Sepsis is a life-threatening condition driven by a dysregulated host immune response to infection, with cytokine overproduction contributing to organ dysfunction and high mortality. Levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer used in acute heart failure, has been proposed to exert anti-inflammatory effects, but information on its immunomodulatory effects in early sepsis remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the dose- and time-dependent effects of levosimendan on cytokine profiles in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis. Thirty-two male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sham, sepsis control, low-dose levosimendan (1 mg/kg), and high-dose levosimendan (2 mg/kg). Cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, MCP-1) were measured at 5 and 10 h post-LPS administration. High-dose levosimendan significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 levels by the 10th hour, accompanied by improved Murine Sepsis Scores. IL-17 and IL-6 showed biphasic responses, increasing initially and decreasing significantly later, particularly with high-dose treatment. IL-8 reduction was observed only in the high-dose group. These findings support levosimendan’s dose and time-dependent anti-inflammatory effects and suggest it may modulate both early and late-phase cytokines in sepsis. Further studies are warranted to clarify its potential role in clinical sepsis management.

Objective: We must strive to minimize the intraoperative and postoperative risks for patients who will undergo surgery. In the treatment of obesity, which is becoming an increasingly pressing issue, bariatric surgery has become a recommended option for suitable patients. This study aimed to minimize potential complications in obese patients by considering the frequency of cardiac problems and using preoperative fluid therapy. Material and Methods: The study included 31 obese patients with a Body Mass Index of 30 or above, aged 18-50, who were in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classifications 1-2 group and were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group did not receive fluid therapy during the preoperative period. In the second group, intravenous crystalloid fluid was administered at a rate of 10 ml/kg/hour over 3 hours in the preoperative period, based on their ideal weight. Cardiac output, stroke volume variation, and stroke volume index measurements were taken at specific times intraoperatively in patients from both groups. These parameters were compared between the groups. Results: Among the cardiac parameters measured with the FloTrac™ sensor, only the stroke volume variation values measured after extubation showed a difference between the groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for the other values. Conclusion: The cardiac output, stroke volume variation, and stroke volume index values measured at various times during the surgery are similar between patients who received preoperative fluid therapy and those who did not. There is a need for more comprehensive studies that involve different fluid therapy models and more patients in this area.

Aim: Thrombocytopenia is common in intensive care units (ICU) and is associated with high mortality. The aim of this study aimed to determine the incidence of thrombocytopenia in patients diagnosed with sepsis and its relationship with mortality and morbidity. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the reanimation ICU of a university hospital. Patients followed and diagnosed with sepsis between January 2014 and January 2018 were collected and the recorded data analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data, comorbidities, disease severity scores, hematological laboratory values, and outcome were recorded. Thrombocytopenia was defined as the platelet count to be less than 100x103/mu L. Patients were divided into two groups as with or without thrombocytopenia, and statistical analysis was performed.Results: The number of patients followed with the diagnosis of sepsis was 299. The median age of the patients was 68 years, and 62.9% (n=188) was male. The rate of invasive mechanical ventilation was 97.7%. Thrombocytopenia was detected in 36.8% of the patients. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was higher in the thrombocytopenia group (p<0.0001). Additionally, the rate of acute renal failure was 24.1%, which was higher in the thrombocytopenia group (p=0.011). In the thrombocytopenia group, the blood product transfusion rates were higher (p=0.004). Median ICU hospitalization time was 15 (6-28) days. While the total mortality of sepsis patients was 43.1%, this rate was higher in the thrombocytopenia group (p=0.011).Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia, which is commonly seen in ICU's and especially in the septic patients, is thought to be associated with mortality and morbidity.

