Pregabalin for Neuropathic Pain in Post-radiotherapy Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients may experience neuropathic pain (NP) due to radiotherapy (RT), which may become chronic. Pregabalin, an anticonvulsant, alters the transmission of painful stimuli at the synaptic level, modifying their perception. Pregabalin is used in NP treatment, but limited data exist on RT-treated HNC patients.

Epidural Anesthesia for Neuromyelitis Optica in Obstetrics: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic disease, poses unique challenges in obstetrical anesthesia, with limited research available. This case report presents the anesthetic management of a 43-year-old gravida 2 para 1 (G2P1) woman with NMO undergoing labor induction at 39 weeks of gestation. Having received uneventful epidural labor analgesia in her first pregnancy, she faced the delicate decision of neuraxial anesthesia in light of her NMO diagnosis, which was made following her initial pregnancy.

Postoperative abdominal free air: How much and when is enough? Report of two cases.

Postoperative intraperitoneal or ectopic free air may occur after abdominal surgery, gynecologic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, or endoscopic procedures and, in rare cases, represent gastrointestinal perforation, requiring emergency laparotomy. Evaluating patients with postoperative signs of bowel perforation may be difficult, especially when day-case laparoscopic or endoscopic surgery is performed, with the patient readily discharged from hospital. Delayed diagnosis of gastrointestinal perforation due to underestimation of postoperative free air is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate.

Acute and Chronic Pain after Cesarean Delivery under Subarachnoid Anaesthesia. Is Postoperative Analgesia Adequate? A Cohort Observational Study.

Uncontrolled pain after cesarean delivery is associated with women's dissatisfaction and limited ability to take care of the neonate. This prospective observational study included 173 women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Postoperative analgesia included subcutaneous morphine 0.

The Greek Neuropathic Pain Registry: The structure and objectives of the sole NPR in Greece.

Objectives: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a complex condition that impairs the patients' quality of life. Registries are useful tools, increasingly used as they provide high-quality data. This article aims to describe the Greek Neuropathic Pain Registry (Gr.

Validation of the Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire for Patients Suffering From Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Greek.

Purpose: The Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) represents a diagnostic tool concerning patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The application of such a tool in the Greek clinical praxis requires validation.

Methods: Validation consists of three stages - translation, reverse translation, and patient application.

Free air after laparoscopic hysterectomy; from sigmoid perforation to upper airway compromise: a case report.

Background: Free air after laparoscopic hysterectomy is a common finding; in rare cases, free air represents gastrointestinal perforation, requiring emergency laparotomy. Ectopic air localizations after pneumoperitoneum have been reported in various laparoscopic surgical techniques. Delayed diagnosis of visceral perforation is associated with high mortality rates.

Severe anaphylactic shock after anesthesia induction: An unusual initial manifestation of Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Churg-Strauss syndrome or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitits (EGPA) is a rare multisystem disorder. A case of anaphylactic shock after induction of anesthesia, as the initial clinical presentation of Churg-Strauss syndrome in a 15-year-old girl is reported. It is extremely rare to see pediatric patients with previous perioperative anaphylaxis receiving future anesthesia; a multidisciplinary approach including allergist, rheumatologist, anesthesiologist, and surgeon is necessary in order to provide a better future anesthetic plan.

Addition of 100 mg of Tramadol to 40 mL of 0.5% Ropivacaine for Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Improves Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Shoulder Surgeries as Compared to Ropivacaine Alone-A Randomized Controlled Study.

Brachial plexus block is commonly used in shoulder surgery, as it provides satisfactory surgical conditions and adequate postoperative pain control. However, there are contradictory reports regarding the addition of tramadol to the injected regional anesthetic solution. We performed a prospective randomized study to evaluate the effectiveness of tramadol as an adjuvant to ropivacaine during interscalene brachial plexus block and assess its impact on the opioid consumption and the early postoperative pain in patients that underwent shoulder surgery.

Ischemic postconditioning decreases gene expression but ischemic preconditioning ameliorates histological injury in a swine model of extended liver resection.

Background: Both pre- and postconditioning have been shown to protect the liver parenchyma from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury during hepatectomy by altering the production of NO. However, to date there is no study to compare their effect on the inducible nitric oxide synthase () and endothelial nitric oxide synthase () gene expression, who are the main modulators in the pathway of NO during the acute phase of I/R injury.

Methods: We designed a prospective experimental cohort comprising of three groups (sham group-SG, preconditioning-PrG and postconditioning group-PoG) and consisting of 10 animals per group.

