Anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: comparative evaluation--desflurane/sevoflurane vs. propofol

Laparoscopic techniques, have rapidly increased in popularity because of its various benefits. They are widely used in day-case surgical operations and are extensively published. However, postoperative nausea vomiting (PONV) is a commonly observed phenomenon after laparoscopic procedures. Its occurrence may increase depending on the anesthetic techniques used. Despite the fact that the use of propofol and the new low solubility inhalation anesthetics, lead to faster induction and recovery, their effects on PONV is not sufficiently known. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the effects of various anesthetic drugs on recovery characteristics and PONV. Following informed consent, 300 ASA I-III patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were investigated. Anesthesia was induced by 1.5 microgkg(-1) fentanyl, 0.03 mgkg(-1) midazolam, 1.5 mgkg(-1) propofol and 0.01 mgkg(-1) vecuronium for all patients. Anesthesia was maintained with desflurane in group D (n = 100), sevoflurane in group S (n = 100) and propofol infusion in group P (n = 100), beside 50% N20/O2 ventilation. All patients were given 4 mg ondansetron and 8 mg dexamethazone iv for preventing PONV, ten minutes before the end of surgery. At the end of the operation, times for extubation, eye opening, orientation, sitting and walking, and the need of ondansetrone in post anesthetic care unit, were recorded. Also, PONV was observed and recorded as early period (first 4 hours) and late period (4-24 hours). Extubation and eye opening times were meaningfully lower in group D. However, no significant differences were observed in orientation, sitting and walking times and PONV among the three groups. All patients who had PONV were women. A correlation was found between PONV and body weight. Even though there were no statistically significant differences among the groups regarding PONV, the number of patients who had PONV in group P was lower. Early recovery time was shortest in group D, while delayed recovery time had no differences. It may be said that these anesthetic drugs have no statistically significant difference for PONV and delayed recovery.     

Late onset rheumatoid arthritis: clinical and laboratory comparisons with younger onset patients

We aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory profiles of the patients presenting late onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA) with younger onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA) patients. During the period between January 1995 and December 2004, 124 patients with LORA were identified from a retrospective chart review of inpatients and outpatients. They were compared with 150 YORA patients examined during the same period including their clinical and laboratory findings. The mean ages of the patients with LORA and YORA were 71.7+/-5.9 years, and 52.1+/-11.5 years, respectively. The gender ratio (female/male) was 1.48 in LORA and 2.85 in YORA (p = 0.012). The average ages of the disease onset were 42.2+/-10.4 years in YORA and 68.4+/-4.6 years in LORA. The duration of the diagnosis was longer in LORA than in YORA (20.7+/-14.3 months versus 10.3+/-6.2 months, p < 0.001). Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) duration was shorter in LORA than in YORA (43.5+/-64.4 months versus 126.3+/-101.0 months, p < 0.001). Although LORA patients had more significant frequent shoulder joint involvements (p < 0.001), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), metacarpophalangeal (MCP), elbow, metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and ankle involvements were common in YORA. Wrist, knee and hip involvements were not different in the groups. Classical rheumatoid hand deformities, interstitial lung disease and Sj?gren's syndrome (SS) were significantly lower in LORA than in YORA. LORA patients had more common weight loss, myalgia, lymphadenopathy, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)-like syndrome and neuropathy. The frequencies of RF, ANA, anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La positivities were lower in LORA than in YORA, whereas elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and anemia associated with chronic disease were higher in LORA. Patients with LORA, according to the accepted international criteria, present with different clinical and laboratory profiles when compared with younger patients. These results suggest that age may influence the presentation of RA at onset.     

HIV infection and shoulder pain: a challenging case

With better understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDS and the advent of anti-retroviral medications, patients with HIV are living longer and the probability that they will suffer musculoskeletal complications are increasing. There is a vast array of musculoskeletal impairments including rheumatologic, infectious, and non-infectious conditions. We report a 53-year-old man with longstanding shoulder pain, weakness, and spasticity of the upper extremity which was diagnosed as adhesive capsulitis secondary to brain abscess. Musculoskeletal problems may be complicated with neurological involvement as in our case and patients should be investigated for possible underlying life-threatening disease.     

Minimally invasive management of children with caustic ingestion: less pain for patients

Purpose  

Management of caustic ingestion in children is still controversial. In this study, we evaluate a minimally invasive management consisting of flexible endoscopy, balloon dilatation and intralesional steroid injection in children, with a history of caustic ingestion.