Retrograde Venous Perfusion in Chronic Ulcers of Lower Limb.

Chronic foot ulcers are difficult to treat. These patients need prolong treatment which is costly and often associated with non-compliance. These patients are vulnerable to develop gangrene leading to amputation. Retrograde venous perfusion (RVP) is a new therapeutic approach which was recently introduced to the treatment of diabetic foot as an adjunctive line to systemic therapy and local therapy. It is based on principle of regional anesthesia. Recently, Latin American investigators, applied this approach to local therapy of pedal ischemia. Since then this approach was mainly employed for therapy of diabetic neuropathic pedal ulcers. In this work, the efficacy of this approach was explored in 5 group of chronic foot disorder – 1) Diabetic foot presenting as foot infection, 2) Dibetic neuropathic pedal ulcers, 3) Diabetic pedal ischemia and infection, 4) Nondiabetic post traumatic foot ulcers, 5) Non-diabetic ischemic ulcer and pre-gangrene or gangrene. The present study was conducted on 56 patients having non healing ulcer of lower limb. Regular dressing and debridment and retrograde venous perfusion therapy was done in all patients. Results were assessed after completion of therapy. The following conclusions are drawn from the present study. Out of all diabetic patients, 23.7% of cases presented as diabetic foot. The incidence of diabetic foot patients was 64.29% out of all studied patients with ulcer foot. Maximum number of patients, 28.57% were in 31-40 years age group. The mean age of the patients was 44.4 years. There was male predominance with male and female ratio being 1.55:1. Mean reduction of ulcer size after RVP therapy was 63.89%. Maximum improvement was found in patients with diabetic pedal ischemia and infection i.e. 70% where as patients with non diabetic post traumatic foot ulcers had minimum improvement i.e. 52.22%. Whole foot or more than 4 toe amputation was not required in any patient in therapy group. After RVP therapy gangrene or pre-gangrene was prevented in 72.73% of patients. Minimum days of stay was 11-15 days in 32.14% of patients. Average duration of hospital stay was 18 days. Patients with foot ulcer in whom RVP therapy was not done, average duration of hospital stay was 31 days. This denotes that RVP reduces the time of therapy an avoids prolonged treatment. The ratio of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with neuropathy was 2.5:1. In Doppler ultrasound study, patients with sign of ischemia, ankle-brachial pressure index was less than 0.6 in 22 patients, out of them 16 patients were diabetic. After RVP therapy 93.33% of diabetic foot patients and 80% of non-diabetic foot ulcer patients ankle-brachial ratio became more then 0.8 denoting that after RVP therapy the blood flow in lower limb was increased. The present study confirms the good result in respect to decrease in ulcer size, overcome critical complications which are threatening the foot, early healing of ulcer, increase blood flow in ischemic foot, check progression of gangrene and pre-gangrene and to conserve the foot to avoid amputation. This study entailed expansion of the application of RVP to intractable post-traumatic ulcers of the foot and lower leg, as well as, to critical pedal ischemia in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Comparison of lidocaine vs lidocaine + ketorolac in intravenous regional anaesthesia [bier's block]

To compare the duration of anaesthesia and degree of analgesia during intravenous regional anaesthesia using Lidocaine alone and Lidocaine with Ketorolac. An international quasi experimental study. This study was carried out in Nishtar Hospital Multan from 01/01/2006 to 30/06/2006 [6 Months]. Results: Patients were divided into two groups A and B. In group A injection Lidocaine 0.5% 40ml was given whereas in group B injection Ketorolac 30mg was add to Lidocaine 0.5% 40ml. The degree of anaesthesia and duration of analgesia were compared in both groups. Haemodynamics were also recorded to see any systemic effects of drugs. We conclude that 30mg Ketorolac added to Lidocaine in IVRA increases degree of anaesthesia and also provide prolonged postop analgesia

Effect of alkalinization of bupivacaine on axillary brachial plexus blockade

40 adult patients of both sexes undergoing elective forearm and h and surgery were subjected to this study. An informed consent was taken from every patient. No premedication was given and a patient iv. line was prepared. Brachial plexus block was done as usual but full abduction of humerus was avoided as it impedes arterial pulsation and hinders proximal and circumferential spread of local anesthetic. Also, a plastic cannula was used for local anesthetic administration into neurovascular sheath. The proximal and of this cannula was advanced centrally for at least 3 cm to ensure that the injection is made above the point where the musculocutaneous nerve leaves the sheath. In a double blind manner either bupivacaine adrenaline in freshly prepared alkalinized bupivacaine adrenaline was administered in each half of patients. The dose of bupivacaine given was 2.5 mg/kg [i.e. 0.5 ml/kg]. After local anesthetic administration, sensory and motor assessments were done before, during and after operation. Also, if signs of systemic toxicity had occurred, they must be recorded and probably treated. All patients were also examined daily for 10 days postoperatively for detection of sign of nerve lesion. From this study, it was found that alkalinization of bupivacaine is a simple, safe and effective method for reduction of block latency, increasing the incidence of adequate analgesia and prolongation of postoperative useful analgesia of axillary brachial plexus blockage