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Purpose: Septic shock is a common threat, and is the primary cause of death in almost all critical care units. Mortality of septic shock remains exceedingly high. The early use of methylene blue (MB) in different doses as adjunctive to vasopressors has promising results. Methods: This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comprised 90 patients divided into 3 groups: Group A received a 100 ml 0.9% NaCl placebo over 20 min; Group B received an MB bolus of 1 mg/kg in 100 ml 0.9% NaCl, and Group C received MB bolus of 4 mg/kg in 100 ml 0.9% NaCl during the same period. Groups B and C were given a 0.25 mg/kg/hour infusion of MB for 72 h after the bolus dose. All patients were started on noradrenaline at an infusion rate of 0.1–0.2 µ/kg/min and were adjusted accordingly to maintain MAP ≥ 65 mmHg. Time of vasopressor discontinuation was the primary outcome while total doses of vasopressors, ventilation days, vasopressors free days, total ICU stay, total hospital stay, and mortality rate were the secondary outcomes. Results: Groups B and C exhibited significantly decreased time to vasopressor termination, and vasopressor-free days at 28 days in comparison to Group A. However, there was no significant difference between Groups B and C. Groups B and C had significantly lower noradrenaline dosages compared to Group A, however, no significant difference between Group B and Group C was found. The difference between the three groups in mortality rate was near statistical significance (p = 0.083). Using the logistic regression model, the 4 mg/kg group was protective against mortality with a hazard ratio of 0.29 (95%CI: 0.09–0.90). Conclusion: In cancer patients with septic shock, early adjunctive MB delivery reduces the time to a vasopressor stoppage and increases the vasopressor-free days. No significant difference between high and low MB bolus doses, and no significant adverse effects were noted. Compared to placebo, the 4 mg/kg bolus dose shows a survival advantage. Trial registration: Prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov [NCT 06005558]. (Date of registration 15/08/2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A significant postoperative pain has been documented in numerous breast cancer cases following modified radical mastectomy (MRM). We evaluated the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine (DEX) versus ketamine as adjuvants to local anaesthetic in erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in MRM. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 75 women with breast cancer scheduled for MRM were included. All patients underwent ESPB with 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine and randomized into three equal groups: group A, ESPB group; group B: received 1 µg/kg DEX with the ESPB; and group C: given 0.5 mg/kg Ketamine with the block. Results: Compared with group A, VAS score at rest as well as movement were lower considerably in groups B and C (p < 0.05) at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. Group B had lower VAS scores at rest at 12 h and 24 h and during movement at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h (p < 0.05) than group C. In comparison to A Group; B and C Groups required considerably less time to rescue analgesia and consumed significantly fewer total opioids (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, total number of patients who required additional analgesia was markedly reduced in groups B and C compared to group A ;(p < 0.05). Conclusion: In MRM surgery, the postoperative opioids consumption and VAS values were lower in both groups DEX and ketamine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine which enhanced the analgesic profile and prolonged ESPB duration compared to ESPB alone, with DEX being superior to ketamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a cross-sectional study assessing the validity of airway ultrasound (US) in correlation with Cormack-Lehane grading (CLG) in obese patients under general anesthesia with endotracheal tube placement. Among the data collected are pre-epiglottis spaces (Pre-E) ratios, the ratio of hyomental distance extension/hyomental distance neutral, and thyromental distance. Also cited is the use of CLG to classify challenging laryngoscopy in anesthetic studies.

The article presents the results of a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) against the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in managing postoperative pain during modified radical mastectomy (MRM) to treat breast cancer. The study assessed the subjects' serum cortisol levels, drug consumption, and pain scores. Based on the results, ESPB is more effective than SAPB in managing postoperative pain.

Background: Morbid obesity may cause a restrictive condition, general anesthesia (GA) and supine posture both result in a decrease in lung capacity and Functional residual capacity (FRC), encouraging the development of atelectasis, altering the ventilation/perfusion ratio and raising the pulmonary shunt. This study evaluated the impact of recruitment maneuver (RM) and Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block performed during laparoscopic bariatric surgery on spirometry, oxygenation, hemodynamic variables, opioid requirements and pain score assessed after surgery. Methods: This pilot prospective randomized controlled study included 80 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic bariatric surgeries (e.g., laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and laparoscopic gastric bypass) under GA. Patients were divided into four equal groups. All patients had received standardized postoperative analgesia regimen, group I (control group), group II received TAP block after intubation and before surgical incision, group III received RM after intubation and after pneumoperitoneal exsuf-flation, and group IV received RM after intubation and after pneumoperitoneal exsufflation and TAP block after intubation and before surgical incision. Results: Forced Vital Capacity "FVC", Forced Expiratory Volume "FEV1" were found to be significantly higher after operation in group IV compared to other groups. FEV1/FVC was insignificantly different among the four groups before and after operation. Intraoperative PaO2, PaO2/FiO2 were significantly higher in group III and IV compared to other groups. Numerical rating scale (NRS) at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12hr had significantly decreased in group II and IV compared to other groups. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were insignificantly different among the four groups. Morphine consumption was significantly lower in group II and IV compared to other groups. Conclusions: TAP block combined with RM group exhibited better postoperative pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Intraoperative oxygenation was higher in RM groups. NRS and opioid consumption were lower in TAP groups in postoperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]