ABSTRACT
Background: Fresh frozen plasma is commonly used in tertiary care hospitals. These are used to manage conditions such as coagulation derangements. Unnecessary use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is known to increase the risk of side effects in plasma transfusing patients like anaphylaxis, transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) and risk of transfusion transmitted infections etc. So judicious use of plasma is extremely important where its benefits outweigh its potential risks.Methods: Prospective observational study conducted over a period of six month. The following data were collected; provisional clinical diagnosis, indication of FFP’S, coagulation profile and gender of the patients. We evaluated all FFP transfusions, classified them as appropriate or inappropriate according to fresh frozen plasma transfusion guidelines of Directorate general of health services (DGHS).Results: A total of 808 FFP units were issued (474 units to males and 334 units to females) over a period of 6 months. Out of these, 15% (122 units) of FFP’s were issued to intensive care unit (ICU) patients, 12.87% (104 units) to paediatrics ward, 12.25% (99 units) to emergency ward which include patients with upper GI bleed and lower GI bleed , 6.8% (55 units) to obstetrics patients, 6.18% (50 units) to orthopaedics, 4.45% (36 units) to road traffic accident patients, 4.20% (34 units) to Hepatic failure patients, 3.09% (25 units) to Cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (CTVS), 2.97% (24 units) to oncology patients, 2.47% (20 units) to snake bite patients, 1.23 % (10 units) to dengue patients, 1.11% (9 units) to Haemophilia patients, 27.38% units were issued to the patients were indication for FFP transfusion was not known.Conclusions: study showed that 66.44% were appropriate and 33.56% were inappropriate use of FFP’s in patients. This highlights the pitfalls in use of FFP among clinicians and for that matter there is need of awareness and understanding the transfusion medicine by clinicians.
ABSTRACT
Background: Occupational exposure of farmers are known to cause many respiratory illness and manifestgreater rates of asthma and respiratory symptoms than other workers. The poultry farm workers are exposedto organic dust, endotoxins and hazardous gases. Longer the duration of exposure to the dust, greater thehealth hazard. Therefore, the objective of this study was to record and compare the various pulmonaryfunction parameters in poultry farm workers on the basis of duration of exposure to poultry dust. Methods:The study was conducted on 66 poultry farm workers after taking written informed consent. Pulmonaryfunction tests was performed using Autospirometer (Helios 701: Chandigarh). The workers were groupedaccording to duration of exposure into five sub groups (Group A upto 5 years, Group B >5-10 years, GroupC >10-15 years, Group D >15-20, Group E >20 years exposure). Data was analyzed using one way ANOVAand post-hoc by Bonferroni test. Results: We found that the pulmonary functions started deterioratinggradually in poultry farm workers after 5-10 years of exposure (Group B) to poultry dust with maximumdecrease on exposure to more than 20 years (Group E). There was statistically significant decrease in FVC,FEV0.5, FEV1, FEV3 with normal FEV1/FVC suggesting restrictive ventilatory changes in poultry workers.There was significant decrease in FEF25-75% and FEF0.2-1.2, PEFR suggesting early small and largeairway obstruction respectively. Conclusion: Poultry dust adversely affects the respiratory function and thisimpairment is associated with duration of exposure to poultry dust. The present study intends to raise publicawareness about occupational exposure to poultry dust in poultry farm workers.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The success of any teaching programme lies in planning a curriculum which allows the students to gain maximum meaningful knowledge in the short span of time available. To achieve this goal, it is very important to have adequate communication between teachers and students. The students undoubtedly are in the best position to comment on the effectiveness of any teaching system and they may be regarded as the best judges to assess the teaching and evaluation methods. Objectives: This study was designed to obtain feedback on teaching and evaluation methods in the subject of physiology from the students of two successive batches, after passing their first professional undergraduate medical examination. Method: A written questionnaire covering topics on various teaching and evaluation methods was used to get feedback from students. Conclusion: Students were satisfied with all teaching methods except vertical integrated seminars. Majority of the students showed preference for grand stage, short answer questions and revision cum self study. Practical demonstrations were found to be useful. All students felt that there should be more time for revision and self study.