Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialThe analgesic effect of magnesium sulfate in patients undergoing thoracotomy.
Magnesium can act as an adjuvant in analgesia due to its properties of calcium channel blocker and N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist. The aim of our study was to determine if magnesium sulfate reduces perioperative analgesic requirements in patients undergoing thoracotomy procedure. Our study included 68 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy that received a bolus of 30-50 mg/kg MgSO4 followed by continuous infusion of 500 mg/h intraoperatively and 500 mg/h during the first 24 hours after the operation, or the same volume of isotonic solution (control group). ⋯ The measured VAS score at all intervals was similar in both groups. Postoperative TORDA scores were similar in both groups during the first 24 hours; however, a statistically significant difference was recorded in 40-48 h measurements. Results of our study revealed that magnesium reduced intraoperative analgesic requirements and also contributed to effective control of the static component of postthoracotomy pain.
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The aim of the study was to determine duration of delirium in patients with acute stroke according to sex, age, type and localization of lesion. We assessed delirium prospectively in a sample of 233 consecutive patients with an acute (< or =4 days) stroke using the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS-R-98) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV). The average duration of delirium was 4 days in patients with ischemic stroke and 3 days in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. ⋯ Mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with delirium in the acute phase of stroke than in those without delirium (p=0.009). In conclusion, delirium is a temporary manifestation in two thirds of patients in the acute phase of stroke. Patient sex and age, and type and stroke localization have no influence on delirium duration.