No abstract

Postoperative pain of dacryocystorhinostomy surgery is one of the serious issues to be considered. Utilizing other drugs instead of opioids can be an appropriate and practical solution in controlling the patients' pain. In this study we discuss effectivness of pregabalin in post-operative pain management in dacryocystorhinostomy surgery.Background: Postoperative pain of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCA) surgery is one of the serious issues to be considered. Administrating opioids to relieve postoperative pain and facing their increasing side effects in eye surgeries, make the use of non-opioid drugs inevitable. Objectives: The present study examined the efficacy of pregabalin in alleviating the postoperative pain of DCA surgery. Patients and Methods:The present study has been carried out as a double-blind, randomized clinical trial on the patient candidates for DCR. The patients were randomly divided in to two groups of pregabalin and placebo. Patients in pregabalin group received 300 mg of pregabalin, an hour before the operation in the morning of the surgery. Pain intensity on visual analog scale (VAS) was recorded until 24 hours after the operation; also the rate of administrated opioids and nausea/vomiting frequency were recorded during the first 24-hour period after the operation and the resultsof the two groups were compared. Results: Postoperative pain intensity in the pregabalin group at the time of recovery was significantly lower than that of the placebo group (P = 0.001) until 24 hours after the surgery. In the pregabalin group 17.5% of the patients received opioids while in the placebo group the figure was 52.5% (P = 0.001). Nausea frequency was also higher in the placebo group than the pregabalin group (P = 0.003). Conclusions: A single 300 mg dose of pregabalin, an hour before DCA can effectively reduce pain intensity and also reduce opioid dose and nausea/vomiting.

Postoperative pain management is an important but undervalued aspect of perioperative care, we have emphasized the importance of postoperative analgesia and discussed the new developments in this field. This article is recommended to be read by all anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons and any other physicians who involved with pain management.

No abstract

Anesthesia personnel are at risk for needlestick injuries (NSIs). This study evaluated the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practice of preventing NSIs among anesthesia personnel in four Iranian university hospitals. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 104 anesthesia personnel. In addition, hospital infection control center records were reviewed. The prevalence of NSI among anesthesia personnel was 56.8%. Only 32.2% reported their NSI. Men were more knowledgeable about the risks associated with NSI and the application of standard precautions than women, but were also more likely to experience NSI. Standard precautions were often not followed. In contrast with other hospital staff, most reported NSIs among anesthesia personnel produced high-risk exposures. The knowledge and prevention practices of anesthesia personnel related to needles and other sharps were not satisfactory. These health care providers need appropriate training on standard precautions and administrative oversight to improve their practices. Anesthesia personnel's gender and position should also be considered to improve compliance.