European Society of Anaesthesiology.

Introduction: Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is a new anesthesiological technique, where the giving of opioids (fentanyl) is avoided in the intra- and post-operative period. This leads to reduction in the opioid-related side effects and lower pain scores in the postoperative period. Materials and methods: In this randomized, single-blind clinical study, 60 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled. Half of them (30 patients) received general balanced anesthesia with fentanyl (F group-FG), and the half received opioid-free general anesthesia (OFA group-OFAG). In the post-operative period, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were followed at rest and when coughing 1 hour, 4 hrs, 8 hrs, 12 and 24 hrs after surgery. Both groups were followed by opioid requirements in the postoperative period. Results: In the postoperative period, patients in the fentanyl group (FG) have higher pain scores at rest and on coughing in all analyzed timeframes compared to patients from the OFA group, but statistically significant difference was approved 1 and 24 hours after surgery. In the OFA group 24 hours after surgery none of the patients reported pain at rest and when coughing number 7, 8, 9 and 10 according to the VAS pain score. The total opioid requirement in the postoperative period was significantly higher in the fentanyl group (FG) at rest and when coughing, compared to the OFA group. Conclusion: Opioid-free anesthesia as a part of multimodal analgesia and a new anesthesiology technique is a safe procedure, where opioid-related negative effects in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy are avoided..

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Introduction:Surgery is effective treatment for echinococcosis; however, there is a risk of hypertonic saline resorption and acute hypernatremia.Aim:We report two cases of severe hypernatremia following hydatid cyst removal.Case reports:A 17-year-old girl underwent surgical removal of hepatic hydatid cyst. Following the surgery, she developed seizures evolving to status epilepticus, and was sedated and mechanically ventilated. Blood chemistry showed hypernatremia. Fluid resuscitation with 5% dextrose infusions was started in combination with furosemide. Electrolytes were monitored frequently until plasma sodium levels normalized, 30 hours later. The patient was seizure free 48 hours later. The second patient is a 70-year-old man with hepatic hydatid cyst. After the surgery he became somnolent and confused due to severe hypernatremia. Intravenous administration of five percentage dextrose was initiated and high doses of furosemide. Sodium level normalized within 38 hours. The patient’s mental status improved.Conclusion:A hospital protocol was established aiming to prevent hypernatremia and neurological complications.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a usual complication in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Minimized opioid use due to surgery has been shown to have a better effect on patient recovery after surgery. In this study we evaluate the effect of opioid free anesthesia for postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and methods: 80 patients aged 20-65 years old were included in this randomized, clinical and prospective trial. The patients belonged to the ASA classifications 1 and 2 and were scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were classified into two groups: group 1 (fentanyl group- FG), which included 40 patients who received opioid anesthesia, and group 2 (opioid free anesthesia group-OFAG) which included 40 patients who received opioid free anesthesia. In patients from group 1 (fentanyl group -FG) introduction to general anesthesia consisted of giving midazolam at 0.04 mg/kg, fentanyl at 0.002 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg of propofol and 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium bromide. These patients received fractionated bolus doses of fentanyl during surgery. Prior to general anesthesia these patients did not receive dexamethasone. The patients from group 2 (opioid free anesthesia group - OFAG) received dexamethasone at 0.1 mg/kg and 1 g of paracetamol before introduction to anesthesia as a pre-emptive analgesia. Introduction to anesthesia consisted of giving midazolam at 0.04 mg/kg, lidocaine at 1 mg/kg, propofol at 2 mg/kg, ketamine at 0.5 mg/kg, and 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium bromide. Immediately after intubation, continuous intravenous infusion with lidocaine at 2 mg/kg/h and magnesium sulfate at 1.5 g/h was given. In this group, fentanyl was not given either during the introduction of anesthesia or during the intraoperative period. Immediately after extraction of the gallbladder patients from group 2 (OFAG) received 2.5 g of metamizole intravenously. PONV were recorded in the postoperative period of 24 hours after surgery. Results: There was no significant difference with respect to age, weight, sex, duration of surgery, and anesthesia time. PONV at different time intervals were statistically not significant at all postoperative time points – 1 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr, 12 hr and 24 hr after surgery in fentanyl group compared to opioid free anesthesia group. Even not statistically significant, PONV have occurred more often in patients who received opioid anesthesia. Conclusion: Postoperative nausea and vomiting occurs more often in patients who received opioids during laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to patients who received opioid free anesthesia, but without statistical significance.