more severe pain compared to men at POD7. A significant correlation was seen between the severity of pain on POD7 and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.01, r = 0.23). In patients who had the longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CBD), the most pain intensity was reported on T1 (P < 0.01, r = 0.18). A significant correlation was seen on the pain intensity on T4 and chest tube drainage (P < 0.01, r = 0.24). The correlation between the pain severity pain and duration of admission in intensive care unit (ICU), was significant on T1 (P < 0.05, r = 0.18), T4 (P < 0.01, r = 0.29), POD2 (P < 0.01, r = 0.35) and POD7 (P < 0.05, r = 0.18).. Following CABG, the most severity of pain was reported at surgical incision on time T2. Pain began to decrease from the third day following the operation. Age, sex and BMI along with operation-related factors such as duration of CBP or chest tube drainage may affect the pain pattern following CABG surgery..

Studies have shown that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMIDA) plays an essential role in postoperative pain. It seems that use of NMDA receptor antagonists such as Dextromethorphan intensifies the analgesic effects of opioids.. In this study, we evaluated the effect of preoperative administration of Dextromethorphan on postoperative pain reduction..Patients and This double blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on arthroscopic surgery candidates. Participants were randomly allocated to interventions and assigned to two groups of Dextromethorphan and placebo. In Dextromethorphan group, the patients received 1 mg/kg Dextromethorphan orally the night before the operation. Pain severity based on the visual analog scale (VAS) up to 16 hours postoperation, use of opioids, and the first request for analgesics were recorded postoperatively.. A total of 112 patients in the Dextromethorphan (n = 54) and placebo groups (n = 58) were evaluated. No significant difference was detected between the two groups for age, sex or ASA. The mean amount of opioid consumption was significantly lower in patients who received Dextromethorphan (10.7 ± 5.6 mg) compared to the placebo group (13.1 ± 5.6 mg), (P = 0.03). The mean time until the first opioid request in patients who received Dextromethorphan was longer than that in the placebo group (P = 0.01).. The study results demonstrated that preemptive use of Dextromethorphan reduced postoperative pain and opioid consumption..

Acquired hemophilia A is a rare bleeding disorder with a high mortality rate. Diagnosis and treatment of this disorder can be very challenging to anesthesiologists because of lack of a personal or familial abnormal bleeding history.. We report a 60-year-old woman who presented to the operating room for an urgent fasciotomy. She was initially diagnosed to have compartment syndrome of her left upper extremity secondary to an expanding hematoma after multiple unsuccessful venipuncture attempts. After surgical intervention, she developed recurrent intramuscular hematomas, became severely anemic, and required surgical re-exploration and multiple blood product transfusions. Ultimately, she was found to have an elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), very low FVIII activity, and high FVIII inhibitor titers consistent with the diagnosis of acquired hemophilia A.. Treatment strategies in acquired hemophilia are based on two major objectives. During the acute stage, effective control of bleeding is critical. The ultimate therapeutic goal during the subacute phase is the elimination of the inhibitors targeting factor VIII. Here, we present this case and will review current literature regarding therapeutic approaches to this rare condition in the operating room setting and postoperative course..

Postoperative pain is one of the most important complications encountered after surgery. A number of options are available for treating pain following surgery. One of those options is the use of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Ketamine is an anesthetic drug relieving pain with its NMDA receptor antagonistic effect.. This study is aiming at better pain management after abdominal surgery; the effects of adding ketamine to intravenous fentanyl plus acetaminophen PCA were evaluated..Patients and In a double-blind randomized clinical trial 100 patients, ASA I or II, 20 - 60 years old were divided into two groups. These patients were abdominal surgery candidates. In order to control postoperative pain in the control group an IV patient-control analgesia (PCA) containing fentanyl 10 μg/mL plus acetaminophen 10 mg/mL was instructed to be used for the patients, but the patients in ketamine group received ketamine 0.5 mg/mL plus control group PCA content. During the first 48 hours after surgery, ketamine patients were evaluated every 8 hours (at rest, while moving and coughing) to determine their pain scores using VAS scale, sedation score, additional analgesics, nausea and vomiting.. There were no significant demographic differences between two groups. Pain scores (at rest, while moving and coughing) during the first 48 hours were not significantly different between two groups (P values = 0.361, 0.367 and 0.204, respectively). Nausea scores were significantly lower in the ketamine group (P = 0.026).. The addition of ketamine to intravenous fentanyl plus acetaminophen PCA had not extra effects in relieving post abdominal surgery pain..

Magnesium is an antagonist of (N-methyl D-Aspartate) NMDA receptor and its related canals, and may affect perceived pain.. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intravenous magnesium on the hemodynamic parameters, analgesic consumption and ileus..Patients and A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study was performed. Thirty two patients of ASA I or II, scheduled for major gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, were divided into magnesium and control groups. Magnesium group received a bolus of 40 mg/kg of magnesium sulphate, followed by a continuous perfusion of 10 mg/kg/h for the intraoperative hours. Postoperative analgesia was ensured by Morphine patient–controlled analgesia (PCA). The patients were evaluated by Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, the postoperative pain by numeral rating scale (NRS), and the total dose of intraoperative and postoperative analgesic consumption. Postoperative hemodynamic, respiratory parameters, physiological gastrointestinal obstruction (ileus), and side effects were also recorded.. The study included 14 males and 18 females. Age range of patients was 17 to 55 years old. The average age in the magnesium group was 41.33 ± 10.06 years and45.13 ± 11.74 years in control group. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) of magnesium group decreased during the operation but increased in control group (P < 0.001), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) of magnesium group decreased during the operation also (P < 0.02) but increased in control group. Postoperative cumulative Morphine consumption in magnesium group, was significantly in lower level (P = 0.026). For NRS, severe pain was significantly lower, in magnesium group, at all intervals of postoperative evaluations, but moderate and mild pain were not lower significantly. Duration of postoperative ileus was 2.3 ± 0.5 days in magnesium group, and 4.2 ± 0.6 days in control group (P = 0.01).. Intravenous magnesium reduces postoperative ileus, postoperative severe pain and intra/post operative analgesic requirements in patients after major GI surgery. No side effects of magnesium in these doses were seen, so it seems to be beneficial along with routine general anesthesia in major GI surgeries..

Hemodynamic stability and blood loss reduction are subjects to further consideration in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNCL).. This study compared the preference of spinal anaesthesia (SA) or general anaesthesia (GA) in respect to mentioned concerns..Patients and In this randomized clinical trial, 59 patients who underwent PCNL divided into SA and GA groups. 15-20 mg from intra-thecal bupivacaine 0.5%, and premedication of 0.01-0.02 mg from midazolam, were given to patients in SA group (n = 29). Patients in GA group (n = 30) received premedication of 1-2 µg/kg from fentanyl and 0.01-0.02 mg/kg from midazolam, and intravenously anaesthetized with 100 µg/kg/min of propofol and 0.5 mg/kg of atracurium, given by continuous infusion and N2O/O2 50%. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were recorded intra-operatively and during recovery.. MAP and heart rate show no significant differences at designated time points between two groups (P > 0.05). Surgery time, anesthesia time, bleeding volume, and analgesic intake were significantly reduced in SA group (P < 0.05).. It seems that, in patients undergoing PNCL, SA is as effective and safe as GA. Patients who undergo PNCL under SA require smaller amounts of analgesic dose and show hemodynamic stability during surgery and recovery time. Also, SA technique provides decreased blood loss and shortened surgery as well as anesthesia times compared to GA..