RESUMO
Objectives: We sought to evaluate the relationship between gestational age [GA] and neonatal anthropometric parameters, namely head circumference [HC] and crown-heel length [CHL]
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital with 530 consecutively live-born newborns of 28-41 weeks gestation. Anthropometric parameters were measured after three days of life. We summarized the variables using descriptive statistics, including percentile values, and the strength of association was determined through correlation analysis. The correlation was strong for HC and CHL, and linear regression analysis was done to develop predictive equations
Results: HC and CHL correlated well with GA with r-values of 0.863 and 0.859, respectively. The regression equations derived were GA [week] = 9.2671 + [0.8616 × HC [cm]] and GA [weeks] = 7.2489 + [0.621 × CHL [cm]]. Multiple regression gave the relationship as GA [weeks] = 4.0244 + [0.4058 × HC [cm]] + [0.4249 × CHL [cm]]. Application of this multiple regression equation to a test cohort of 30 babies for prediction of GA gave a mean margin of error of 2.9%, indicating that it is a satisfactory tool for prediction
Conclusions: HC and CHL can be used as simple tools for predicting GA in babies when this is in doubt. This can help in identification of high-risk newborns at primary care level without recourse to imaging modalities
RESUMO
To assess intubating conditions and haemodynamic changes in patients pre-treated with dopamine during rapid tracheal intubation using rocuronium and propofol. Forty adult patients of ASA I and II, aged 20-60 years, scheduled for elective as well as emergency surgery, were included in this prospective randomized open label group double blind study. In Group A patients injection dopamine infusion 3 micro g/Kg/min and in Group B patients an equal volume of normal saline was infused over 15 minutes before administering general anesthesia using propofol 2 mg/Kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/Kg. Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation was attempted at 60 seconds, whereby anaesthesiologist assessed the intubating conditions. Duration of laryngoscopy, Train of four ratio [TOF ratio] at 60 sec after rocuronium administration, time from disappearance of all four twitches on TOF count, intubation score at 60 seconds were recorded. Mean arterial pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation were recorded at different time points. Intubating conditions at 60 seconds were significantly better in Group A than in Group B patients. Haemodynamic parameters were not significantly altered in Group A. Time taken for intubation was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B. Dopamine pretreatment improves intubating conditions after rocuronium injection without significantly altering haemodynamic parameters