Lidocaine coinfusion alleviates vascular pain induced by hypertonic saline infusion: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background Hypertonic saline solution has been frequently utilized in clinical practice. However, due to the nonphysiological osmolality, hypertonic saline infusion usually induces local vascular pain. We conducted this study to evaluate the effect of lidocaine coinfusion for alleviating vascular pain induced by hypertonic saline. Methods One hundred and six patients undergoing hypertonic saline volume preloading prior to spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to two groups of 53 each. Group L received a 1 mg/kg lidocaine bolus followed by infusion of 2 mg/kg/h through the same IV line during hypertonic saline infusion; Group C received a bolus and infusion of normal saline of equivalent volume. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of vascular pain were recorded every 4 min. Results The vascular pain severity in Group L was significantly lower than that in Group C for each time slot (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of vascular pain during hypertonic saline infusion in Group L was 48.0%, which was significantly lower than the incidence (79.6%) in Group C (P < 0.05). Conclusion Lidocaine coinfusion could effectively alleviate vascular pain induced by hypertonic saline infusion. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, number: ChiCTR1900023753. Registered on 10 June 2019.

EVALUATION OF INDUCED SPUTUM CYTOLOGY IN ASTHMATIC CHILDREN

Objective: To evaluate the viability of sputum cytology in asthmatic children, recognizing inflammatory patterns and correlating them with clinical, epidemiological and functional variables of the disease. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and observational study of children with asthma who underwent sputum induction through increasing concentrations of nebulized hypertonic saline solution from 3% to 7%. The samples were processed according to the technique developed by Pizzichini et al. and the cytological pattern classified as pauci-granulocytic, neutrophilic, eosinophilic and mixed. Samples with cell viability> 50% were considered adequate. Asthma control was assessed using the asthma control test (ACT). Results: Seventy-nine children performed sputum induction. Thirty-three samples were excluded because they were not viable for analysis, resulting in 46 samples. The children’s average age was 9.4 (± 3) years. There was a predominance of eosinophilic (25/46, 54.3%), followed by mixed (13/46, 28.3%), pauci-granulocytic (7/46, 15.2%) and neutrophilic (1/46, 2.2%) pattern. Sixty-three percent of the children had severe asthma and 84.7% were treated with inhaled corticosteroids. The ACT showed that 25 (56.8%) patients had the disease under control. Forty-five children (97.8%) underwent pulmonary function tests (spirometry) and in 13 cases (28.9%) an obstructive ventilatory defect was found. Conclusions: The eosinophilic profile was predominant in the assessed asthmatic children. Non-eosinophilic phenotypes were found, but less frequently. There was no difference between the clinical variables and the sputum profile in this study group. Sputum induction in children with asthma is feasible and safe and can contribute to a specific and personalized approach to the disease.

Hyponatremia, osmotic demyelination syndrome, and the importance of the patient’s history

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM), first described in 1959, is a symmetrical non-inflammatory demyelinating disease with loss of oligodendrocytes that occurs most often following a rapid correction of severe hyponatremia (i.e., <120 mmol/L). It presents as a biphasic disease with initial seizure or encephalopathy, followed by clinical improvement and subsequent rapid deterioration with bulbar dysfunction, oculomotor dysfunction, various degree of paresis, and even locked in syndrome. Its occurrence is rare (≈0.6% of severe hyponatremia), it is diagnosed clinically and confirmed with brain imaging, ideally with magnetic resonance image, and it is reversible in approximately half the patients. Lesions are classically identified in the pons but extra pontine lesions (in basal ganglia, cerebellar white matter, thalamus, and hippocampus) have also been identified. The most commonly accepted molecular mechanism involves brain cell volume regulation with a rapid shift of osmole following brain edema which establishes during the chronic hyponatremic phase. For these reasons, osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a better term. The most identified risk factor is severe hyponatremia, but other electrolyte abnormalities can contribute, in particular, if the patient is an alcoholic or malnourished. This diagnosis should also be suspected in post-op patients with nausea and headache non-responsive to antiemetic and analgesic drugs. An essential step is an appropriate medical history, a list of medications, physical examination, and basic initial lab tests with the goal of identifying possible easily reversible causes of hyponatremia. Correction of severe hyponatremia with neurological symptoms should be done using rapid boluses of hypertonic saline solution in rapid succession with goals of increasing serum sodium by 5-6 mEq/L in the first two hours, which should be stopped if the level has risen by 10 mEq/L in the first five hours, and with the overall correction goal not to exceed 15-20 mEq/L in 48 hrs. This method has been shown safe in all hospital settings studied. Serial measurements of electrolyte levels and neurological examinations are recommended, as are correction of all electrolyte abnormalities, in particular magnesium and potassium. Thiamine should be given to all patients with chronic alcohol use who present with hyponatremia and encephalopathy.

