RESUMEN
Background: Epidural steroids have been proven to be one of the most effective non-operative managements of back pain. The present study entailed evaluation of the efficacy of epidural methylprednisolone acetate and triamcinolone acetate for treatment of low back pain and radiculopathy.Methods: The two groups of 25 participants, formed on the basis of the injectable epidural steroid used {80mg of methylprednisolone acetate (group 1) or 40mg of triamcinolone acetate (group 2)}, were enrolled after following due selection criteria. After detailed history taking, examination and requisite investigations, 15 ml volume of the drug was injected epidurally with the patient lying in lateral position. The patients were followed-up at 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months and pain assessment and percentage of pain relief was noted in comparison with the level of pain before epidural injection. Sleep quality, activity score, days in bed, analgesic requirement, complications and requirement of surgical intervention were all assessed at each follow-up.Results: The mean pain score was significantly less in group 1 after 6 weeks and 3 months period, with 60% in group 1 having “good” pain relief, while 69.56% amongst group 2 participants reported “fair” pain relief. Eighty four percent group 1 participants required 2 injections, while 64% participants in group 2 required 3 injections. There was overall improvement in the activity score, quality of sleep and decrease in bed rest and analgesic requirement.Conclusions: Epidural steroid therapy is highly efficacious and methylprednisolone acetate is more effective than triamcinolone acetate; with negligible complications.
RESUMEN
Background: The need for effective preanesthetic medication in children is obvious and midazolam has proven to be one reliable choice. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy, acceptability and reliability of the oral and intramuscular routes of administration of midazolam towards paediatric preanesthetic medication at various doses.Methods: Hundred eligible patients in the age group of 1 to 10 years undergoing ambulatory or routine planned, minor or major surgery during study period were allocated to one of the four groups of 25 participants each, formed on the basis of premedication they received. Haemodynamic parameters, level of sedation and anxiety and induction score were noted before premedication and after each 15 minutes interval for next 45 minutes in all the four groups. Postoperative assessment included sleep level, anterograde amnesia, picture recall and occurrence of complications.Results: The sedative and anxiolytic effects were observed to be maximum at 45 minutes after premedication in all the four groups and better sedation, anxiolysis and quality of induction were achieved with higher doses for both oral as well as intramuscular routes. Postoperatively, the sleep level did not increase with higher dose and 64% patients were awake with 0.75 mg/kg oral midazolam. The sleep level was more with higher dose with the Intramuscular route, with 60% patients feeling drowsy with 0.1mg/kg dose. 0.75 mg/kg dose showed better anterograde amnesia (64%) than 0.5 mg/kg (28%), while it was present in 64% participants premedicated with 0.8 mg/kg intramuscular does and 72% in 0.1 mg/kg intramuscular dose.Conclusions: Intramuscular midazolam at 0.1 mg/kg dose seems to be the ideal dose and route for paediatric preanesthetic medication, with oral midazolam at 0.75 mg/kg to be considered an effective and acceptable alternative.