Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a newly-defined trunk block performed with local anesthetic injection by imaging the abdominal muscles with ultrasonography (US) guidance; thus, analgesia is expected to be ensured from the T7-L1 dermatomal segment level. In the study, the aim was making the comparison between the quadratus lumborum block and the intravenous analgesia with tramadol on postoperative analgesic effect in pediatric patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Patients included in the study were randomly divided into two groups. Cases were assessed as intravenous opioid with 1 mg/kg tramadol HCl (Group O, N.=20) or ultrasonography-guided quadratus lumborum block (Group B, N.=20). Total analgesic amounts in 24 hours and first analgesic requirement times recorded. First analgesic requirement was recorded 3.5 hours later for Group O and eight hours later for Group B, indicating a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). When analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours postoperative is examined, fewer patients in the QLB group required oral paracetamol (P<0.05), therefore lower amounts of oral paracetamol were used (P<0.05). In conclusion, we believe QLB1 provides effective analgesia in the postoperative period for lower abdominal surgery in pediatric patients.

Acute abdominal surgery has a high rate of mortality and morbidity, and intensive care is often needed in the postoperative period. In intensive care units, various scoring systems are used to determine prognosis and mortality but are not sufficient to predict mortality and prognosis. For this purpose, easily applicable, effective methods are being investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between mortality and blood parameters, such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV), in patients undergoing acute abdominal surgery. This study included a total of 249 patients who underwent acute abdominal surgery. The patients were divided into two groups as survivors (n=126) and non-survivors (n=123). The patient data were retrospectively analysed. The NLR, PLR, and MPV values were compared between the groups. Data including age, sex, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II-IV scores (APACHEII-IV), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (SOFA), Glasgow Coma Scale were assessed. The mortality rate was 49.4% in our study. There was no statistically significant difference in the NLR and PLR values between the groups. However, MPV was significantly higher in the non-survivors group (p<0.004). Our study results showed that MPV values were significantly higher in the non-survivors following acute abdominal surgery, and NLR and PLR were not associated with mortality.

The COVID-19 pandemic affects the whole world, causing high mortality. Some clinical parameters have already been implemented to be followed up to prevent mortality, but there is still a need for further information about optimum follow-up parameters and cutoff values. We aimed to investigate the reliability of the parameters used in patient follow-up by comparing survivors and non-survivors. Patients were divided into two groups as survivors and non-survivors.The parameters used in the follow-up of patients were evaluated for their prognostic value in the course of COVID-19. Of the 144 patients evaluated in our study, 57 patients were non-survivors (39.7%). Non-survivors were older with an average age of 67.8 years. Of the non-survivors, 59.6% were men. Male gender was found out to be associated with an increased risk concerning prognosis and mortality. The most common accompanying diseases were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In our study, it has been found that lymphocyte counts and levels of troponin, D-dimer, ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase are important prognostic predictors in estimating mortality risk. The use of prognostic markers appears to provide benefitsin estimating mortality in COVID-19 patients.

We aimed to compare the efficacies of patient controlled bolus administration and continuous infusion of low dose Fentanyl and Levobupivacaine combination by epidural catheter during vaginal labor on mother, baby and the duration of labor. The 45 pregnant women involved in the study were divided randomly into two groups, Group HKEB (patient controlled epidural bolus) and Group SEI (continuous epidural infusion). Hemodynamic parameters and VAS values of the pregnant women, fetal heart rate, Apgar scores, duration of labor stages, types of delivery and side effects were recorded. Time to reach the T10 dermatome was determined. Motor block was evaluated with modified Bromage scale. Additional analgesic needs were followed up and total drug consumptions were compared. Drug consumption was found to be significantly lower in HKEB administration (p<0.01). Bolus administration of a basal dose that will keep the analgesia level constant and additional drugs administered upon patient requests will prevent pregnant women from experiencing a painful period, and will provide confidence and comfort to patients who need to ask for drugs according to their pain characteristics.