Morphological Aspects of Acute Renal Injury in Cardiac Surgery

Summary. The use of endoscopic transsphenoidal access is an effective and safe method for the surgical treatment of pituitary adenomas (PA). In endoscopic transsphenoidal surgeries, there is a need to control intracranial pressure (ICP) for reposition and expansion of the tumor capsule. Currently, the main method for reducing ICP in transsphenoidal surgery is installation of an external lumbar drainage, which is associated with a number of complications.Aim of study. To improve the results of surgical treatment of patients with arterial hypertension using hypertonic saline solution.Material and methods. A clinical and anatomical analysis of material from 27 deceased patients who were treated in the cardiac surgery department of the Institute was carried out. Valve replacement was performed in 11 patients, aortic replacement - 2, valves and aorta - 7, combined operations - 7. The patient’s records, autopsy protocols, results of histological examination of surgical and autopsy material were studied. Already on the next day after surgery, an increase in serum creatinine by more than 25% was noted under the conditions of CBR. Morphological examination of the kidneys revealed acute pathological processes - necrosis of nephrocytes of the convoluted tubules in 59.3% of cases and dystrophic changes in 40.7% of cases against the background of chronic pathology (nephrosclerosis, vascular atherosclerosis, glomerulosclerosis, pyelonephritis, secondary contracted kidney). After coronary angiography with a radiopaque contrast agent (RCA), signs of excretory nephrosis were noted, often with fixation of the RCA in the loop of Henle, with tubulorexis and the formation of cell casts.

Percutaneous aspiration–injection–reaspiration (PAIR) for the treatment of abdominal cysts: Initial report in sheep and goat

Percutaneous aspiration–injection–reaspiration (PAIR), also called sclerotherapy, is a minimally invasive, inexpensive and safe technique for the treatment of abdominal cysts in humans. A study was planned to evaluate the feasibility of this procedure in the management of abdominal cysts in sheep and goat. Adult ewes (n = 5) and one doe (n = 1) found to have abdominal cysts (one cyst/animal) on repeated survey ultrasonography (USG) were included in the study. The animals were restrained in standing position. A hypodermic needle (G-18) securely attached to a 10-mL Dispovan syringe was carefully passed under ultrasound guidance into the abdominal cyst in all these animals. Depending on the size of the cyst, 1.0–5.5 mL fluid was aspirated, and 0.5–2.0 mL of 20% hypertonic saline solution infused. The needle was thereafter kept in situ for 10 min. The maximum possible volume of the cyst content was reaspirated and the needle withdrawn. On day 7, sclerotherapy was repeated in five animals showing no appreciable reduction in cyst size by USG. USG was repeated on days 30 and 90. All the cysts except one responded to PAIR during this period. From this study it can be concluded that sclerotherapy using hypertonic saline (20%) is a minimally invasive, inexpensive, effective and safe interventional ultrasonographic technique for the treatment of abdominal cysts in sheep and goats. However, the procedure needs further evaluation after using different sclerotic agents of varying concentrations and duration of their retention in the cysts in a sufficient number of animals with cysts.

Effects of the ice popsicle on vasopressin, osmolality, thirst intensity, and thirst discomfort

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the effects of the ice popsicle on vasopressin, osmolality, thirst intensity, and thirst discomfort. Method: This is a quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test study conducted in a laboratory. The sample consisted of nine healthy male volunteers, who received 2% hypertonic saline solution. Results: Popsicle intake did not result in a statistically significant reduction in vasopressin levels (F=0.876 and p=0.428). However, there was a reduction in the hormonal physiological profile of vasopressin from 7.1 pg/ml to 5.8 pg/ml after the first two interventions. Osmolality concentration changed from 270.65 to 286.51 mOsm/kg, with no statistical difference (F=2.207; p=0.09). Ice popsicles significantly reduced thirst intensity (F=10.00; p=0.001) and thirst discomfort (F=10.528; p <0.001). Conclusion: There was a reduction in thirst intensity and discomfort after the use of the 20 ml ice popsicle. There was no statistical difference for vasopressin and osmolality. However, there was a reduction in the hormonal physiological profile of vasopressin during 30 minutes of intervention.