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Background: Myocardial damage is a sign of poor prognosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Electrocardiography (ECG) would be useful to evaluate the effects of ECG findings on survival in severe COVID-19. We studied the relationship of pathological ECG findings in patients of COVID-19 admitted in ICU with other adverse physiological parameters as well as the mortality. Methodology: The study population comprised critical COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients with findings other than normal sinus rhythm, atrial extra beat, and ventricular extra beat were defined as patients with pathological ECG findings. Two groups were formed: patients with pathological ECG findings (n = 109) and patients without pathological ECG findings (n = 84). Data were compared and analysed between the groups. The relationship among the risk factors, and ECG findings with mortality was investigated. Results: The presence of hypertension (69% vs. 40%, OR 5.49, CI 1.71-17.66, P = 0.004), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) (88 vs. 95, OR 0.8, CI 0.7-0.9, P < 0.001) were found to be related to mortality in multivariable analyses. Patients with pathological ECG finding were older [74 (27-98) vs. 61 (22-89); P < 0.001], and more likely to have hypertension (68% vs. 44%, P = 0.001). Pathological ECG findings (66% vs. 51%, P = 0.02), atrial fibrillation (AF) (37% vs. 20%, P = 0.01), right branch bundle block (RBBB) (10% vs. 3%, P = 0.048) were associated with higher mortality in univariable analyses. Conclusion: Although abnormal findings on ECG, especially AF and RBBB, are associated with a poor prognosis, they are not primary effective in increasing the mortality of critical COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate the effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) at different doses on isolated tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats induced by different mechanisms. Methods Twelve rats' tracheas were placed into organ bath. Consecutively, acetylcholine (10-6,10-5,10-4 M), histamine (10-8,10-5,10-3 M) and KCl (30,60 mM) solutions was administered for contractions. MgSO4 from 10-4 to 10-1 M concentrations were subsequently administered after each constrictive agent and relaxation degrees were recorded. Results In the acetylcholine and KCl groups, dose dependent strong contractions were observed, but not in the histamine group and that group was excluded. Significant relaxation occurred with gradually increasing doses of MgSO4. In the high dose KCl group, a slight increase in contractions after the administration of 10-4 and 10-3 M MgSO4 was recorded. Conclusion We suggest that MgSO4 is effective in relaxing airway smooth muscle contractions caused by different factors; however, it must be considered that low doses of MgSO4 may only lead to a slight increase in contractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Inj thiopental is known to result in hypotension during induction, and the effect is more pronounced in hypertensive patients. This study aimed to compare the effect of two different anesthesia induction regimens with pentothal in managing the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in known hypertensive patients. Methodology: The study was conducted in Van Educational Research Hospital in 2014 after approval from the ethics committee and informed consent from patients were obtained. The prospective, double-blind, randomized study included the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade II-III 90 patients, aged 40-65 y, scheduled for elective abdominal surgery with general anesthesia. Thiopental (3-7 mg/kg) was given to the patients in Group 1 (n = 45) with single dose injection in 20 s. In Group 2 (n = 45), first 75% of the thiopental dose was given, and after the bispectral index- based scale (BIS) value was < 60 and after injecting neuromuscular blocking agent, the rest of the thiopental dose was added and injection duration was recorded. In both groups, midazolam 0.05-0.1 mg/kg was administered for premedication. Fentanyl and rocuronium were used in both groups to complete induction. During the first 25 min, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate of the patients were recorded. Also, BIS values after induction and total additional fentanyl requirement were recorded. Results: Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and additional fentanyl requirement was significantly lower in Group 2. BIS values were also lower in Group 2. Induction duration was higher in Group 2, but hemodynamic control was more satisfying. Conclusion: The study indicated that injection of thiopental in divided doses is more comfortable and safe when considering hemodynamic instability during anesthesia induction in hypertensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]