Aim: Hypothermia is a rare complication of antipsychotic drugs but serious outcomes including death may result. In this study, we aimed to investigate body temperature alterations in acute phase of chlorpromazine treatment, the relationship of inflammatory indicators and risk factors for hypothermic effect in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Materials and methods: 63 intensive care patients who needed sedative treatment due to agitation were divided into two groups as Group 1 (n = 30) with temperatures ≤ 38°C, and Group 2 (n = 33) with temperatures > 38°C according to baseline body temperatures. Also, recurrent measurements for 12 hours were made at specific intervals following 25 mg intravenous chlorpromazine. Results: In Group 1, decrease in body temperatures was significant from 4th to 12th hours (p < 0.01), while in Group 2, significant decreases in body temperatures at all measurement hours were observed (p < 0.01). Temperature changes (delta temperature) observed at specific measurement intervals were significantly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1. That difference was statistically significant at all intervals except for ΔTemperature B-6 (p < 0.05). The odds of hypothermic effects by chlorpromazine were 16%, 46%, 3%, and 18% for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and white blood cells, respectively. Conclusion: Chlorpromazine treatment applied for agitation in ICU patients was associated with acute hypothermic effect. Severity of disease and comorbidities might increase risk of hypothermia, and inflammatory biomarkers might be predictors of adverse drug reaction.

BACKGROUND:Pulmonary hypertension is a significant complication of COVID-19, but follow-up data on pulmonary artery pressure after recovery from COVID-19 are limited. OBJECTIVES:To investigate pulmonary artery pressure and heart dimensions in post-COVID-19 patients without a history of significant cardiac pathology. METHODS:Data for 91 eligible adult patients were subjected to 2 analyses. First, patients were grouped according to where they received COVID-19 treatment: the ICU, COVID-19 ward, or outpatient clinic. Second, the severity of COVID-19 was grouped as no pulmonary involvement, non-severe pulmonary involvement, or severe pulmonary involvement based on thoracic computed tomography scores. Heart dimensions were measured and pulmonary artery pressure was estimated using transthoracic echocardiography. The correlation between transthoracic echocardiography findings and COVID-19 severity was assessed. RESULTS:Pulmonary artery pressure and right-heart dimensions were significantly elevated in the post-COVID-19 patients without a history of risk factors for pulmonary hypertension that presented to the cardiology outpatient clinic with cardiac complaints. Both of these findings were correlated with the severity of COVID-19 and the extent of lung involvement based on thoracic computed tomography. CONCLUSION:The present findings confirm that increases in systolic pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular dimensions persist 2-3 months after recovery from COVID-19 in patients without a history of risk factor for pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, the increase in pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular dimensions correlate with the severity of COVID-19 and the extent of lung involvement based on thoracic computed tomography.

AIM: To compare the effects of sevoflurane and propofol anesthesia on perioperative cerebral oxygenation in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) under general anesthesia by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring. MATERIAL and METHODS: Institutional approval was obtained, and the perioperative data of 33 patients undergoing CEA were retrospectively evaluated. The study groups were organized according to the anesthesia drugs used for maintenance: sevoflurane (n=17) and propofol (n=16). The regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO(2)) of the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres was monitored continuously using a NIRS instrument and analyzed at specific time points starting from induction to the 12th hour postoperation. The data were analyzed using the appropriate tests, and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Compared with those of groups with non-clamped hemispheres, the rScO(2) values of the sevoflurane and propofol groups decreased significantly during clamping (p<0.05) and increased to above-preoperative values after declamping (p<0.05). When the sevoflurane and propofol groups were compared, a significant decrease in rScO(2) was noted during extubation in the sevoflurane group (p<0.05). In the propofol group, female patients had significantly lower rScO(2) values compared with male patients during clamping of the carotid artery (p<0.05). None of the observed decreases was greater than 20%, which is considered an indication for shunting. CONCLUSION: Our NIRS monitoring results indicate that sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia does not generally cause significant differences in cerebral oxygenation during and after cross-clamping in patients undergoing CEA. The finding of sex-related differences in cerebral oxygenation in patients receiving propofol and decreased oxygenation during extubation in patients receiving sevoflurane warrants further studies.

