Intraoperative blood glucose levels in neurosurgical patients : an evaluation of two fluid regimens.

Based on the evidence that hyperglycaemia aggravates ischaemic cerebral injury, it has been suggested that blood glucose levels be kept within 200 mg/dL during intracranial neurosurgery. Hypoglycaemia, however, can be a serious problem if glucose-containing solutions are avoided during the first four hours, as suggested in some studies. In order to explore the possibility of administering glucose in moderation so that the blood glucose levels are within acceptable limits, but at the same time the risk of hyoglycaemia is eliminated, we compared two intraoperative fluid regimens. Of the 52 neurosurgical patients studied, 32 patients received alternately 500 ml of 5% dextrose in normal saline and Ringer's lactate (DNS/RL Group) and 18 patients received alternately 500 ml of Ringer's lactate and normal saline (RL/NS Group). Blood glucose concentrations were determined at the end of each unit of fluid, until the patient received 4 units of fluid. In the DNS/RL group, blood glucose values peaked with the administration of each unit of DNS and tended to return towards the baseline with the subsequent RL, but remained higher than the previous control value. In the RL/NS group, there was a progressive increase in blood glucose values throughout the study period, but the increase was not statistically significant. The blood glucose levels were significantly different between the two groups after each unit of fluid except at the end of the fourth unit. Two patients in the RL/NS group had hypoglycaemia. In conclusion, the DNS/RL regimen maintains blood glucose levels within acceptable limits while avoiding the risk of hyperglycaemia. Withholding glucose completely, lowers blood glucose levels, but carries a risk of hypoglycaemia in some patients.

Growth response of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) to varied protein and lipid levels.

To study the growth response of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to the diets containing two protein (30 and 35%) and two lipid levels (12 and 18%) in a closed recirculatory system for 60 days, fish were fed to satiation twice daily. The experiment was carried out in triplicate groups. Fortnightly sampling of fish and water samples was carried out. The best result in terms of growth was obtained with the diet containing 34.62% protein and 12.12% lipid. The protein to lipid ratio was 18.57 in the diet that gave best percentage weight gain. However best survival, food conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were recorded in the diet containing 29.86% protein and 18.08% lipid.