ABSTRACT
Background: The World Health Organization had proclaimed the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a worldwide pandemic on March 11, 2020. Immunization against the disease was the need of the hour to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Two vaccines manufactured in India were approved for emergency use authorization initially. They are ChAdox1CoV-19 vaccine – CoviShield and Covaxin. Aims and objectives: This study aimed at assessing the occurrence of adverse effects following immunization (AEFI) among individuals who received the CoviShield vaccine. The objective of this research was to evaluate the type of AEFI among vaccinated beneficiaries and to determine the factors contributing to the development of AEFI. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done at a teaching hospital in Kerala. All beneficiaries who were administered CoviShield vaccine during the study period, that is, from January 2021 to June 2022 were incorporated in the study. Data regarding AEFI were collected from all vaccinated individuals by direct or telephonic enquiry. Results: The incidence rate of AEFI is 4.5/1000 doses (111/24925 doses). The reporting of AEFI was high among age group of 20–30 years and commonly seen in males (97.3%). The most common AEFI reported with CoviShield vaccine were fever (63%), myalgia (51%), and headache (40%). AEFI were seen commonly after administration of first dose (94%). Only 7 cases (6.3%) of serious AEFI were reported which included death, autoimmune encephalitis, Bell’s palsy, hypotension, and hypersensitivity reactions. There was no significant association between age and type of AEFI (P > 0.05) and dose of vaccine and type of AEFI (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The immunization with CoviShield vaccine is safe among adults (>18 years) with lesser incidence of serious adverse effects. Higher incidence of AEFI is witnessed after administration of first dose and it was commonly seen in males.
ABSTRACT
Background: Patients posted for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS) are nowadays managed intraoperatively by general anesthesia (GA) with the use of oral and parenteral analgesics in the post-operative period. Ongoing research points out that the erector spinae plane block (ESP Block) with local anesthetics is a safe technique for the perioperative management of pain in thoracoscopic procedures. Aims and Objectives: Our study aimed at comparing ultrasound guided ESP block using local anesthetics versus GA for perioperative pain management in patients who underwent thoracoscopic procedures. The objectives of this research were to assess the hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing the procedure, to calculate the total amount of analgesics required by patients in the next 24 h, to assess the overall patient satisfaction and complications in the post-operative period. Materials and Methods: In this prospective comparative randomized controlled trial, 40 patients aged 18–65 years planned to undergo VATS were enrolled and randomized to either group G or group E in equal numbers depending on the anesthetic technique employed. Group G patients received GA and Group E patients received ultrasound guided ESP block. Both the groups were compared for hemodynamic stability, pain in postoperative period using visual analog scale (VAS), time to first rescue analgesia requested since induction, total amount of rescue analgesia requested, overall patient satisfaction, and post-operative complications. Results: Better control of hemodynamic parameters, less post-operative pain, prolonged duration of analgesia (P < 0.05), and requirement of lesser amount of rescue analgesics were observed in patients of Group E in comparison with patients of Group G. Side effects such as post-operative nausea and vomiting were more in patients of Group G in the first 24 h (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ESP block with local anesthetics can be used as an effective sole anesthetic technique for VATS <60 min providing a longer pain free post-operative period, lesser rescue analgesic requirement, better patient satisfaction, and lesser post-operative complications.