Intensive care management after inadvertent intravascular injection of liquid paraffin

Medication errors in the hospitals are not uncommon even in the developed countries. A 30 years old lady was admitted with 32 weeks pregnancy with gastroenteritis followed by intrauterine death. In the high dependency unit of obstetric department, accidentally 50 milliliters of liquid paraffin was administered intravenously. With 12 days of vigorous treatment comprising mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure, an emergency hysterotomy to avoid the complications of intrauterine death; 3 cycles of plasmapherisis; and ultimately broncho-alveolar lavage, her condition improved and she was discharged from hospital

Field anesthesia - experience in United Nation missions

To communicate the experiences of anaesthesiologists while working in United Nations [UN] peace keeping missions in different parts of the world. Questionnaire based observational study. A questionnaire was sent to anaesthesiologists who had served in UN missions. The response was evaluated by simple percentage. Problems identified in a UN missions are: setup of operating room, high prevalences of HIV, Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus among the population of host country, different sources of medical stores, short supply of medical gases and problems related to malaria and its prophylaxis. The problems can be overcome by prior planning, use of non conventional practices of anesthesia and vigilance in monitoring in operating rooms and post operative recovery units. Optimal utilization of the equipment can be achieved with the help of non governmental organizations