Efficacy of single dose perioperative intravenous steroid [dexamethasone] for postoperative pain relief in tonsillectomy patients

To determine the efficacy of single dose perioperative intravenous steroid [dexamethasone] for postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Quasi-experimental study. Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from November 2009 to June 2010. Sixty patients were divided into two equal groups. A single dose of dexamethasone was given to patients of group A during induction of anaesthesia, whereas no steroid was given to the patients in group B. Postoperative pain scores were assessed at 2, 6 and 12 hours in both groups using visual analogue scale [VAS]. Pain was classified as mild [0-3], moderate [4-7] and severe [8-10] on visual analogue scale. There was no significant difference in pain scores after 2 hours postoperatively. Pain scores of Group A at 6 and 12 hours postoperatively were found to be significantly low than Group B. Single dose perioperative intravenous injection of dexamethasone in tonsillectomy patients reduces postoperative tonsillectomy pain

Effect of pre-operative heart rate on post spinal hypotension in obstetric patients

The purpose of the study was to determine the association between of pre-operative heart rate and post spinal hypotension in women undergoing cesarean section. It was a quasi-experimental study. It was conducted at Anaesthesia Department Combined Military Hospital Lahore and was of one year duration from June 2006 to May 2007. Two hundred patients undergoing caesarean section were included in the study selected on non probability convenience sampling technique. The patients were divided into two groups depending upon their pre operative heart rate. Spinal anesthesia was administered and number of patients developing hypotension was noted. Among 200 patients, who were included in the study, 112 were placed in group A and 88 were placed in group B depending on mean heart rate of 90 beats per minute or less or 91 beats per minute or more respectively. In group A 14 [11.86%] patients developed hypotension where as in group B 28 [31.82%] patients developed hypotension. Pre operative heart rate is significantly associated with post spinal hypotension in obstetric patients undergoing cesarean section