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Background Insulin has anti-inflammatory effect and vasodilatory effect via endothelial NO release in arteries, veins and capillaries. Insulin inhibits release of inflammatory mediators like IL-6, TNF-α and enhances the immune function of monocytes. Stress-induced hyperglycemia is very common in the ICU, being detected in 50–85% of critically ill patients. It is defined as a blood glucose level >140 mg/dL or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 6.5 without a past history of pre-existing diabetes. Aim of the Work to evaluate the effect of low dose insulin therapy on the clinical progression of organ dysfunction and on the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin and lipid profile in patients known to be normoglycemic complaining of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis in intensive care unit. Patients and Methods The study was conducted on 60 patients which were randomized into 2 groups: 30 patients received moderate insulin therapy (group 1) and 30 patients received iv infusion of placebo (normal saline 0.9% NaCl) during the course of the study (group 2). Results There was an improvement in blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature in group 1 compared to group 2 and throughout the study period in group 1. CRP and lactate levels were declined in group 1 with better creatinine values. Triglycerides were decreased in group 1 and hypoxic index was higher in group 1 compared to group 2. Conclusion Insulin therapy with target blood glucose (120-140 mg/dL) has been found in our study that it reduces the complications of SIRS and organ failure, which was expressed by the gradual improvement in heart rate, means arterial blood pressure, body temperature, serum lactate level and urine output. These results support the hypothesis that insulin has a positive inotropic effect. Recommendations Future studies are required to compare between moderate insulin therapy with target blood glucose (120 – 140 mg/dL) and intensive insulin therapy with target blood glucose (80-110 mg/dL) as regard patients' mortality and morbidity.

Background: Levobupivacaine is an effective local anesthetic agent with less systemic toxicity than racemic bupivacaine, but it has short postoperative analgesic duration. Dexmedetomidine and fentanyl are promising adjuncts to provide excellent and prolonged postoperative caudal analgesia. This study compared the effects of caudal levobupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine and levobupivacaine plus fentanyl for postoperative analgesia and sedation in children undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery. Patients and Methods: Ninety children, whose age ranged from 1 to 7 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II, undergoing orthopedic lower limb surgery under general anesthesia received caudal block for postoperative analgesia. The children were randomly allocated into three groups: Group L (control) received 0.75 ml/kg levobupivacaine 0.25% diluted in saline; Group LD received 0.75 ml/kg levobupivacaine 0.25% with dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg; and Group LF received 0.75 ml/kg levobupivacaine 0.25% with fentanyl 1 μg/kg. Following the administration of the drugs; hemodynamic variables, the total anesthesia time, sedation score, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability score, duration of analgesia, and side effects were recorded. Results: Demographically, all the groups were comparable, both the baseline and the intraoperative hemodynamic profile were similar in all groups. The mean duration of analgesia and the mean sedation score in the Group LD were significantly greater as compared to both the other groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine may be a better additive to levobupivacaine than fentanyl for caudal postoperative analgesia, arousable sedation with comparable hemodynamic and side effect profile in children.