Perioperative complications following preoperative cessation of antithrombotic agents for total knee arthroplasty: A retrospective study.

The number of elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has steadily increased. Elderly patients undergoing TKA usually have underlying diseases, and some of them take antithrombotic agents for the prevention or treatment of these co-morbidities, including cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or thromboembolic diseases. When these patients are scheduled to undergo TKA, preoperative cessation of antithrombotic agents is considered on the basis of its risks and benefits.

Effect of prophylactic benzydamine hydrochloride on postoperative sore throat and hoarseness after tracheal intubation using a double-lumen endobronchial tube: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: We evaluated the prophylactic effect of benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) spray on postoperative sore throat and hoarseness secondary to intubation with a double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT).

Methods: Ninety-two adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery using DLT intubation were studied. The DLT cuff and oropharyngeal cavity were sprayed with normal saline (Group S; n = 46) or BH (Group BH; n = 46) prior to intubation.

Effect of Jaw Thrust on Transesophageal Echocardiography Probe Insertion and Concomitant Oropharyngeal Injury.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of jaw thrust on transesophageal echocardiography probe insertion and concomitant oropharyngeal injury.

Design: A prospective, randomized study

Setting: Medical center governed by a university hospital

Participants: Forty-two adult patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were included.

Interventions: After the induction of anesthesia, a transesophageal echocardiography probe was inserted using an anterior jaw lift technique (conventional group, n = 21) or a jaw thrust-assisted technique (jaw thrust group, n = 21).

Propofol-ketamine or propofol-remifentanil for deep sedation and analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing burn dressing changes: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: In this study, we compared the propofol-ketamine and propofol-remifentanil combinations for deep sedation and analgesia during pediatric burn wound dressing changes.

Methods: Fifty pediatric patients aged 12-36 months, undergoing burn wound dressing changes, were randomly assigned to receive propofol-remifentanil (group PR) or propofol-ketamine (group PK) for deep sedation and analgesia. Patients in the group PR received 2 mg·kg(-1) propofol and 0.

Insulin/glucose infusion successfully resuscitates bupivacaine-induced sudden-onset circulatory collapse in dogs.

Purpose: In previous studies, insulin reversed the cardiac toxicity gradually induced by a continuous infusion of bupivacaine. In this randomized controlled study, we intended to simulate a more relevant clinical situation by injecting bupivacaine rapidly as a bolus to induce sudden-onset circulatory collapse in dogs. We then evaluated the insulin effect.

Insulin Facilitates the Recovery of Myocardial Contractility and Conduction during Cardiac Compression in Rabbits with Bupivacaine-Induced Cardiovascular Collapse.

Bupivacaine inhibits cardiac conduction and contractility. Insulin enhances cardiac repolarization and myocardial contractility. We hypothesizes that insulin therapy would be effective in resuscitating bupivacaine-induced cardiac toxicity in rabbits.

Comparative prophylactic and therapeutic effects of intravenous labetalol 0.4 mg/kg and nicardipine 20 μg/kg on hypertensive responses to endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing elective surgeries with general anesthesia: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Background: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation (LTI) after induction of general anesthesia often cause hypertension and tachycardia. Labetalol and nicardipine have been used to prevent and treat acute cardiovascular responses to LTI.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare the preventive and therapeutic effects of labetalol 0.

Dexmedetomidine is effective for monitored anesthesia care in outpatients undergoing cataract surgery.

Background: Dexmedetomidine has a sedative analgesic property without respiratory depression. This study evaluated the efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an appropriate sedative drug for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in outpatients undergoing cataract surgery on both eyes compared with combination of propofol and alfentanil.

Methods: Thirty-one eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups on the first operation day.

17β-Estradiol attenuates the activity of the glutamate transporter type 3 expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Estrogen, a neuroactive sex hormone in the brain, enhances neuronal excitability and increases seizures. Glutamate transporters help in limiting the excitatory neurotransmission by uptaking glutamate from the synapses. We investigated the effects of 17β-estradiol on the activity of a glutamate transporter, excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAAT3), in Xenopus oocytes.

Effects of sevoflurane on neuronal cell damage after severe cerebral ischemia in rats.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of sevoflurane after severe forebrain ischemic injury. We also examined the relationship between the duration of ischemia and neuronal cell death.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-380 g) were subjected to 6 (each n = 6) or 10 min (each n = 10) of near-complete forebrain ischemia while anesthetized with either 50 mg/kg of zoletil given intraperitoneally or inhaled sevoflurane (2.

Axillary approach versus the infraclavicular approach in ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block: comparison of anesthetic time.

Background: With ultrasound guidance, the success rate of brachial plexus block (BPB) is 95-100% and the anesthetic time has become a more important factor than before. Many investigators have compared ultrasound guidance with the nerve stimulation technique, but there are few studies comparing different approaches via the same ultrasound guidance. We compared the axillary BPB with the infraclavicular BPB under ultrasound guidance.

Intravenous, oral, and the combination of intravenous and oral ramosetron for the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Background: Patients undergoing general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy have a high risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) with incidences up to 75%. Ramosetron, a serotonin subtype 3 (5-HT(3)) antagonist, has been shown to be effective as an antiemetic after chemotherapy and surgery. Consensus guidelines recommend a combination of antiemetic therapies in high-risk groups.

Differentiating focal eosinophilic liver disease from hepatic metastases using unenhanced and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI.

Purpose: To examine the differential features of focal eosinophilic liver disease (FELD) from liver metastases on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI.