Purpose: Intensive care units have an important place among the units of hospitals with high cost problems. In order to ensure the quality and continuity of the service provided in these units, hospitals should perform cost analysis in certain periods. In this study, we aimed to present some general characteristics and income-expense conditions of intensive care units in our third level hospital.Materials and Methods: Demographic data, features of intensive care units and income-expenditure status of 5722 patients who stayed in 11 intensive care units between May 2017 and May 2018 were recorded and compared. Expenses for intensive care units were calculated by grouping as first, second and third parts.Results: Cardiology, internal diseases, pediatric diseases, neurosurgery and anesthesia intensive care units had higher occupancy rates. Mean duration of intensive care unit hospitalization was higher in pediatric diseases, newborn, anesthesia and neurology intensive care units. Mortality rates were found to be the lowest in neonatal and cardiology intensive care units, while the highest rate was found in pulmonary diseases intensive care unit (1%, 4.5% and 51.2%, respectively). After the income was calculated according to the intensive care unit levels, the difference between the incomes and expenses was found. Total expenses of intensive care units amounted to TL 30.498.563,49, while income was TL 30.555.040,35. A difference of TL 56.476,86 was obtained.Conclusion: Intensive care payments based on the level system by the Social Insurance Institution were found to be sufficient for the costs of the hospitals in this area.

Amaç: Hastanelerde yüksek maliyetin sorun olduğu birimlerin arasında yoğun bakım üniteleri önemli yer tutmaktadır. Bu ünitelerde verilen hizmetin kalitesini ve devamlılığını sağlayabilmek için hastaneler belirli dönemlerde maliyet analizi yapmalıdır. Biz bu çalışmada üçüncü seviye hastanemizde bulunan yoğun bakım ünitelerinin bazı genel özelliklerini ve gelir-gider durumlarını ortaya koymayı amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntem: Mayıs 2017-Mayıs 2018 tarihleri arasında 11 adet yoğun bakım ünitesine yatan toplam 5722 hastanın bazı demografik verileri, yoğun bakım ünitelerinin özellikleri ve gelir-gider durumları kaydedilip karşılaştırma yapıldı.Bulgular: Kardiyoloji, iç hastalıkları, çocuk hastalıkları, beyin cerrahi ve anestezi yoğun bakımların doluluk oranları daha yüksek olmuştur. Ortalama yoğun bakım yatış süreleri ise çocuk hastalıkları, yenidoğan, anestezi ve nöroloji yoğun bakımlarda daha yüksek olmuştur. Mortalite oranları yenidoğan ve kardiyoloji yoğun bakımlarda daha düşük olurken, en yüksek oran göğüs hastalıkları yoğun bakımda tespit edilmiştir (Sırasıyla %1, %4,5 ve %51,2). Yoğun bakımların giderleri birinci, ikinci ve üçüncü kısım olarak gruplandırılarak hesaplandı. Gelirler ise basamaklarına göre hesaplandıktan sonra aradaki gelirler ve giderler arasındaki fark bulundu. Yoğun bakımların toplam giderleri 30.498.563,49 TL olurken, gelir 30.555.040,35 TL olmuştur. Sonuçta 56.476,86 TL fark elde edilmiştir.Sonuç: Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu tarafından basamak sistemi esas alınarak yapılan yoğun bakım geri ödemelerinin toplamda hastanelerin bu alandaki maliyetleri için yeterli olduğu görülmüştür.

