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Purpose: The standard procedure for low-flow anesthesia usually incorporates a high fresh gas flow (FGF) of 4–6 L/minute during the wash-in phase. However, the administration of a high FGF (4–6 L/min) increases the inhaled anesthetic agent consumption. This study was designed to compare the sevoflurane consumption at 2 rates of flow and vaporizer concentration during the wash-in period. Methods: Patients were randomly enrolled into high FGF (HFGF) (n = 30) and low FGF (LFGF) (n = 30) groups. During the wash-in, the HFGF group received 4 L/minute FGF with a sevoflurane vaporizer setting of 2.5%, and the LFGF group received 1 L/minute FGF with a vaporizer setting of 8%. Once the wash-in was complete, anesthesia maintenance was performed with 0.5 L/min FGF with a vaporizer setting of 2.5–4.5% in both groups. The patient demographic data, bispectral index values, hemodynamic variables, wash-in time, sevoflurane consumption during the wash-in phase, and total sevoflurane consumption were analyzed. Results: The median sevoflurane consumption in the wash-in phase was 8.2 mL (7.1–9.3) in the HFGF group and 2.7 mL (2.2–3.1) in the LFGF group (p = 0.001). The mean total sevoflurane consumption was 17.41 ± 3.58 mL in the patients who received HFGF and 14.93 ± 3.57 mL in the LFGF group (p = 0.001). The mean wash-in completion time was 12.49 ± 2.79 min in the HFGF group and 3.35 ± 0.67 min in the LFGF group (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The anesthetic agent consumption during the wash-in phase was approximately 3 times lower with the administration of sevoflurane at 1 L/minute FGF than the use of 4 L/minute FGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) insertion may not always be smooth without complications. Controversial results of several studies evaluating ideal insertion conditions have been published. This study compared the oropharyngeal leak pressure values and fiberoptic grading scores between blind and video-laryngoscope-guided LMA insertion. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned into blind insertion (n = 50) and video-laryngoscope guided insertion (n = 50) groups. The oropharyngeal leak pressure, peak airway pressure, fiberoptic grading score, first attempt success rate, hemodynamic parameters, and complications were recorded. Results: All laryngeal mask airways were successfully inserted in both groups at the first attempt. The fiberoptic staging scores were: grade 1 in 8.2% of patients, grade 2 in 24.4% of patients, grade 3 in 44.8% of patients, grade 4 in 22.4% of patients in the control group. On the other hand, grade 1 in 2.2% of patients, grade 2 in 28.6% of patients, grade 3 in 51% of patients, grade 4 in 8.2% of patients in the VL group (p = 0.260). The peak airway pressure and LMA insertion time were similar between groups. However, the oropharyngeal leak pressure before extubation was significantly higher in the video-laryngoscope-guided insertion than blind insertion (36.29 ± 7.09 vs. 33.79 ± 8.84 cmH2O respectively, p = 0.04). Conclusions: The findings of our study suggest that the video-laryngoscope-guided LMA-Classic insertion with a standard blade technique may be a helpful alternative to blind insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, several studies have demonstrated that the experience derived from video games improves interventions that require technical skills. Airway management is crucial to anesthesiologists, requiring technical and non-technical skills. We evaluated the benefits of video games for video stylet-guided tracheal intubation, which allows the use of video technology in airway management of residents with anesthesiology training. In the present study, the residents working in the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation at the Health Sciences University of Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital in Istanbul were assigned to two groups. Active users who played video games on a regular basis formed study group (n = 14), while those who did not have video gaming habits were assigned to the control group (n = 15). Female patients with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II classification undergoing elective open or laparoscopic gynecological surgery through tracheal intubation under general anesthesia were included in the study. Female patients elective open and laparoscopic gynecological surgery under GA were included in the study. Time to intubate the trachea by using video stylet in (Group 1) was found to be 29 s on average, and it was 59.9 s for Group 2 (p < 0.01) The average number of tracheal intubation attempts was 1.1 in Group 1, and 1.4 in Group 2 (p = 0.19). Video gaming experience improves the visual attention.Those accustomed to playing with video games, video stylet- guided tracheal intubation, performed intubation in less time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following the administration of tranexamic acid, the occurrence of thromboembolic events is a controversial issue. Aims: In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to determine the possible thromboembolic complications due to tranexamic acid as a prophylactic method in patients undergoing open heart surgery. Methods: The data of 172 adult patients undergoing open heart surgery were analyzed. All patients received tranexamic acid at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The patients were divided into 3 groups as multiple-valve surgery (group 1), coronary bypass alone (group 2), and coronary bypass with valve surgery (group 3). The amount of blood transfusion, bleeding in intra- and postoperative period, and the presence of thromboembolic events including myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis were investigated. Results: Patient demographics and duration of surgery were not significantly different in groups (p > 0.05). Hb, Htc, INR, and platelet levels of all groups did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). In total, 7 patients underwent reexploration. Postoperative DVT, stroke, and seizure were not seen at all. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of the amount of blood transfusion, drainage, or peritoneal hematoma. The length of hospital stay and the mortality rate did not differ (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In patients receiving tranexamic acid infusion at 50 mg/kg dose, reexploration rates remained at 4.1% even after major cardiac surgeries. No thrombosis, stroke, or seizure were reported. Our findings support that tranexamic acid is a safe drug which has positive effect on reducing perioperative bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]