Comparative study between tramadol and dexamethasone as an admixture to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

This is a prospective, randomized, double blind study to evaluate the postoperative analgesia following supraclavicular brachial plexus block with Tramadol or Dexamethasone as an admixture to bupivacaine in upper extremity surgery. Total 60 patients of ASA I and II undergoing upper extremity surgery under brachial plexus block with Bupivacaine were randomly divided in to two groups; one group received Tramadol (2 mg/kg) and the other group received Dexamethasone (8 mg) as an admixture to Bupivacaine. The duration of postoperative analgesia was recorded in both groups using pain VAS score which was determined by maximum VAS score of 8-10 and when patient demands for additional analgesics. The mean duration of postoperative analgesia in the Dexamethasone group was 1028.00 minutes while in the tramadol group it was 453.17 minutes We concluded that Dexamethasone with local anaesthetic prolongs postoperative analgesia significantly than Tramadol (P<0.05) when used as admixture to local anaesthetic in brachial plexus block in upper extremity surgery.

Diagnostic variability and therapeutic efficacy of ECT in Nepalese sample.

BACKGROUND: Though electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been used in Nepal for last twenty years, researches regarding its use, its efficacy and other data are non-existent. AIMS: The objective of this study was to know about diagnostic variability and therapeutic efficacy of the use of ECT in hospitalized patients. METHODS: This is a prospective comparative study between patients who received ECT and who did not using ICD-10 as diagnostic confirmation. Psychopathology was evaluated using Brief Psychiatric Research Scale (BPRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) between the groups at admission, at discharge, at 1st month, at 6th month and at 12th month. Functional assessment of patients was done using Global Assessment of Function (GAF). Modified ECT was performed using general anaesthetic agent. RESULTS: 47 patients received ECT as compared to 78 patients who were non-receivers. The patients with most common five diagnosis were paranoid schizophrenia (14.4%); psychotic depression (13.6%) ; undifferentiated schizophrenia (8.8%) ; bipolar mania (7.2% ) ;severe depression without psychosis (5.6%) . There was significant decrease in BPRS in ECT receiver as compared to non-receivers at discharge (p=0.0001), 1st month (p=0.0001), 6th month (p=0.0001) and 12th month (p=0.0001) ; in YMRS at discharge (p=.008), 1st month (p=.002) and at 12th month (p=.015) ; in HAMD-M at discharge (p=0.0001), at 1st month (p=0.0001), at 6th month (p=0.0001) and at 12th month (p=0.0001) ; in GAF at discharge (p=0.0001), at 6th month (p=0.0001) and at 12th month (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: There was significant improvement in overall psychopathology of patients who received ECT as compared to non-receivers. The improvement was shown by decrement in scores in BPRS, YMRS, HDRS and GAF at the time of discharge, 1st month, 6th month and 12th month which were statistically significant. Day to day functional status of patients also improved as shown by GAF. The efficacy of ECT was very significantly shown in this study with all the psychiatric spectrum disorders.

Oral administration of intravenous solution of midazolam mixed in syrup of paracetamol is an effective way of premedicating children undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of injection midazolam administered by oral route mixed in paracetamol syrup as a premedication in children undergoing surgery. METHODS: 60 children undergoing elective hernia repair under general anaesthesia were randomized into two groups: the study group (group A) was given oral midazolam 0.5 mg/kg (mixed in paracetamol syrup) and the control group (group B) was given just the paracetamol syrup before bringing them inside the operating theater. They were evaluated for ease of separation from their parents, ease of i.v. cannulation and induction, and for recovery time from anaesthesia. RESULTS: it was found that in group A - 96.7% of children showed satisfactory parent child separation while in group B - only 53.3% of children showed satisfactory separation (P < 0.05). Similarly in group A - 73.3 % of children shad satisfactory induction while in group B only 33.3% of children had satisfactory induction. The recovery time from general anaesthesia did not differ in the two groups. No significant peri operative complications directly related to oral midazolam was noted. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that injection midazolam mixed in syrup paracetamol administered orally is a convenient and efficient method of premedicating children undergoing general anaesthesia. Parent-child separation and induction of anaesthesia was smooth and the recovery uneventful in children premedicated with oral midazolam.

