The feasibility of recording blink reflexes under general anesthesia

Until now, there have been no reports on eliciting the blink reflex (BR) during anesthesia at a depth compatible with surgery. We introduce a novel method for eliciting the R1 component of the BR under inhalation or total intravenous anesthesia by using a short train of four to seven stimuli applied over the supraorbital nerve. Recording is done from the ipsilateral orbicularis oculi muscle. We set out to record the BR in 27 patients (age 1–78 years) without involvement of the facial nerve, trigeminal nerve, or brainstem. The BR could not be recorded in only 4 patients (recordability: 86.2%). All patients received at least one bolus of propofol while in surgery. Using this method, the BR was recorded on 4 awake healthy subjects. Boluses of propofol and muscle relaxants should be avoided in order to successfully record the responses. BR recording is feasible in patients under general anesthesia by using this novel technique. Muscle Nerve 39: 642–646, 2009     

Hungry bone syndrome after parathyroidectomy caused by an ectopic parathyroid adenoma

Hungry bone syndrome (HBS), i.e., persistent hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia as a result of extensive remineralization, is rarely encountered in children after parathyroid surgery. Herein, we report a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed to have an ectopic parathyroid adenoma, and HBS was observed in the postsurgical follow-up. The diagnosis and the risk factors are discussed in the light of the literature.     

Renal dysfunction is the most important predictor of the extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic patients tend to have more extensive and diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) that may contribute to the less favorable outcomes in them. The aim of this study was to elucidate the predictors of the angiographic severity and extent of CAD in patients with diabetes. METHODS: A total of 203 diabetic patients (116 men; mean age, 61.9+/-10.8) who were referred for a first coronary angiogram were included. The extent and severity of CAD was assessed in several ways. The first was a simple classification in one-vessel, two-vessel, and three-vessel disease scoring system. The total numbers of segments with > or = 20 and > or = 50% stenosis were calculated as CASS 20 and CASS 50 scores, respectively. Hamsten and Gensini scores were also calculated. RESULTS: Of the 203 patients included in the study, 175 (86.2%) had CAD. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that age (Wald 5.741, P=0.017), glomerular filtration rate (Wald 5.032, P=0.025), previous myocardial infarction (Wald 10.955, P=0.001), and family history of CAD (Wald 7.236, P=0.007) were independent predictors of the severity of CAD, as assessed by the clinical zero-vessel to three-vessel disease scoring system. On stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, glomerular filtration rate was an independent predictor of the CASS 20 (r=-0.221, P=0.004), CASS 50 (r=-0.239, P=0.005), Gensini (r=-0.328, P<0.001), and Hamsten (r=-0.320, P<0.001) scores. Previous myocardial infarction was an independent predictor of the CASS 50 (r=0.355, P<0.001), Gensini (r=0.350, P<0.001), and Hamsten (0.256, P<0.001) scores. Age and sex were independent predictors for the CASS 50 (r=0.174, P=0.039; r=0.172, P=0.016, respectively) and Hamsten (r=0.212, P=0.011; r=0.244, P=0.001, respectively) scores. CONCLUSION: Renal function is one of the most important factors associated with the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis, whereas classical coronary risk factors and the degree of metabolic control were not associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in diabetic patients.     

Laparoscopic management of gallbladder duplication

Gallbladder duplication is a rare condition. Because laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the primary treatment modality for the diseased single gallbladders, it should be the choice of treatment for double gallbladders. However, preoperative imaging methods may be unsatisfactory for the correct diagnosis. As a result, incomplete resections may be performed. Intraoperative cholangiography should be performed in suspected cases to prevent inadvertent injury to the biliary system. In this report, we present a symptomatic patient with double gallbladders with separate cystic ducts in whom the gallbladders were successfully resected as a single specimen by laparoscopic means. The pitfalls of diagnostic modalities and surgical strategy are discussed in the context of the available literature.     

Lidocaine for prevention of propofol injection-induced pain: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study of the effect of duration of venous occlusion with a tourniquet in adults

Background: Many patients experience pain on injection of propofol. The use of lidocaine to prevent propofol injection pain is common. The analgesic effect of pre-injected lidocaine has been found to increase when a tourniquet is used.Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of various venous occlusion times with lidocaine analgesia to prevent pain during propofol injection.Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study, women aged 18 to 45 years, classifed as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical sta- tus I or II, who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia induced with propofol, were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups: group 1, 2% lidocaine 20 mg in saline in a total volume of 10 mL and no venous occlusion; group 2, 2% lidocaine 20 mg in saline in a total volume of 10 mL plus venous occlusion for 15 seconds; group 3, 2% lidocaine plus venous occlusion for 30 seconds; group 4, 2% lidocaine plus venous occlusion for 60 seconds; and group 5, saline 10 mL and no venous occlusion. When the first 25% of the calculated propofol dose was administered, patients were asked about propofol-induced pain using a verbal pain scale (0 = no pain; 1 = mild pain; 2 = moderate pain; and 3 = severe pain). All patients and the anesthesiologist who evaluated pain severity were blinded to the study preparation being used.Results: The study comprised 100 women who were randomly divided into 5 groups of 20 patients each. Significantly more patients in group 5 (18 [90%] patients; P < 0.05) reported pain compared with the other treatment groups. In groups 2, 3, and 4, in which venous occlusion was applied, pain was reported during propofol injection in 6 (30%), 7 (35%), and 2 (10%) patients, respectively. The incidence of reported pain was significantly greater in group 1 (lidocaine without venous occlusion) than in group 4 (P < 0.05); however, the incidence of pain was similar in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3.Conclusions: The present study found that pretreatment with lidocaine 20 mg with or without venous occlusion significantly reduced the incidence and the severity of pain during the injection of propofol when compared with the group with no venous occlusion administered saline. In addition, pretreatment with lidocaine 20 mg plus venous occlusion for 60 seconds significantly reduced the incidence of propofol-induced pain compared with lidocaine without venous occlusion.     

Heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with versus without cardiac autonomic neuropathy

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is an important complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and confers an increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to disclose the place of heart rate (HR) variability and HR turbulence for the detection of CAN in patients with type 2 DM and no obvious heart disease. Ninety patients who were <75 years old and had type 2 DM for >/=2 years were studied. CAN was diagnosed with a battery of cardiovascular reflex tests and the degree of neuropathic involvement was graded by the Ewing score. Time-domain HR variability and HR turbulence parameters were assessed on 24-hour digital Holter recordings. Thirty-five patients were found to have CAN. The clinical characteristics of patients with and without CAN were similar, except that the mean duration of DM and the number of patients using insulin were significantly increased in the group with CAN. All time-domain HR variability parameters were significantly lower in the group with CAN. Of the 2 HR turbulence parameters studied, turbulence onset was similar but turbulence slope was significantly lower in the group with CAN. The Ewing score significantly correlated negatively with all HR variability parameters and turbulence slope, and among all, turbulence slope was the most strongly correlated (r = -0.617, p <0.01). Receiver-operating characteristics analysis revealed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 71% at a turbulence slope cut-off value of 3.32 for the detection of CAN. In conclusion, time-domain HR variability and HR turbulence parameters, except turbulence, onset were found to be significantly depressed in patients with type 2 DM and CAN. Decreases in all these parameters were found to correlate significantly with degree of neuropathic involvement. The most strongly correlated parameter, turbulence slope, was found to be highly sensitive and specific for the detection of CAN at a cut-off value of 3.32.     

A rare cause of severe periorbital edema and dermonecrotic ulcer of the eyelid in a child: brown recluse spider bite

Spider bites are a worldwide problem. Brown recluse spider bites can lead to severe local or systemic clinical effects, such as edema, necrotic ulcer, rashes, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, malaise, arthralgia, myalgia, hemolysis, leukocytosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, renal failure, and death. Eyelid bites from brown recluse spiders are rare. We report a child with severe facial edema and a dermonecrotic ulcer on the eyelid. Upon laboratory examination, leukocytosis with a significant left shift was detected. The patient was treated with antibiotics, systemic corticosteroid and conservative therapy that included saline compresses and ocular lubrication. No surgical excision was required. Vision was not impaired. A dermonecrotic ulcer is a severe complication of brown recluse spider bites. Since the diagnosis is difficult, clinical and epidemiological findings and a detailed history are important for an accurate diagnosis.     

Clinical efficacy of dexamethasone for acute exudative pharyngitis

The objective of this study was to investigate whether treatment with single-dose dexamethasone can provide relief of symptoms in acute exudative pharyngitis. A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was undertaken over a 3-month period in a university-based Emergency Department. The study included all consecutive patients between 18 and 65 years of age presenting with acute exudative pharyngitis, sore throat, odynophagia, or a combination, and with more than two Centor criteria. Each patient was empirically treated with azithromycin and paracetamol for 3 days. The effects of placebo and a fixed single dose (8 mg) of intramuscular injection of dexamethasone were compared. The patients were asked to report the exact time to onset of pain relief and time to complete relief of pain. After completion of the treatment, telephone follow-up regarding the relief of pain was conducted. A total of 103 patients were enrolled. Thirty patients with a history of recent antibiotic use, pregnancy, those who were elderly (> 65 years of age) and patients who failed to give informed consent were excluded. Forty-two patients were assigned to the placebo group and 31 were assigned to the intramuscular dexamethasone group (8-mg single dose). Time to perceived onset of pain relief was 8.06 ± 4.86 h in steroid-treated patients, as opposed to 19.90 ± 9.39 h in the control group (p = 0.000). The interval required to become pain-free was 28.97 ± 12.00 h in the dexamethasone group, vs. 53.74 ± 16.23 h in the placebo group (p = 0.000). No significant difference was observed in vital signs between the regimens. No side effects and no new complaints attributable to the dexamethasone and azithromycin were observed. Sore throat and odynophagia in patients with acute exudative pharyngitis may respond better to treatment with an 8-mg single dose of intramuscular dexamethasone accompanied by an antibiotic regimen than to antibiotics alone.