The Effect of Intraoperative Body Temperature on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients

PURPOSE

Pediatric patients are at greater risk for both perioperative hypothermia and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between intraoperative body temperature and PONV in children undergoing anesthesia. The secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between PONV and intraoperative fentanyl use, age and duration of operation.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study METHODS: The study included 80 children who were undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Body temperature was monitored after routine preoperative preparation and standard induction. Analgesic and antiemetic requirements and the presence of nausea and vomiting were assessed postoperatively on the 30th minute and the 6th, 12th and 24th hour.

FINDINGS

The children with or without PONV were compared. At the postoperative 6th hour, the incidence of nausea was statistically significant in the children with a mean body temperature below 36°C (P = 0.044; P < 0.05). The mean duration of the surgery was statistically significant longer in the children with PONV (P = 0.001; P = 0.004; P <0.05). Mean body temperature was not statistically significant when comparing children with and without vomiting(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

While a body temperature below 36°C increases the incidence of postoperative nausea, it does not cause an increase in the incidence of vomiting. A long operation time in pediatric patients causes an increase in the incidence of PONV. Although not statistically significant, PONV is encountered more than twice as much in patients receiving intraoperative fentanyl administration.

The effect of gender on acute kidney injury developing in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

There are distinct differences specific to gender in the susceptibility, prevalence, and progression of kidney injuries. We aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between acute kidney injury (AKI) developing in patients monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) with regards to gender.

METHODS

The current study retrospectively screened the electronic records of patients monitored in the adult ICU between 2015 and 2018. The patients' age, gender, duration of their stay in the ICU, mortality rate, and need for hemodialysis were recorded and analyzed. The diagnosis of AKI was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Patients with AKIN stage 2 and stage 3 were accepted as having an AKI. Patients were separated into two groups: those who developed an AKI and those who did not. The patients were classified into age groups: those aged 18-65 years and those older than 65 years. The demographic data and gender distribution of the groups were then compared.

RESULTS

Of the patients who developed AKI, the mean age (p =0.0001), the number of days they stayed at the ICU (p =0.006), the mortality rate (p =0.0001), and the need for hemodialysis were significantly higher than the non-AKI group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regards to gender distribution (p =0.612). Acute kidney injury was found to be statistically significantly higher in both the male and female groups over 65 years when compared to the group aged 18-65-years (male p =0.004, female p =0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

When surveying the complete patient sample, AKI in the ICU was more prevalent in adult males under 65 than their female counterparts. However, there were more incidences of AKI in women over 65 than in men over 65 years. This may be due to structural changes and comorbidities in the kidney due to advanced age, as well as a decrease in estrogen levels. HIPPOKRATIA 2019, 23(3): 126-130.

Indirect laryngoscopic assessment for the diagnosis of difficult intubation in patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using indirect laryngoscopy for the diagnosis of difficult intubations in patients who are undergoing microlaryngeal surgery.

METHODS

In the pre-anesthetic examination the thyromental distance, sternomental distance, interincisor distance, neck circumference, modified Mallampati scores, and Wilson risk scores were measured. An otolaryngologist conducted an indirect laryngoscopic assessment. Direct laryngoscopic profiles were classified according to their Cormack-Lehane scores.

RESULTS

Forty patients underwent microlaryngeal surgery. Their mean ages, neck circumferences, Cormack-Lehane scores of the patients who had intubation difficulties were statistically significantly higher than those who did not have intubation difficulties (p < 0.05). The significant differences between the indirect laryngoscopic assessment distributions of patients who either had or did not have intubation difficulty were assessed (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Indirect laryngoscopic assessment is a simple and valuable technique that can be used for the diagnosis of difficult intubation in patients who are undergoing microlaryngeal surgery.