Dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to anesthetic induction to attenuate hemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing fast-track CABG.

During induction of general anesthesia hypertension and tachycardia caused by tracheal intubation may lead to cardiac ischemia and arrhythmias. In this prospective, randomized study, dexmedetomidine has been used to attenuate the hemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation with low dose fentanyl and etomidate in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization receiving beta blocker treatment. Thirty patients undergoing myocardial revascularization received in a double blind manner, either a saline placebo or a dexmedetomidine infusion (1 microg/kg) before the anesthesia induction.

Effects of single-dose gabapentin on postoperative pain and morphine consumption after cardiac surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of single-dose preoperative gabapentin on postoperative pain and morphine consumption after cardiac surgery.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study.

Setting: A single university hospital.

The analgesic effect of gabapentin as a prophylactic anticonvulsant drug on postcraniotomy pain: a prospective randomized study.

Background: Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that has analgesic properties for acute postoperative pain. However, the analgesic effect of gabapentin as an antiepileptic prophylactic drug on patients undergoing craniotomy is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the postoperative effectiveness of gabapentin on acute postoperative pain when it is used for antiepileptic prophylaxis in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial tumor resection.

The effects of propofol infusion on hepatic and pancreatic function and acid-base status in children undergoing craniotomy and receiving phenytoin.

Background: In this study, we investigated the effects of propofol infusion on hepatic and pancreatic enzymes and acid-base status compared with baseline values in children undergoing craniotomy who were receiving phenytoin for antiepileptic prophylaxis.

Methods: In this prospective clinical study, we measured the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), pancreatic amylase, lipase, and triglyceride levels of 30 children ranging from 4 to 12 yr. All children received propofol anesthesia and were taking phenytoin for antiepileptic prophylaxis.

Comparison of the effect of sevoflurane and halothane anesthesia on the fall in heart rate as a predictor of successful single shot caudal epidural in children.

Objective: To investigate the effect of sevoflurane anesthesia on heart rate HR fall with the injection of the initial drug in caudal space to confirm the correct needle placement.

Methods: After the ethical approval was obtained from the hospital's ethics committee, a prospective, randomized, clinical study was designed in Yeditepe University Hospital, in 2007. Children aged 1-12 years, scheduled for infraumbilical surgery under general anesthesia, and caudal block were included in the study.

Internal jugular vein diameter in pediatric patients: are the J-shaped guidewire diameters bigger than internal jugular vein? An evaluation with ultrasound.

Aim: This study investigates whether the diameters of right internal jugular vein (RIJV) are suitable for the use of 'big radius curved J-tip' Seldinger wires in pediatric patients.

Methods: One-hundred and thirty-five children, 1 month to 15 years of age, scheduled for pediatric surgery were divided into four subgroups according to their age (0-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-6 years old, and >6 years). Patients in the 0-12 months group were further divided into two groups as 0-6 months and 7-12 months of age to evaluate RIJV characteristics in detail.

The effect of 2 different concentrations of rectal ketamine on its premedicant features in children.

Objective: To investigate whether changing concentration and volume of ketamine for rectal premedication would change the premedication and recovery characteristics.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, clinical study was designed in Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey in 2006-2007. The study group included children weighing 10-20 kg, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I, scheduled for inguinal hernia repair or circumcision under general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation and caudal blockade.

Epidural anesthesia may attenuate lipid peroxidation during aorto-femoral surgery.

Purpose: To determine the effect of epidural anesthesia (EP) on oxygenation of the chronically ischemic limb in patients undergoing aorto-femoral bypass grafting and to assess whether it produces an alteration of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status following revascularization.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, single-blinded study 40 ASA II or III patients undergoing elective aorto-femoral bypass grafting were allocated to receive general anesthesia (group GA, n = 20), or epidural + GA (group EP, n = 20) during surgery. Femoral venous blood-gas status, activities of the protecting antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), glutathione reductase (GSH-rd), glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as a marker of lipid peroxidation were determined in blood samples taken from the femoral vein at different intervals before and after revascularization.