Objective: This study examined the correlation between tumour necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, IL-10 and methylprednisolone pretreatment. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized and double-blinded study. Sixty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomized to receive either intravenous methylprednisolone (n=30, Group M) or intravenous placebo (n=30, Group S). The patients received intravenously either 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone (Group M) or placebo (Group S) 10 min before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In an intensive care unit (ICU), four additional doses were given at 6-hourly intervals. Blood samples for the measurements of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were obtained before induction of anaesthesia (T0=control value), after induction (T1), before starting CPB (T2), after aortic declamping (T3), at the end of CPB (T4) and 6 hours (T5), 12 hours (T6) and 24 hours (T7) after skin closure. Creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) were evaluated at the following intervals: T0, T5, T6 and T7. Results: When compared with the control value, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 significantly increased in Group S and Group M (p B-0.05), but these values were significantly greater in Group S than in Group M (p B-0.05). In comparison with the control value, IL-10 increased in both groups (p B-0.05), but was significantly greater in Group M than in Group S (p B-0.05). CK and CK-MB were increased in both groups in postoperative values compared to control values. In Group S, CK and CK-MB levels were significantly lower than in Group M (p B-0.05). Conclusion: In this study, we have found that pre-operative administration of methylprednisolone has decreased TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 release, and increased the perfusing IL-10 levels after CPB. Thus, methylpredniso-lone may decrease the inflammatory response during the CPB procedure.

KEY WORDS: Levobupivacaine; Arthroplasty, replacement, knee; Ultrasonography; Rehabilitation; Analgesia

Background/Aims: When conservative methods fail, neostigmine is recommended in the pharmacological treatment of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO). The objective of this study was to analyze the response of patients to different neostigmine protocols. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with ACPO in the intensive care unit between January 2015 and September 2017 were retrospectively studied. Either of the two neostigmine protocols, the bolus dose (BD) or continuous infusion (CI), was applied to the ACPO patients who were unresponsive to conservative treatments, and the results were analyzed. Results: In 79 of 122 (64%) patients, the resolution of symptoms was observed with conservative treatments. Of 43 patients who did not respond to conservative treatments, 20 were applied neostigmine as BD, and 23 were applied by CI. A total of 55% of patients in the BD group and 60.9% patients in the CI group responded to neostigmine therapy after the first dose. The group-specific protocols were reapplied in patients unresponsive to the first dose. A total of 25% in the BD group and 8.7% in the CI group responded to the second dose treatment. As a result, 80% of patients from the BD group and 69.6% from the CI group responded to neostigmine therapy. Although an overall response rate was higher in the BD group, there was no significant difference between groups (P=0.322). Colonic complications were observed in 2 patients, 1 from each group. There were no major side effects requiring treatment cessation. Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of both neostigmine protocols applied to ACPO patients were similar. Clinical and radiological responses were obtained without serious side effects with CI. Cite this article as: İlban Ö, Çiçekçi F, Çelik JB, Baş MA, Duman A. Neostigmine treatment protocols applied in acute colonic pseudo-obstruction disease: A retrospective comparative study. Turk J Gastroenterol 2019; 30(3): 228-33.

There are limited data on the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 from different parts of the world. To determine risk factors of 90-day mortality in critically ill patients in Turkish intensive care units (ICUs), with respiratory failure. Retrospective, observational cohort. Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and who had been followed up in the ICUs with respiratory failure for more than 24 hours were included in the study. Their demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory variables, treatment protocols, and survival data were recorded. A total of 421 patients were included. The median age was 67 (IQR: 57-76) years, and 251 patients (59.6%) were men. The 90-day mortality rate was 55.1%. The factors independently associated with 90-day mortality were invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (HR 4.09 [95% CI: [2.20-7.63], P < .001), lactate level >2 mmol/L (2.78 [1.93-4.01], P < .001), age ≥60 years (2.45 [1.48-4.06)], P < .001), cardiac arrhythmia during ICU stay (2.01 [1.27-3.20], P = .003), vasopressor treatment (1.94 [1.32-2.84], P = .001), positive fluid balance of ≥600 mL/day (1.68 [1.21-2.34], P = .002), PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio of ≤150 mmHg (1.66 [1.18-2.32], P = .003), and ECOG score ≥1 (1.42 [1.00-2.02], P = .050). Long-term mortality was high in critically ill patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in intensive care units in Turkey. Invasive mechanical ventilation, lactate level, age, cardiac arrhythmia, vasopressor therapy, positive fluid balance, severe hypoxemia and ECOG score were the independent risk factors for 90-day mortality.

The aim was to determine the influence of the pneumoperitoneum at 10, 13, and 16 mm Hg on thromboelastograph (TEG) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Sixty patients were randomly allocated to 3 groups. The abdomen was insufflated with carbon dioxide to 10 mm Hg (group 1), 13 mm Hg (group 2), and 16 mm Hg (group 3) intra-abdominal pressures. We evaluated changes in the TEG values [reaction time (R), maximum amplitude (MA), α-angle, K time] preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. In the postoperative 24th hour, the R-value was significantly lower in group 3 than that in group 1 and group 2 (P<0.05). We found increased values of MA intraoperative 30th minute and postoperative 24th hour in group 3 with respect to group 1 (P<0.05) and postoperative 24th hour, and the MA value in group 3 was significantly higher than those of group 2 (P<0.05). In group 3, the α-angle was significantly higher than that of group 1 and group 2 at intraoperative 30th minute and postoperative 24th hour (P<0.05). In postoperative 24th hour, the K-value was significantly lower in group 3 than in group 2 and group 1 (P<0.05). Laparoscopy with pneumoperitoneum at pressures of 10 and 13 mm Hg did not alter the TEG values and low intra-abdominal pressure must be used for peritoneal insufflation.