BACKGROUND: Vascular injury complications during lumbar discectomy are rare but potentially life-threatening. Therefore, an early diagnosis and effective treatment management is required for these complications. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 50-year-old female patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic with severe back and right leg pain. She underwent surgery for right L4-5 extruded disc herniation with general anesthesia. Sudden arterial hemorrhage occurred during discectomy performed with straight disc forceps and was controlled using hemostatic materials, with no significant decrease in blood pressure. However, the patient became hypotensive near the end of the operation. The incision was quickly closed, and she was turned to supine position. Emergency abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, and computed tomography angiography revealed an injury of the left main iliac artery, which was repaired by endovascular stenting. Laparotomy and Bogota bag were applied because of increased intrabdominal pressure at 3 hours postoperative. In addition, a retroperitoneal catheter was placed into the area of the right retroperitoneal hematoma on the first postoperative day. Tissue plasminogen activator was administered through the catheter. On postoperative day 3, the Bogota bag was removed, and the abdomen was closed. The patient was discharged without neurodeficit on day 27. Her abdominal fascial defect was closed with a synthetic graft after 5 months. CONCLUSIONS: Although lumbar discectomy is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures, the routine rules of discectomy should not be neglected. Early detection and a multidisciplinary approach can help prevent mortality in the event of vascular injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS:When conservative methods fail, neostigmine is recommended in the pharmacological treatment of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO). The objective of this study was to analyze the response of patients to different neostigmine protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients diagnosed with ACPO in the intensive care unit between January 2015 and September 2017 were retrospectively studied. Either of the two neostigmine protocols, the bolus dose (BD) or continuous infusion (CI), was applied to the ACPO patients who were unresponsive to conservative treatments, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS:In 79 of 122 (64%) patients, the resolution of symptoms was observed with conservative treatments. Of 43 patients who did not respond to conservative treatments, 20 were applied neostigmine as BD, and 23 were applied by CI. A total of 55% of patients in the BD group and 60.9% patients in the CI group responded to neostigmine therapy after the first dose. The group-specific protocols were reapplied in patients unresponsive to the first dose. A total of 25% in the BD group and 8.7% in the CI group responded to the second dose treatment. As a result, 80% of patients from the BD group and 69.6% from the CI group responded to neostigmine therapy. Although an overall response rate was higher in the BD group, there was no significant difference between groups (P=0.322). Colonic complications were observed in 2 patients, 1 from each group. There were no major side effects requiring treatment cessation. CONCLUSION:The safety and effectiveness of both neostigmine protocols applied to ACPO patients were similar. Clinical and radiological responses were obtained without serious side effects with CI.

Transdermal fentanyl patches (TFP), which provide steady-state fentanyl concentrations for 72 hours, are an attractive alternative treatment compared to multiple daily oral opioids in cancer patients. But the dosage should be gradually increased due to possible undesirable side effects such as excessive sedation, respiratory depression, seizures, coma. There were three TFP of 75 ìg.h-1 on the patient's forehead and on the bilateral anterior skin of the head when the patient is brought to the emergency service. The patient with Glasgow coma scale (GCS):5 and pupillary bilateral myotic was immediately intubated, and transferred to the intensive care unit. Naloxone was administered as an antidote. Despite the supportive therapy with vasoactive drugs and antibiotics, the patient did not gain conscious and could not be weaned from the ventilator. Multiorgan failure developed, and the patient suffered cardiac arrest, and died on the 16th day.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a multisystem disorder and often emerges following long bone fractures. In our report, a 34 year-old male patient diagnosed with FES is being presented. 2 days after admission to ICU, his consciousness and respiration deteriorated, and he needed to be intubated and connected to mechanical ventilator. Any signs consistent with pulmonary infiltrates were absent. Diffusion-weighted cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) manifested millimetric multiple hyperintense lesions, compatible with brain involvement. He was operated for orthopedic fractures on 3rd and 6th days. Control MRI on 8th day demonstrated that the areas of diffusion restriction were regressed. On 9th day, he was extubated following improvement in arterial blood gas analyses and consciousness. It is seen in literature that two theories have been proposed, explaining FES etiology. According to first theory, the released fat droplets from site of the trauma pass through right heart, reach lungs' capillary bed and cause ventilation-perfusion mismatch. Second theory, however, offers a biochemical mechanism. Central nervous system involvement in FES has been rarely reported. We confer in our report that fat globules might transmigrate through pulmonary vasculature, enter systemic circulation and eventually cause neurologic symptoms.