The effect of transversus abdominis plane block on acute and chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair. A randomized controlled trial.

Background: This prospective double-blind randomized study aimed at evaluating the short- and long-term postoperative analgesic efficacy of the ultrasound-guided tranversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair were allocated to TAP block with either ropivacaine 0.75% 20 mL or placebo 20 mL.

Acupuncture and Acupressure Applied on the Extra-1 () Acupoint in Healthy Volunteers Do Not Affect Regional Cerebral Blood Flow as Assessed by the Pulsatility Index: A Cohort Observational Study.

Acupressure applied on the Extra-1 () point decreases bispectral index (BIS) values and stress in healthy volunteers. The current authors hypothesized that acupressure and/or acupuncture could alter regional cerebral oxygenation as expressed by middle cerebral-artery velocity. This study was conducted to test that hypothesis.

Pregnancy Complications in a-Thalassemia (Hemoglobinopathy H): A Case Study.

Thalassemia intermedia (TI) is a clinical definition which represents a wide spectrum of thalassemia genotypes but mainly includes patients who do not require or only occasionally require transfusion. An uncommon case of a 32-year-old Greek woman, para 1, at the 22nd week + day 3 of gestation with thalassemia intermedia (she was splenectomized), where her pregnancy was complicated with portal vein thrombosis, splenic thrombosis, and partial HELLP, is described. This is a generally uncommon event in thalassemia intermedia.

Measurements of oxygen saturation of brain, liver and heart areas in the supine and sitting position using near infrared spectrophotometry.

Background And Aims: Regional oxygen saturation (rSO) monitoring of the brain by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been mainly used during carotid endarterectomy. The present study was conducted in volunteers and investigates the rSO values of the brain, heart and liver tissue as assessed by NIRS in the supine and the sitting position.

Methods: After obtaining written informed consent from forty-nine healthy volunteers, rSO values were recorded in the heart and liver areas in the supine and the sitting position, while simultaneously the rSO values of the brain.

Cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia is associated with decreases in cerebral oxygen saturation as assessed by NIRS: an observational study.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of spinal anesthesia on cerebral rSO2 during elective cesarean delivery (CD).

Methods: Thirty-four women scheduled for elective CD under spinal anesthesia were recruited. In the operating room rSO2 of the left and right frontal area and right thigh was recorded using three disposable sensors.

Intravenous lidocaine does not affect the anesthetic depth during rapid sequence induction and intubation as assessed by Bispectral Index monitoring: a randomized double blind study.

Introduction: We investigated the impact of intravenous lidocaine on anesthetic depth, as assessed by Bispectral Index score (BIS), and hemodynamic responses to rapid sequence induction/intubation.

Material And Methods: Eighty-four surgical patients with risk factors for regurgitation/aspiration were randomized to receive either lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg or normal saline in a double-blind fashion.

Myocardial involvement during ischemia-induced acute liver failure in the pig.

Objective: The objective of this experimental study was to investigate a possible myocardial involvement in acute liver failure.

Materials And Methods: A porcine model of acute liver failure induced by hepatic devascularization was used. Twenty animals were allocated to the Acute Liver Failure (ALF) or Control Group (CG).

Perioperative pregabalin for acute and chronic pain after abdominal hysterectomy or myomectomy: a randomised controlled trial.

Context: The antiepileptics gabapentin and pregabalin are used as adjuvants to control postoperative pain.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of perioperative administration of pregabalin on postoperative acute and chronic pain and analgesic requirements.

Setting: Department of Anaesthesiology, Aretaieio University Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Safety and effectiveness of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a teaching hospital: a prospective study of 110 consecutive patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy (OLC) in a day surgery unit in a teaching hospital. OLC was offered to patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis who met the following established inclusion criteria: ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) physical status classification class I and II; age: 18 - 70 years; body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2; patient acceptance and cooperation (informed consent); presence of a responsible adult to accompany the patient to his residency; patient residency in Athens. The primary study end-point was to evaluate success rates (patient discharge on the day of surgery), postoperative outcome (complications, re-admissions, morbidity and mortality) and patient satisfaction.

Endoloop application as an alternative method for gastrotomy closure in experimental transgastric surgery.

Background: Experimental studies investigating transgastric endoscopic surgery report closure of the gastric wall incision with clips. The author of this report describes endoloop placement as an alternative, equally efficient, faster method for gastrotomy closure.

Methods: Eight female pigs with a mean weight of 30 kg were used.