Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of bacteremia after mask ventilation, laryngoscopy, and endotracheal intubation before induction of general anesthesia and to discover any correlation between traumatic manipulations and bacteremia. The specific bacteria responsible, knowledge of which may guide the prophylactic use of antibiotics, also were investigated. Methods: Fifty patients were enrolled. Three 10-mL blood samples were collected from a peripheral vein 10 min before induction of anesthesia, 10 min after mask ventilation, and 10 min after intubation. All samples were placed in aerobic and anaerobic bottles for culture and bacterial identification. Results: Cultures received 10 min after intubation were positive in 12% of patients. The following strains were isolated: Escherichia coli in two cases, Staphylococcus aureus in three cases, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius in one case. A strong positive correlation was found between difficult intubation and bacteremia. No correlation between bacteremia and easy intubation or between bacteremia and face mask ventilation was identified. Conclusion: Traumatic manipulations during difficult laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation could cause bacteremia. This finding may justify and guide prophylactic use of antibiotics. 521

Ischemic preconditioning seems to attenuate the pathophysiologic alterations of several hemodynamic, biochemical and inflammatory parameters observed during IAH.

IP attenuated oxidative stress induced by IAH, mainly by increasing antioxidative capacity and the levels of protective mediators. The fact that IP was effective, even when used at extremely high levels of intraabdominal pressure, reinforces the interest on this method but further studies are needed to clarify its mechanism of action and potential clinical applications.

Laparoscopy is a unique method for a precise diagnosis of symptomatic congenital diaphragmatic hernia in adults being also a safe and viable technique for a successful repair at the same time. Experience of advanced laparoscopic surgery is required.

Συμμετοχή στο αναισθησιολογικό τμήμα του "ΕΥΓΕΝΙΔΕΙΟΥ" θεραπευτηρίου, εκτέλεση της διατριβής μου στο Πειραματικό Χειρουργείο και παρακολούθηση στο ιατρείο Πόνου του "ΑΡΕΤΑΙΕΙΟΥ" Νοσοκομείου κατά τη διάρκεια της αναμονής μου για την ειδικότητα της αναισθησιολογίας. Παράλληλα κατέχω έμμισθη θέση στον Ο.Δ.Ι.Ε(Οργανισμός Διεξαγωγής Ιπποδρομιών Ελλάδος) παρέχοντας τις πρώτες βοήθειες στους φιλίππους, στους υπαλλήλους του οργανισμού και στους ιππείς των αγώνων.