AASI was associated with higher predictive values than MMP and could be used for estimation of DVL.

In children with uncomplicated URI, the administration of inhalation anesthetics in general anesthesia by LMA is likely to cause fewer adverse events than the use of FM.

Preemptive low-dose ketamine (0.1 mg/kg) as a bolus has opioid-sparing effects in opioid abusers undergoing moderate sedation.

Background:The current randomized double-blind clinical trial aimed to compare the incidence of post-operative cough with intravenous vs. topical lidocaine in children with mild upper respiratory infection (URI) anesthetized with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in the university-affiliated medical center.Objectives:To assess the incidence of adverse respiratory event including cough, apnea, laryngospasm, bronchospasm following two different methods of lidocaine administration in anesthetized children with mild URI.Patients and methods:One hundred and thirty pediatric patients with mild URI (within the previous two weeks) aged between one and six years were enrolled. They were candidates to undergo immediate full ophthalmic examination, and randomly divided into two groups of 65to receive intravenous (1.5 mg/kg) or topical lidocaine on LMA. Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane, subsequently LMA was inserted when the patient was in deep anesthesia status and maintained on (50% N2O, 50% O2) and 3% sevoflurane. Spontaneous ventilation was maintained throughout the procedure and LMA was removed in deep anesthesia. Outcomes (cough, laryngospasm, bronchospasm and vomiting) were evaluated peri-operatively and one day post-operation.Results:One hundred and twenty four patients fulfilled the trial. Cough (primary outcome) was significantly more frequent among those with topical compared with intravenous lidocaine (46% vs. 26%; P = 0.004). The incidence of laryngospasm (32% vs. 27%), bronchospasm (18% vs. 12%), desaturation (18% vs. 12%) and vomiting (5% vs. 2%) was not statistically different between the groups.Conclusions:The pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia with LMA with intravenous lidocaine experienced fewer incidence of postoperative cough compared to the ones in the topical lidocaine group.

Background: “Simulated-patient scenarios and role-playing” and OSCE are among the many non-traditional education methods with variable results in different clinical settings. Objectives: This cross-sectional study was performed to assess the correlation between the results of these two methods in senior anesthesiology residents, with a special focus on four of the six ACGME core competencies. Methods: During two years, senior anesthesiology residents were subject to “simulated patient scenario and role-playing” sessions. Two faculty members took the role of the patient and one of the relatives. An objective checklist with 15 items was prepared to be rated by other department faculty members. Meanwhile, an ordered pattern of OSCE was prepared to cover four core competencies that were more related to this academic process (from a total of six core competencies). The mean and standard deviation of the score of each of the 15 items in the checklist were calculated. The correlation between cumulative checklist scoring results and OSCE exam results was assessed. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 40 senior anesthesiology residents, with 344 assessments by faculty members in 40 sessions, were enrolled in the study. The questionnaire’s Cronbach’s alpha reliability was 0.74. No statistically significant disparity was detected between the results of the two assessment methods, while the results of the two assessments had a significant correlation (two-tailed correlation coefficient = 0.886; P value < 0.001). Conclusions: There was an objective relationship between the results of “simulated patient scenario and role-playing” strategies and the results of OSCE exams using an observer-based rating method. Thus, they could be used as surrogates in the assessment of core clinical competencies of senior anesthesiology residents.