Makale Arama

ABSTRACT

Aim: Sternal dehiscence is one of the most troublesome complications following cardiac surgery. Although it can be corrected by simple methods if detected earlier, treatment failure or delay in sternal dehiscence may result in mediastinitis, which is highly lethal.  In this study, we aimed to investigate alternative sternal closure systems, mainly sternal talon (STalon) and titanium sternal plates (SPlate). Patients and Methods: In between April 2015 and January 2018, patients with sternal dehiscence after any kind of open cardiac surgery were included in this study. These patients were retrospectively evaluated according to the their demographic data, risk factors for sternal dehiscence, type of operations, techniques used for fixation of the sternum, mainly focusing on the STalon and titanium SPlate fixation. Results: A total of 45 patients were taken into surgical correction because of sternal dehiscence.  Thirty-four (75.6%) of the patients male, whereas 11 (24.4%) were female. Mean time interval after the first operation to sternal dehiscence was 68.5 days (1-780 days). Mean body-mass-index (BMI) was 31.52 kg/m² (22.03-43.69 kg/m²). Before the sternal fixation, mean CRP value was 68.34, whereas it was 75.55 before discharge. Confounding risk factors were internal mammarian artery (IMA) harvesting for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, chronic pulmonary artery disease and advanced age. Mean post-operative intensive care unit (ICU) length-of-stay (LOS) was 5.02 days (1-29 days), whereas hospital LOS was 17.18 days (2-74 days). Early mortality was observed in 3 patients (6.67%). The first choice of operation was simple closure and/or Robicsek closure. Apart from simple and Robicsek closure techniques, sternal talon and/or titanium plates were used in 24 patients (53.3%). DM was found to be related to extanded total hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and postoperative time to discharge. DM also increased the risk of both superficial and deep sternal infection rates (p<0.05).  Conclusion: Ideal sternal closure should stabilize the sternum, be cost-effective and provide shortest hospital LOS with minimal post-operative complications. In patients with intact intercostal spaces, sternal talon may eliminate serious complications, such as cardiac rupture mainly caused by dense adhesions. Sternal plates are mainly effective in fragmented fractures without stable intercostal spaces. All patients should be individualized according to type of lesions and sternal fractures.

Today health related quality of life with its ever increasing importance has become an inherent part of treatment and follow up in all departments of medicine including diagnosis and treatment. In neuro-intensive care unit, the severest patients with the most intensive diagnosis and treatment period are followed up. Neurologic disorders with neurointensive care requirement include so many parameters potentially affecting the quality of life in acute and severe stages besides in chronic term. Apart from the effects of these diseases on life quality, there are many other important parameters related to quality of life. It is possible to list chief parameters as malnutrition in intensive care unit, agitation, pain, disruption of skin integrity, musculoskeletal system involvement, cardiovascular and autonomous involvement, side effect of drugs and multidrug interactions. In this review, the relationship between nutrition and health related quality of life in neurointensive care unit will be reviewed.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine pressure ulcer prevention knowledge and attitudes among nurses who cared for surgical patients that were exposed to pressure ulcer risk factors such as immobilization and nutritional problems.

Materials and Method: This descriptive study was carried out with 150 nurses who were working in the surgical clinics and surgical intensive care units of a medical faculty hospital in XXXX and who had at least one year’s professional experience. Necessary permissions were obtained from the ethics committee and the institution prior to the research. Data were collected with a patient information form, the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Knowledge Assessment Instrument (PUPKAI) and the Attitude towards Pressure ulcer Prevention instrument (APuP) between October 1, 2018 and February 1, 2019.  Data were analyzed with the independent-samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the correlation analysis and the multiple regression analysis.

Results: The mean age of the nurses was 29.91±6.48 years, 65.3% were female and half of them had undergraduate degrees. According to the PUPKAI total mean score (<60%), the pressure ulcer prevention knowledge of the nurses was inadequate and only 24% had a knowledge score ≥60%. Regression analysis results showed that, nurses' professional experience duration, working style, number of patients per shift and the experiences of giving care to patients with pressure ulcers were found to have a significant effect on the PUPKAI total mean score (p<0.05). According to the APuP total mean score (≥75%), the nurses had positive attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention. It was also determined that the descriptive characteristics of the nurses did not significantly affect the APuP total mean score (p>0.05). There was no significant relationship between the total mean scores of the PUPKAI and APuP (p>0.05).

Conclusion: This study revealed that the surgical nurses had positive attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention but they had inadequate knowledge about it. These findings highlight the need for institutional arrangements to ensure that nurses have access to evidence-based knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to discuss our experience and results of non-operating room anesthesia.

Materials and Methods: Anesthesia records of patients older than 18 years who underwent sedo-analgesia outside the operating room for diagnosis and treatment between May 2017 and December 2017 were retrospectively screened. The records were examined in terms of demographic data, applied procedure, duration of the procedure, sedation grade, medications used, developing minor and major complications, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease story and intensive care need. Relationships between complications with demographic data and categorical variables were analyzed.