Do we have to hyperventilate during laparoscopic surgery?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of hyperventilation on patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries on haemodynamics, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and acid base status. METHODS: 60 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries under General Anaesthesia were randomized into two groups, "control group" ventilated with tidal volume of 10 ml/kg and respiratory rate of 12/minute and "study group" same tidal volume with respiratory rate of 15/ minute. Hemodynamic variables (heart rate and mean arterial pressure) recorded and End tidal C02, PaC02, pH and Bicarbonate estimation done before, during and after C02 pneumoperitoneum and analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in hemodynamic variables but there was linear increase in ETC02 and PaC02 measurements in higher normal levels in control group (ETC02 33.3+/-3.20, 37.93+/-3.95 and 43.20+/-3.40; PaC02 30.08+/-2.35, 34.80+/-4.01 and 41.94+/-3.66 mmHg before, during, and after pneumoperitoneum respectively) compared to study group in which these parameters were in lower normal levels (ETC02 33.33+/-4.11, 28.00+/-4.10 and 36.73+/-2.49 mmHg and PaC02 31.80+/-2.73, 29.36+/-3.16 and 35.15+/-1.32 mmHg before, during, and after pneumoperitoneum respectively). There was highly significant difference in these parameters when intergroup comparison was done during and after pneumoperitoneum period. pH and bicarbonate levels were within normal limits but there was decreasing tendency towards acidosis side in control group. CONCLUSION: 10-15% increment in Minute Volume is beneficial during C02 pneumoperitoneum to prevent adverse effects of hypercarbia and acidosis.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy undergoing caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia.

PURPOSE: To report a case of peripartum dilated cardiomyopathy presenting for emergency caesarean section, this was successfully managed with Epidural Anaesthesia. CLINICAL FEATURES: A parturient suffering from idiopathic peripartum cardiomyopathy (E.F. 18%) was brought for an emergency caesarean section. Epidural anaesthesia was performed and 2% Lignocaine with adrenaline total 13 ml was injected into the epidural space. The patient's haemodynamic status was monitored with NIBP, ECG, pulse oximetry. Patient's perioperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: In patients suffering from peripartum cardiomyopathy, undergoing caesarean section epidural anaesthesia is an acceptable anaesthetic alternative.

A comparison of 25 gauge Quincke spinal needle with 26 gauge Eldor spinal needle for the elective Caesarian sections: insertion characteristics and complications.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to compare the insertion characteristics and incidence of PDPH between 25 gauge Quincke needle and 26 gauge Eldor needle for spinal anaesthesia in elective c/s. METHOD: 60 pregnant women (aged 19-35 yrs and weighing 58 -67 kg) undergoing elective caesarean section were randomized into group A (Quincke spinal needle group) or group B (Eldor spinal needle group). Spinal anaesthesia was performed with 2.9 ml 0.5% heavy bupivacaine using 25 gauge Quincke spinal needle in group A and 26 Gauge Eldor spinal needle in group B. Onset, time of first identification of backflow of CSF, number of attempts, level of sensory and motor blockade, failure of anaesthesia, inadequate anaesthesia and incidence of PDPH were recorded. RESULT: Quincke spinal needle was found easy at insertion, first attempt was successful in 90% of cases, whereas Eldor spinal needle was successful at first attempt in only 60% of cases. Early identification of CSF was seen in Eldor spinal needle group in 3.5 seconds vs. 5.2 seconds in Quincke spinal needle group. Blood mixed CSF was seen in 8 Quincke spinal needle group vs. none in Eldor spinal needle group. Onset was similar between both groups i.e. in 6 minutes. Failure of anaesthesia was none in Eldor spinal needle group vs. 2 in quincke spinal needle group. Height of sensory block achieved was T4 level in 26 parturients,T6 in 1 ,T8 in 1 and no anaesthesia at all in another 2 parturient as compared to T4 level in 29 and T3 in 1 parturient in Eldor spinal needle group. The degree of motor block with the use of Bromage criteria showed a motor score of 1 or 2 in 26 parturients in Quincke spinal needle group vs. same in all cases in Eldor spinal needle group. The total incidence of PDPH was 8.3 % (5 out of 60 parturient) which occurred all in Quincke spinal needle group. 2 parturient who developed severe PDPH required epidural blood patch. CONCLUSION: 26 gauge Eldor spinal needle was found to be better than 25 gauge Quincke spinal needle for caesarian sections to decrease the incidence of PDPH, though not all insertion characteristics were in favour of the Eldor needle.

Three in one block for unilateral knee arthrotomy in an old lady.

An old lady having septic arthritis of right knee joint underwent arthrotomy under three in one block for femoral, obturator and lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh in inguinal region, with catheter in situ. She was a case of chronic obstructive airway disease with ischaemic heart disease, so operation and postoperative pain management was planned under regional block. Anaesthesia was started by giving regional block with 0.25% bupivacaine at first and maintained with intermittent injection of 0.125% bupivacaine. The patient was pain free and comfortable though out the perioperative period.