Background: Preoperative anxiety is one of the most important problems for the patients, because it causes emotional and psychiatric problems as well as physical problems. It is crucial to detect the patient’s existing anxiety to assist patients. Our primary aim in this study is to investigate how the patient’s age, gender, the operation, surgical briefing, type of anesthesia recommended for the operation ahead, and patient’s prior anesthesia experience affect the patient’s anxieties. Our secondary aim is to reveal the causes of the patient’s anxieties regarding anesthesia.Methods: Our study was conducted as a prospective cohort study between May 2016–2017. Interviews with the patients were performed in the anesthesia clinic for preoperative examination. For the study, The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) has been used. The answers were evaluated in two scales: the anxiety score and the desire for information score. Answers to the statements were evaluated with Likert Scale. In addition, our patients were asked whether they had received prior anesthesia, if so, the type of anesthesia, whether they received surgical briefing and anesthetic method we recommended. We also asked our patients about the cause of their anxiety regarding the anesthesia.Results: A total of 637 patients were recruited to the study, after excluding the patients who do not meet the criteria for inclusion, and 499 patients were included. Between the age and desire for information sub-scores, a negative significant correlation was detected (r: − 0.241;p = 0.001). We found that the scores of graduates of university and higher were statistically significant than the primary school graduates (p = 0.003) and secondary school graduates (p = 0.034). Anxiety sub-scores of the patients who underwent general anesthesia were found to be significantly higher than the patients who underwent regional anesthesia (p = 0.029). Anxiety sub-scores of females were found to be significantly higher than the males (p = 0.001).Conclusions: We think that being aware of the patients’ anxiety and finding appropriate approaches for their anxieties can be valuable. APAIS is an effective method to measure patient anxiety and it might be beneficial to use during preoperative visits. Patient satisfaction and superior outcomes can be achieved in this way.Trial registrationISRCTN43960422. Registered 19/02/2018—Retrospectively registered.http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN43960422

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of intravenous (IV) tranexamic acid (TRX) use on visual clarity during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in patients scheduled for an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. In total, 60 patients were randomly distributed into two groups: control (28 patients: 11 male, 17 female; mean age=53 years, age range=19-65) and TRX (32 patients: 15 male, 17 female; mean age=50, age range=18-69). In the TRX group, the arthroscopy was performed through the bolus IV administration of 10 mg/kg TRX in 100 ml isotonic saline solution. In the control group, the arthroscopy was performed through the bolus IV administration of 100 ml isotonic saline solution. In both the groups, the IV administration was carried out after the induction of anesthesia. At the end of each procedure, the surgeon rated the visual clarity on a scale from 1 to 10. In addition, operation time (minutes), irrigation amount used in operation (lt), and the need of pressure increase because of bleeding were recorded. Results: No adverse effects were seen during the study period. Visual clarity in TRX group was significantly better than the control group (the mean visual clarity scores=8.1/10 (range=7-10) vs 7/10 (range=5-9); p=0.018). The amount of solution was significantly less in the TRX group (10.2 lt (range=3.5-21)) than in the control group (15.8 lt (range=5.8-27); p=0.007, post-hoc power=95.7%), although the operation time was slightly longer in the TRX group (106 minutes (range=50-210)) than in the control group (99 minutes (range=45-165); p=0.24). Moreover, the need for the increase in pressure owing to bleeding was found significantly less in the TRX group (5.8 times (range=(0-9)) than in the control group (9.6 times (range=0-13); p=0.04, post-hoc power=94.5%). Conclusion: Preoperative IV TRX administration seems to be effective in improving visual clarity and reducing the need for high pressure and the amount of irrigation fluid during the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Level of Evidence: Level II, Therapeutic study Cite this article as: Ersin M, Demirel M, Büget Mİ, Edipoğlu İS, Atalar AC, Erşen A. The effect of intravenous tranexamic acid on visual clarity during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 2020; 54(6): 572-6.

Savas Sencan, Ipek Saadet Edipoglu, Fatma Gul Ulku Demir, Gunay Yolcu, and Osman Hakan Gunduz. Korean J Pain 2019;32:301-6. https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2019.32.4.301

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of single dose of 20 mg/kg intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA), in reducing the blood loss in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Material and method: 70 patients (65.5 ± 8.1 years old) that have undergone TKA were divided in two groups. The 20 mg/kg IV TXA was given before the skin incision to one group (study group). On the control group, TKA was performed without TXA. The demographic data, body mass index, amount of bleeding and erythrocyte infusion during the operation, hemoglobin and hematocrit values (preoperative and 48th hour), the amount of drainage after the operation were compared between the groups. Results: The total amount of bleeding in the study group was 634.03 ± 182.88 ml and 1166.42 ± 295.92 ml in the control group (p < 0.001). Perioperative bleeding was 252.01 ± 144.13 ml in the study group and 431.33 ± 209.10 ml in the control group (p ¼ 0.018). The drainage after the operation was 311.11 ± 141.64 ml at the 24th hour in the study group, 640.74 ± 279.43 ml at the 24th hour in the control group (p < 0.001). The drainage after 24th hour was 97.96 ± 115.86 ml in the study group and 112.96 ± 64.43 ml in the control group (p ¼ 0.584). Conclusion: A high, single dose of TXA intravenously given to the patient prior to the TKA significantly reduces the bleeding during the operation and within the postoperative 24 h. There is no significant change in the bleeding amount after the 24th hour following the operation.

While foetal distress is typically associated with ischaemic injury, few studies have assessed neonatal morbidity for emergency caesarean section. Moreover, the decision of the anaesthetic technique may be of paramount importance in emergency caesareans, because of the limited time and increased risk. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the anaesthetic technique on neonatal morbidity in emergency caesarean indicated for foetal distress. This was a single-centre, prospective observational study, conducted between July-2015 and December-2015. The study enrolled parturient with indication for emergency caesarean section after diagnosis of foetal distress, who received either regional or general anaesthesia. The outcome measures were: 1, 5-minute Apgar scores; umbilical blood pH; length of hospitalization; and morbidity, defined as a 5-minute Apgar score <7, need for mechanical ventilation, admittance to a neonatal intensive care unit, or respiratory insufficiency symptoms. 61 patients were included in the study, of whom 31 received regional anaesthesia. Neonatal morbidity was noted in 5 and 9 cases with regional and general anaesthesia, respectively. The 1-minute Apgar score was significantly lower(p = 0,045) for cases with general anaesthesia, which was not true for the 5-minute Apgar score. Regional anaesthesia was non-significantly associated with shorter length of hospitalization, lower incidence of morbidity, and higher umbilical blood pH. When we take regional anaesthesia cases as a reference point, we detected that general anaesthesia cases are showing 2,2 times more morbidity risk. But these results did not reach any statistically significant levels. While we did find some improved results for regional anaesthesia group, we found no statistical evidence that neither anaesthesia technique is superior regarding neonatal morbidity. We think that regional anaesthesia should be preferred whenever possible because of our improved results of length of hospital stay, APGAR and morbidity and we think that general anaesthesia is indicated for very urgent cases or regional anaesthesia contraindicated patients. http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN15181117

Savas Sencan, Ipek Saadet Edipoglu, Alp Eren Celenlioglu, Gunay Yolcu, and Osman Hakan Gunduz. Korean J Pain 2020;33:226-33. https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2020.33.3.226