Results: Totally 2562 patients underwent sedo-analgesia. 1428 (55.7%) of these cases were female and 1134 (44.3%) of them were male. The average age of patients was 53.08±16.55. 268 (10.5%) of the cases were ASA I, 1683 (65.7%) were ASA II, 598 (23.3%) were ASA III and 13 (0.5%) were ASA IV. 519 (20.3%) patients were minimally sedated, 1541 (60.1%) were moderate sedated and 502 (19.6%) deep sedated. The longest procedure time in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was 28.7 ± 16.3 min, and the shortest procedure time in endoscopy was 10.3 ± 3.1 min. The most commonly performed procedure was colonoscopy with 31%. The most commonly used drug combination was midazolam + propofol + fentanyl applied to 1231 patients (48%). 148 (5.76%) patients had minor complication, and 10 (0.37%) patients had major complication. A total of 15 (0.58%) patients underwent intensive care after the procedure. Desaturation was statistically significantly higher in patients with ASA III and above, in procedures take longer than 15 minutes, in patients older than 65 years, and in the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The intensive care need after the procedure was also significantly higher in these patient groups.

Conclusion: The incidence of non-operating room anesthesia is increasing steadily. The risks associated with these practices are similar to the anesthesia in the operating room. In order to increase patient safety and reduce complications, it is important to carry out a thorough evaluation before the procedure, to provide proper monitored anesthesia care in appropriate physical conditions, and to establish healthy communication between the teams.

Objective: Brain death is defined as the complete and irreversible loss of all brain functions including the brain stem. Three major findings used for the diagnosis of brain death are coma, absence of the brain stem reflexes and apnea. The diagnosis of brain death has become more important with the increasing number of patients waiting for transplantation. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of computed tomography angiography in confirming brain death.

Material & Methods: Clinical brain death was reported in total 21 patients hospitalized in critical care unit of our hospital between October 2015 and June 2018. One of these patients was excluded since he underwent magnetic resonance angiography. CTA findings of the remaining patients were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were aged between 25 and 75 years with a mean age of 45 ± 1 years. CTA evaluations were performed using a 64 detector device. 100 mL contrast agent was delivered with a double head automated pump at a rate of 3.5 – 4 cc/sec as 350-375 mg/mL. When the region of interest reached to 90-100 HU cut off value, the images were acquired at 15-20 sec intervals on the axial plan. CTA findings were interpreted using 10- point scale.

Results: Causes of death were reported as intracranial hemorrhage in eight patients, ischemic cerebrovascular events in four patients, hemorrhage after craniotomy in three patients, cardiac arrest in two patients, post-traumatic contusio cerebri in one patient, and metabolic reasons in two patients.

Contrast filling was “0” in the ACA, PCA, MCA distal, and ICA supraclinoid branches of all 20 patients. Suspected contrast filling was found in MCA proximal in eight patients and unilateral ACA proximal in two patients. Each loss of opacification in the intracranial brancges was scored as 1 point. Accordingly, all patients were scored as 10 points.

Conclusion: According to our results, CTA is an effective and sensitive method for the diagnosis of brain death which is obligated by regulations.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the seriousness of the clinical condition of the patients in intensive care unit (ICU) and acute stress symptoms of family members.

Patients and Methods: After local ethic committe approval and written informed consent was obtained, we carried out a prospective, descriptive study at a universty hospital in patients’ relatives. Clinical characteristics (APACHE II score) of patients was recorded. First degree relatives  of 60 ICU patients provided demographic data and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form  (STAI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) within 24 h of ICU admission and 21 days later.

Results: There were a moderate correlation between APACHE 2 and STAI scores on  day 1 (r =0.477)  and a strong correlation (r = 0.503) on day 21 (p<0.05). A moderate correlation (r = 0.503)  was found between APACHE 2 score and PSQI on day 21. STAI scores were not different between genders on day 1. There was an increase in both sexes in STAI scores on day 21), and the scores ere significantly more in females (p=0.003). While there was no statistically significant difference in PSQI scores on day 1, an increase was found in both sexes on day 21 (p <0.001). Female family members  had more sleep disturbances  (p=0.008). STAI scores were higher in both mothers and fathers on day 1 and 21 (p<0.001).

Conclusions: An increasing relationship was determined between patients' acute physiological condition and anxiety with sleep quality level of patients’ relatives as the time passed.

Objective: To determine the effect of COVID-19 infection on anxiety level in pregnant women.

Material and Methods: In this study, a questionnaire and Beck anxiety scale were applied to pregnant women who referred to outpatient clinic for routine pregnancy control in June 2020 to determine their concerns that may be related to COVID-19. Pregnant women admitted with obstetric emergencies and obstetric risk were not included in the study.

Results: 177 pregnant women were included in the study and the pregnant women were divided into four groups according to their score on Beck anxiety scale. Anxiety level of pregnant women was 44.6%. The possibility of not being with his family at the time of birth and the fear of death due to COVID-19 were statistically significantly associated with higher anxiety levels.

Conclusions: In this process, it is important to provide psychosocial support in addition to the follow-up of pregnant women by a multidisciplinary team consisting of perinatology, newborn and intensive care specialists.