Materials: Twenty patients with 41 FELD and 20 patients with 55 metastases were enrolled in this study. Liver MRI consisted of precontrast 2D T1-weighted image (T1WI) and gadoxetic acid-enhanced 3D T1WI (arterial, portal, 20 min hepatocyte-selective phases), and a postcontrast T2WI.

Detection of small hepatocellular carcinoma: intraindividual comparison of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI at 3.0 and 1.5 T.

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3.0 T for the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and compare with that at 1.5 T.

The effect of low fresh gas flow rate on sevoflurane consumption.

Background: In an era of medical cost containment, cost-effectiveness has become a major focus in healthcare. The effect of a new policy on the use of low fresh gas flow during maintenance of general anesthesia with volatile anesthetics was evaluated.

Methods: The numbers and duration of general anesthesia cases using sevoflurane 5 weeks prior to and 15 weeks after policy implementation were retrieved from the electronic medical records database.

Detection of liver malignancy with gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI: is addition of diffusion-weighted MRI beneficial?

Aim: To determine the additive value of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) to gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for the detection of hepatic metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five patients with 38 liver metastases and 18 HCCs were included in this study. Ten patients also had hemangiomas (n = 3) or cysts (n = 8).

Detection of small hepatocellular carcinoma: can gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging replace combining gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced and superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging?

Purpose: To investigate whether gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the diagnostic capability and sensitivity comparable to the combination of gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI and superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MRI (double-contrast MRI) in the detection of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Materials: Forty-one patients with 56 HCCs (size range, 0.5-2.

Effects of intravenous iron combined with low-dose recombinant human erythropoietin on transfusion requirements in iron-deficient patients undergoing bilateral total knee replacement arthroplasty.

Background: The authors examined the impact of parenteral iron and recombinant human erythropoietin-β (rHuEPO-β) administered in the bilateral total knee replacement arthroplasty (TKRA), on postoperative anemia and transfusion requirements in iron-deficient patients.

Study Design And Methods: A total of 108 iron-deficient patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Group C (control) or Group IE (200 mg of iron sucrose intravenously over 1 hr and 3000 IU of rHuEPO-β subcutaneously during the operation and during the postoperative period if the hemoglobin [Hb] level was 70-80 g/L). One or 2 units of blood were transfused to patients in both groups according to postoperative Hb level (between 60 and 70 g/L or betweeen 50 and 60 g/L, respectively).

A comparison of the hemodynamic changes and propofolinduced pain at two different doses of remifentanil in elderly patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal dose of remifentanil for minimizing hemodynamic changes during intubation and reducing propofol-induced pain in elderly patients.

Methods: In a randomized prospective study, 60 patients (ASA I-II, elder than 65 years) were enrolled to determine which of two target remifentanil blood concentrations (3 ng/ml, 5 ng/ml) was required to blunt hemodynamic changes during intubation and to reduce propofol-induced pain. After the target effect site concentration of remifentanil had been reached, the target controlled infusion of propofol was started and propofol-induced pain was recorded.

A portable inhalational induction device provides co-operative induction of anaesthesia in preanaesthetic area for children.

Background: We introduce a new, simple portable inhalational induction device (PD) that provides co-operative inhalational induction of anaesthesia using N(2)O and subsequent sevoflurane in the preanaesthetic induction area in children.

Methods: Forty-five children (30 to 94 months old age, <35 kg) who were scheduled to undergo simple operations were assigned randomly to one of three regimens. Patients were encouraged by their parents to inhale N(2)O followed by sevoflurane (PD N(2)O-sevo group) or sevoflurane (PD sevo group) using a portable inhalational induction device in the preanaesthetic induction area until they were unable to respond to their names.

The neurological safety of epidural pamidronate in rats.

Background: Pamidronate is a potent inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Recently, the drug has been known to relieve bone pain. We hypothesized that direct epidural administration of pamidronate could have various advantages over oral administration with respect to dosage, side effects, and efficacy.

Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: gadoxetic acid-enhanced 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging versus multi-detector row computed tomography.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Materials: Sixty-two patients (81 HCCs) who underwent MDCT and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI using a 3-dimensional volumetric interpolated technique with a mean interval of 7 days (range, 3-11 days) were included in this study. Two observers reached a consensus on 2 sets of images: the gadoxetic acid set (unenhanced, early dynamic, 10-minute, and 20-minute hepatocyte phase images) and the 3-phase MDCT.

Role of fat-suppressed t1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in predicting severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis: an intraindividual comparison with multidetector computed tomography.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance (MR) grading focusing on elevated signal on T1-weighted images in the prediction of severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis as compared with the Balthazar computed tomography (CT) grading.

Materials: Thirty-one patients with acute pancreatitis who underwent CT and MR imaging including fat-suppressed T1-weighted images within a 48-hour interval were included in this study. The severity of pancreatitis was evaluated by 2 observers using the Balthazar CT grading system and an MR grading system that is focused on an elevated signal on T1-weighted images.

Comparison of airwayscope to direct laryngoscope and lightwand for cardiovascular response in patients with difficult airway.

Background: Airwayscope (AWS), which has been used successfully for difficult airway in general anesthesia, has been anticipated that hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation in the difficult airway may be attenuated. Also, there is a series of reports demonstrating the successful use of lightwand to open the difficult airway. Thus, we decided to conduct a survey to compare AWS to lightwand and to direct laryngoscopy of cardiovascular response to tracheal intubation.