Objective: This study aimed to determine preoperative anxiety levels, their associated factors, and the relationship between health literacy and preoperative anxiety in adult patients undergoing elective surgery. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital between December 21, 2021, and June 20, 2022, and included 466 adult patients. Participants were administered the demographic data and basic health status form, Health Literacy Scale (HLS), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The participants’ mean BAI score was low to moderate (9.28± 10.85). The total HLS score was 105.89± 24.42. For the BAI, a negative correlation was found between the access to information sub-dimensions of the HLS and BAI (p=0.043, r=− 0.094). In addition, a negative correlation was detected between patients’ age and HLS and its sub-dimensions (p< 0.001, respectively [r=− 0.188, r=− 0.193, r=− 0.205, r=− 0.161]), and a positive correlation was observed among the HLS sub-dimensions (p< 0.001, respectively [r=0.873, r=0.057, r=0.966, r=0.915]). Higher HLS and sub-dimension averages were observed in single, high school, university graduates, and civil servant participants. In addition, higher BAI averages were detected in females, homemakers, urban residents, participants living only with their children, and those with additional diseases (respectively, p< 0.001, p< 0.001, p=0.007, p=0.0034, p< 0.01). Conclusion: As the level of health literacy increased, preoperative anxiety levels decreased. Preoperative assessment and education are fundamental to perioperative patient care, particularly in the surgical setting.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between preoperative fasting time, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and postoperative emergence delirium (ED) in pediatric patients undergoing MRI under sedation. Materials and Methods: 110 pediatric patients were included in the study. Preoperative fasting (solid-fluid) time and FBG were recorded. The development of ED in the patients who underwent MRI under sedation was evaluated with the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAED) value for 30 min every 5 min in the recovery room. PAED score of ≥10 was grouped as having ED, and a PAED score of 0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between the fasting time and the 0th, 5th, and 10th minute PAED score (r = 0.225; p = 0.018, r = 0.195; p = 0.041, r = 0.195; p = 0.041). There was a weak positive correlation between the solid food fasting time and the PAED score at the 0th, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th minutes (r = 0.382; p < 0.001, r = 0.357; p < 0.001, r = 0.345; p < 0.001, r = 0.360; p < 0.001, r = 0.240; p < 0.001). There was a weak positive correlation between thirst time and the PAED score at the 0th, 5th, and 10th minutes (r = 0.222; p = 0.020. r = 0.192; p = 0.045, r = 0.199; p = 0.037). The incidence of ED at any time was 34.5%. Conclusions: Prolonged fasting time, solid food fasting time and thirst time are risk factors for developing postoperative ED in children undergoing MRI under sedation.

Anesthesia-related complications, such as pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents, occur in approximately 0.02–0.1% of elective pediatric surgeries. Aspiration risk can be reliably assessed by ultrasound examination of the gastric antrum, making it an essential non-invasive bedside tool. In this prospective observational study, since most of our patients are immigrants and have communication problems, we wanted to investigate gastric contents and the occurrence of “high risk stomach” in children undergoing elective surgery for the possibility of pulmonary aspiration, even if the children and/or parents reported their last oral intake time. This risk is defined by ultrasound findings of solid content in the antrum and/or a calculated gastric volume exceeding 1.25 mL/kg. Children aged 2–18 were included in the study. Both supine and right lateral decubitus (RLD) ultrasound examinations were performed on the antrum before surgery. Using a qualitative grading scale from 0 to 2, we evaluated the gastric fluid content. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the antrum was measured in the RLD position, aiding the calculation of the gastric fluid volume according to an established formula by Perlas. Ultrasound measurements of 97 children were evaluated. The median fasting duration was 4 h for liquids and 9 h for thick liquids and solids. Solid content was absent in all the children. Five children (5.2%) exhibited a grade 2 antrum, implying that fluid content was visible in both the supine and RLD positions. The median antral CSA in the RLD was 2.36 cm², with a median gastric volume of 0.46 mL/kg. For patients with a grade 0 antrum, a moderate and positive correlation was observed between the antral CSA and BMI, and a strong and positive correlation was evident between the antral CSA and age, similar to a grade 1 antrum. Only a single child (1%) had a potentially elevated risk of aspiration of gastric contents. Hence, the occurrence of a “high risk stomach” was 1% (95% confidence interval: 0.1–4.7%) and is consistent with the literature. As a necessary precaution, we propose the regular use of ultrasound evaluations of gastric contents, given their non-invasive, bedside-friendly, and straightforward implementation, for identifying risks when fasting times are uncertain and for ruling out unknown risk factors in each potential patient.

Objectives: Delayed gastric emptying create a risk of pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia. We aim to assess the antral cross-sectional area (CSA) and gastric volume using ultrasound techniques and to investigate the relationship between these variables and both the duration and regulation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Gastric volume was estimated by measuring the antral CSA in the supine and right lateral decubitus (RLD) positions in 80 patients. The antral content was qualitatively classified according to Perlas et al. (grades 0, 1, and 2), and gastric volume was computed using a previously described formula. The presence of solid content or > 1.5 mL/kg fluid in the stomach was classified as indicative of a full stomach. Results: The mean duration of diabetes among the subjects was 9.4 ± 3.7 years. The mean fasting duration was 10.2 ± 2.1 hours for solids and 2.5 ± 0.7 for liquids. Twelve of the 80 patients exhibited grade 2 stomach. Age (p = 0.005), Body mass index (p = 0.001), solid fasting duration (p = 0.027), and supine and RLD CSA (p < 0.001 for both) were significantly associated with full stomach. A history of ≥8 years of diabetes (p < 0.001) and peripheral neuropathy (p = 0.005) was identified as a risk factor for a full stomach. Conclusions: Despite adherence to standard fasting protocols, 15% of the type 2 DM patients were identified with a 'full stomach' condition. Preoperative ultrasound assessment of gastric contents in patients with type 2 DM, especially with long-standing diabetes (≥ 8 years) and with peripheral neuropathy is recommended. The findings of this study necessitate additional investigation to support the conceptualization of specific guidelines for diabetes to mitigate the risk of pulmonary aspiration.

Purpose: This present study aimed to share experiences in the diagnosis and management of brain death (BD) and cadaveric donation cases, detected in a research hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: BD cases diagnosed between 15/03/2020-15/05/2021 in our intensive care units (ICU) were retrospectively evaluated. Patients’ demographic characteristics, primary diagnoses, ICU admission time, and length of hospital stay were analyzed. Clinical suspicion, diagnosis, declaration, and donation or cardiac arrest times and supplementary tests to support the clinical judgment performed were also evaluated. Results: 37 cases, were included in the study. Intracranial hemorrhage was the most common (54.1%) diagnosis in ICU admissions. Apnea tests could be performed only in 27 patients (73%). Cerebral CT-angiography was used as a supplementarytary test in 27 (73%) cases. Family consent for organ donation was obtained from 10 patients (27%), and 70% (n= 7) of them became donors. The time between ICU admission and BD diagnosis time was 114±92.8 (11-360) hours, the time between clinical suspicion and diagnosis was 32±15.1 (4-78) hours, the time between diagnosis and cardiac arrest of non-donors was 24±15.2 (5-72) hours, and the time between diagnosis and donation was 23±7.6 (15-35) hours. Conclusion: Occupancy in ICUs due to COVID-19 has reduced the admission of patients who may be donors to ICUs, and there has been a decrease in the number of BD detection, family approval, and organ donation in our hospital.