Effectiveness of Transverse Abdominis Plane Block as a Method of Regional Anaesthesia in Unilateral Inguinal Hernia Repair

The Transverses Abdominis Plane (TAP) block is a relatively new regional technique which is often used for sensory blockade of the lower abdominal wall mainly for post-operative pain relief. It causes sensory blockade mainly because of injection of local anaesthetic between the internal oblique and the transverse abdominis muscle. TAP block was performed using a blind landmark technique in the lumbar petit triangle. Nowadays USG guided TAP block is being performed in many centers. TAP block is known to improve postoperative pain, reduce the opioid demand, and also reduce the time to rescue analgesia in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. In our study, we have used TAP block as a main anaesthetic technique in patients posted for unilateral inguinal hernia repair under elective conditions. TAP Block in this study was given with 0.5 % bupivacaine. Duration of anaesthesia / analgesia, effectiveness of block, period of block, cardiac stability and haemodynamic stability were studied. METHODSA prospective observational study was conducted on 30 randomly selected individuals posted for elective inguinal hernia repair who belonged to American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification 1 and 2; age group between 20 and 70 years; satisfying all inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients received 0.5 % bupivacaine for TAP block, dose not more than 2.5 mg / Kg body weight. RESULTSWe have found that TAP block gives good anaesthesia for patients posted for inguinal hernia repair with good haemodynamic stability. With inj. Bupivacaine 0.5 % having an onset of anaesthesia at about 7.45 + / - 2.32 minutes (p value < 0.001). The block was complete and effectively elevated nociceptive stimuli. The block lasted till the end of surgery in all cases, with no complications. CONCLUSIONSTAP block other than being the main anaesthetic technique for lower abdominal surgery, also provides good post-operative analgesia with minimal post-operative analgesic requirement with less haemodynamic variations.

Comparison of 0.75 % Ropivacaine with 0.5 % Bupivacaine in Peribulbar Block in Ophthalmic Surgeries

Bupivacaine as local anaesthetic has cardiovascular and neurological toxic effects; ropivacaine on the other hand is known to have fewer side effects. Its safety and some its ability to reduce intra ocular pressure has led to its widespread usage. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy of inj. Ropivacaine 0.75 % + hyaluronidase 50 IU / mL with inj. bupivacaine 0.5 % + hyaluronidase 50 IU / mL in cataract surgeries under regional anaesthesia. MethodsWe evaluated 60 patients who were posted for small incision cataract surgeries. They were randomly divided by drawing chits in to 2 groups according to the anaesthetics used (ropivacaine / bupivacaine). Evaluation of these patients was done on the basis of sensory onset, motor onset using akinesia score, requirement of rescue analgesic, and time of motor and sensory offset of the local anaesthetic. ResultsInj. ropivacaine 0.75 % showed greater reduction in IOP (p < 0.05). Other parameters such as motor block, sensory block, akinesia score, and requirement of rescue analgesia were comparable between the two groups (p > 0.05). ConclusionsIn patients posted for intra ocular / cataract surgeries, ropivacaine 0.75 % and bupivacaine 0.5 % are comparable, with ropivacaine having better haemodynamic profile and also reduces intra ocular pressure.

Rare Case of Non-Parasitic Chyluria in Pediatric population treated with dietary modification in a Four-year-old Male Child

Chyluria is the passage of milky urine composed of albumin, chylomicron, and fibrin in various proportions due to the leakage of lymph into the urinary tract as a result of communication between the lymphatics and the urinary system. Intermittent mild proteinuria and hematuria may be found at routine urinalysis, The conventional diagnostic approach involves confirmation of chyle in urine and the demonstration of lymphaticourinary fistulae by radiological study. It occurs predominantly in adults and is rare in children, We present an unusual case of a four-year-old male child with proteinuria, hematuria and milky urine which was subsequently diagnosed as idiopathic non-parasitic chyluria with spontaneous remission. The child recovered with dietary management for about five weeks after starting a low-fat, high-fiber diet

Rare presentation of infertility: recurrent hydatid cysts in pelvic cavity: a case report

Hydatid cyst of pelvic cavity leading to secondary infertility is extremely rare. We present the case of a 32-year-old lady with recurrent hydatid cysts of bilateral ovarian fossae responsible for her secondary infertility

Solitary mucormycosis in renal allograft: a case report

Mucormycosis is a known infection in renal transplantation responsible for mortality and morbidity in this group of patients. However, solitary mucormycosis in renal allograft is uncommon. We present a patient with solitary mucormycosis in the renal allograft suspected as pyonephrosis. Graft nephrectomy at one and half months after diagnosis and two and half months post-transplant was performed. The patient is clinically stable and on maintenance dialysis, without evidence of any infection subsequently

Alkaptonuria in 17-month-old female child: a case report

Alkaptonuria is a rare inborn metabolic disorder with Mendelian recessive inheritance characterized by triad of homogentisic aciduria, arthritis and ochronosis. The incidence is one per 0.25 - 1 million persons. A 17-month- old female child of non-consanguineous parents presented with darkening of clothes / diapers moistened with urine when left unwashed for hours. There was no other medical problem in the family. Physical examination including joints revealed a healthy child with normal growth parameters. There was no pigmentation of the sclera, conjunctiva and cornea and ear cartilage. Her urine appeared normal colored on voiding. However, it turned black on standing at room temperature. Regular laboratory investigations were within normal range and skeletal survey showed no degenerative changes. Urine for alkalization and reducing substances was positive. Urine organic acidogram-chromatogram study showed [1137.87%] 2845-fold increase in homogentisic acid and confirmed the diagnosis of alkaptonuria. She was started on Vitamin C [0.5 gm twice a day]. She is now asymptomatic over a 13-month follow-up period

Diagnosis of acute humoral rejection using immunofluorescence in renal allograft biopsies- one step towards better understanding!

Immunofluorescence (IF) studies are important diagnostic tool in understanding pathogenesis involved in graft injury. Acute humoral rejection (AHR) associated with circulating donor-specific cytotoxic antibodies, is a poor prognosticator for graft survival. It can be diagnosed by staining for C4d antibody using indirect IF technique. C4d staining required to diagnose AHR was made mandatory for reporting renal allograft biopsies in 7th Banff conference. We present 2 years experience of IF studies using C4d polyclonal antibody on 546 renal allograft biopsies belonging to two groups of patients; 464 from group A (tolerance induction protocol) and 82 from group B (controls). We observed C4d focal positivity in 4 (0.9%) biopsies from group A and 4 (4.9%) from group B. We conclude that it is advisable to collect simultaneous core biopsy samples for IF studies and light microscopy to give better definition of allograft injury and thereby support in clinical management.