1 M.D. Konya State Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Konya, Turkey 2 Associate Professor, Selçuk University Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Konya, Turkey 3 Professor, Selçuk University Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Konya, Turkey 4 Professor, Selçuk University Medical Faculty, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Konya, Turkey 5 Professor, Selçuk University Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Konya, Turkey

AIM:To assess reliability by comparing the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) scores and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) values assigned by specialists from two different fields to patients in the Anesthesiology and Reanimation and Neurosurgery intensive care units.MATERIAL AND METHODS:This study was conducted between March 2017 and June 2017 at Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Anesthesiology and Reanimation and Neurosurgery. Seventy-nine patients aged 18-65 years who were treated for at least 24 hours in the intensive care unit were independently assessed by two raters, an anesthesiologist and a neurosurgeon,using FOUR and GCS. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was applied for continuous variables, and SPSS 20.0 version software was used for data analyses.RESULTS:There were no significant differences between FOUR scores and GCS values given by the two raters. The mortality rate among patients with low scores on both FOUR and GCS was higher than the hospital mortality rate.CONCLUSION:Considering that FOUR score allows a more detailed neurological evaluation than GCS, and our findings suggest that FOUR score is more useful for patients who are unconscious or dependent on mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: Persistent or transient hearing loss (HL) is a less-recognized complication of spinal anesthesia (SA) in the pediatric population, although it has been previously reported in adults. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SA on auditory function in the pediatric population.Methods: After gaining institutional approval and parental consent, 30 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II children between 4 and 15 years undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery were enrolled in this prospective study. Spinal blocks were performed in the midline with a 25G Quincke needle using 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests were administered before surgery and one-day postoperative. Children with detected HL were retested on postoperative day seven. Preoperative and postoperative results were compared. A Wilcoxin Signed-Ranks test (with Bonferroni correction) was used for statistical analyses.Results: There was no statistically significant HL in the postoperative period compared to the preoperative period. In 29 of 30 patients, no difference was detected at any frequency tested. In one patient, TEOAE and DPOAE tests were found to be decreased on postoperative day one. In this patient, control tests were found to be improved on postoperative day seven.Conclusions: Administration of SA may results in a low probability of transient hearing loss with no clinical significance in children 4-15 years of age. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background/Aims: Cardiac surgery and diabetes are major causes of acute kidney injury (AKI). We aimed to investigate the value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and serum cystatin C, as early biomarkers for prediction of AKI in diabetic and non-diabetic adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: 15 non-diabetic and 15 diabetic adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery were enrolled. Peri-operative clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Urinary NGAL, serum cystatin C, serum creatinine (Cre) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were evaluated. Results: AKI was detected in 4 patients in non-diabetic group and 12 patients in diabetic group. Urinary NGAL levels of diabetic and non-diabetic patients and serum cystatin C levels of diabetic patients exceed upper normal limits or cutoff values much earlier than BUN and Cre. cystatin C levels of non-diabetic patients remain unchanged. Cystatin C and NGAL levels of patients meeting AKI criteria and NGAL levels of patients not meeting AKI criteria exceeded upper normal limits or cut off values much earlier in than BUN and Cre. Conclusions: Measurement of cystatin C level in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients may reveal AKI earlier than NGAL and BUN. In diabetic patients, measurement of urinary NGAL and serum cystatin C levels may indicate AKI signs earlier than BUN and Cre.

Childrens with congenital anomalies affecting the airway can pose a significant challenge for the anesthesia management. In Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome, anomalies that may lead to difficulty in intubation anomaly may occur. Difficult or impossible laryngoscopy has been described in Goldenhar- Gorlin syndrome patients. The aim of this case report is to attract attention to this syndrome which fulfills many criteria for difficulty of intubation.

BACKGROUND:Peri-operative management of infants with trisomy 18 syndrome is challenging due to various congenital cardiac and facial anomalies.CASE REPORT:We report the anaesthetic management of a 13-day-old neonate with 1 540 g body weight, undergoing closure of patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary artery banding. Anaesthesia was induced with sevoflurane, fentanyl and rocuronium. Despite dysmorphic facial features, ventilation and endotracheal intubation were achieved uneventfully. Anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and fentanyl and was uneventful. The patient was transferred to the neonatal ICU intubated and with ventilatory support. The baby was extubated on the second day postoperatively.CONCLUSION:Our knowledge of the proper anaesthetic technique for children undergoing palliative or corrective surgery is limited. Further case reports will increase our experience in peri-operative management of children with trisomy 18.