Erythropoietin protects myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion injury under moderate hyperglycemia.

Erythropoietin (EPO), an essential hormone for erythropoiesis, provides protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Hyperglycemia during acute myocardial infarction aggravates organ damage and attenuates the efficacies of various protective measures. This study aimed to investigate the protective role of EPO against myocardial I/R injury under a clinically relevant moderate hyperglycemic condition and its associated mechanisms.

Efficacy of dexamethasone added to ramosetron for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in highly susceptible patients following spine surgery.

Background: Opioid-based patient controlled analgesia (PCA) provides adequate pain control following spinal surgeries at the expense of increased risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). We evaluated the efficacy of dexamethasone added to ramosetron, which is a newly developed five-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3 antagonist with a higher receptor affinity and longer action duration compared to its congeners, on preventing PONV in highly susceptible patients receiving opioid-based IV PCA after spinal surgery.

Methods: One hundred nonsmoking female patients undergoing spinal surgery were randomly allocated to either a ramosetron group (group R) or a ramosetron plus dexamethasone group (group RD).

Effect of ketamine pretreatment for anaesthesia in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty with continuous remifentanil infusion.

Background: An appropriate level of sedation and pharmacological assist are essential during percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA). Ketamine provides good analgesia while preserving airway patency, ventilation, and cardiovascular stability with an opioid sparing effect suggesting that it would be ideal in combination with remifentanil and midazolam in spontaneously breathing patients. We evaluated the effect of a small dose of ketamine added to midazolam and remifentanil on analgesia/sedation for PTA procedures.

The effect of milrinone on the intraoperative hemodynamics during off-pump coronary bypass surgery in patients with an elevated echocardiographic index of the ventricular filling pressure.

Background: Hemodynamic derangement during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) is mainly attributed to impaired filling and diastolic dysfunction. An elevated ratio of the mitral velocity to the early-diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e' > 15) is a relatively new indicator of diastolic function, and this was reported to be associated with impaired hemodynamics during OPCAB. We investigated the efficacy of milrinone on the perioperative hemodynamics and short term outcomes of patients with an E/e' > 15 and who underwent OPCAB.

Pseudoaneurysm in the inferior epigastric artery and scrotal hematoma following removal of a femoral vein catheter -A case report-.

We report a rare case of pseudoaneurysm of the inferior epigastric artery and inguinal hematoma extending to the scrotum following the removal of a femoral venous catheter in a 24-year-old male patient undergoing two consecutive neurosurgical procedures.

Laparoscopy-assisted subtotal gastrectomy under thoracic epidural-general anesthesia leading to the effects on postoperative micturition.

Background: Recently, the laparoscopic surgical technique has been widely applied to major surgery as it can minimize surgical incision, reduce blood loss, and shorten hospital stay. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the laparoscopic surgery on postoperative micturitional function in comparison to open surgery.

Method: Sixty patients undergoing subtotal gastrectomy were assigned to either laparoscopic (L group, n = 30) or open surgery (O group, n = 30) groups.