Nasogastric tube insertion using conventional versus bubble technique for its confirmation in anesthetized patients: a prospective randomized study

Abstract Background: Nasogastric tube insertion and confirmation of its position can be difficult in the anesthetized patient. The purpose of the present study was to compare the bubble technique with the conventional method for confirmation of nasogastric tube placement in these patients. Methods: Two hundred sixty adult patients, aged between 20-70 years, posted for surgeries requiring general anesthesia, tracheal intubation, and a nasogastric tube were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: Group B (Bubble group) and Group C (Control group). In Group C, a conventional technique using a lubricated nasogastric tube was positioned through the nostril with head remained neutral. In Group B, 2% lidocaine jelly was added to the proximal end to form a single bubble. The correct placement of the nasogastric tube in the stomach was confirmed by fluoroscopy by an independent observer intraoperatively. Results: The duration of nasogastric tube insertion was 57.2 ± 13.3seconds in Group B and 59.8 ± 11.9seconds in Group C (p = 0.111). The confirmation rate of the bubble technique was 76.8% (95% CI: 68.7-83.3), which was significantly better than the conventional method where the confirmation rate was 59.7% (95% CI 50.9-67.9), p< 0.001. When compared to fluoroscopy, bubble technique was found to have a sensitivity of 92.3% (95% CI: 85.6-96.1) with specificity of 81.0% (95% CI: 60.0-92.3), positive predictive value of 96.0% (95% CI: 90.2-98.4), and a moderate negative predictive value of 68.0% (95% CI: 48.4-82.8). Conclusions: The bubble technique of nasogastric tube insertion has a higher confirmation rate in comparison to the conventional technique. Trial Registry Number: Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2018/09/015864).

Revisão sistemática e meta-análise das tendências de frequência e reclassificação da doença inflamatória pediátrica intestinal - não classificadas / Systematic review and meta - analysis of the frequency and re-classification trends of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease - unclassified

ABSTRACT Background: The term inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified (IBDU) is used when an individual has chronic colitis but cannot be sub-typed into ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) on the basis of the clinical, endoscopic, imaging and histopathological features. On follow-up a proportion of patients with IBDU are re-classified as CD or UC. There has been considerable variability in the frequency and reclassification rates of pediatric IBDU in published literature. Methods: PubMed and Scopus and were searched for publications related to Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PIBD) published between Jan,2014 and July,2021. Two reviewers independently searched and selected studies reporting the frequency of IBDU and/or their re-classification. The pooled prevalence was expressed as proportion and 95%CI. Meta-analysis was performed using the inverse variance heterogeneity model. Results: A total of 2750 studies were identified through a systematic search of which 27 studies were included in this systematic review. The overall pooled frequency of IBDU (n=16064) was found to be 7.1% (95%CI 5.8-8.5%). There was no variation in IBDU frequency by geographical location. Seven studies (n=5880) were included in the IBDU re-classification analysis. Overall, 50% (95%CI 41-60%) children with IBDU were re-classified on follow-up. Amongst these 32.7% (95% 21-44%) were re-classified to UC and 17% (95%CI 12-22%) were re-classified to CD. Conclusion: IBDU comprises 7.1% of PIBD at initial diagnosis. Half of these children are re-classified into UC or CD on follow-up with a higher likelihood of re-classification to UC as compared to CD.

RESUMO Contexto: O termo doença inflamatória intestinal não classificada (DIINC) é usado quando um indivíduo tem colite crônica, mas não pode ser sub tipificado em colite ulcerativa (UC) ou doença de Crohn (DC) com base nas características clínicas, endoscópicas, de imagem e histopatológicas. No acompanhamento, uma proporção de pacientes com DIINC são reclassificadas como DC ou UC. Houve considerável variabilidade nas taxas de frequência e reclassificação de DIINC pediátrico na literatura publicada. Métodos: Foram procuradas publicações no PubMed e Scopus relacionadas à doença inflamatória pediátrica intestinal publicadas entre janeiro de 2014 e julho de 2021. Dois revisores pesquisaram e selecionaram estudos independentemente relatando a frequência da DIINC e/ou sua reclassificação. A prevalência agrupada foi expressa em proporção e para IC95%. A meta-análise foi realizada utilizando o modelo de heterogeneidade de variância inversa. Resultados: Foram identificados 2.750 estudos por meio de uma busca sistemática, dos quais 27 estudos foram incluídos nesta revisão sistemática. A frequência total agrupada da DIINC (n=16064) foi de 7,1% (IC95% 5,8-8,5%). Não houve variação na frequência da DIINC por localização geográfica. Sete estudos (n=5880) foram incluídos na análise de reclassificação da DIINC. No geral, 50% (IC95% 41-60%) foram reclassificadas no seguimento. Entre esses 32,7% (95% 21-44%) foram reclassificados para UC e 17% (IC95%12-22%) foram reclassificados para DC. Conclusão: DIINC compreende 7,1% da doença inflamatória pediátrica intestinal no diagnóstico inicial. Metade dessas crianças são reclassificados em UC ou DC no seguimento com maior probabilidade de reclassificação para UC em comparação com o DC.

Telemedicine during coronavirus disease-19 pandemic: a paradigm shift in cardiovascular care / La telemedicina durante la pandemia del COVID-19: un cambio de paradigma en la atención cardiovascular

Abstract Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has overwhelmingly affected the health-care systems globally. Delivering cardiovascular care has become unusually difficult both for caregivers and physicians in these unprecedented times. Methods: We briefly reviewed how cardiac care can be delivered to patients while limiting the exposure of both patients and healthcare workers through telemedicine services. We made a comparison at our institute of outpatient services through routine and telemedicine visits. Results: We found that telemedicine can be an equally effective alternative cardiac care during the times of pandemic with no significant difference in patients profile admitted through telemedicine services. Conclusions: We concluded that telemedicine can prove to be an effective tool in delivering cardiac care by limiting exposure of both patients and physicians with better triage of cardiac patients in the situation of COVID-19 pandemic and may complement to regular cardiac care in routine times.

Resumen Introducción: El síndrome respiratorio agudo grave dado por el COVID-19 ha afectado de manera abrumadora a los sistemas de salud a nivel mundial. La prestación de servicios de atención cardiovascular se ha tornado inusualmente difícil tanto para los cuidadores como para los médicos en estos tiempos inéditos. Métodos: Realizamos una revisión breve de cómo se puede brindar atención cardíaca a los pacientes a la vez que se limita la exposición tanto de pacientes como del personal de la salud a través de los servicios de telemedicina. Comparamos los servicios ambulatorios habituales con las visitas de telemedicina en nuestro instituto. Resultados: Encontramos que la tele medicina puede ser una alternativa igualmente efectiva de atención cardíaca durante tiempos de pandemia, sin ninguna diferencia significativa en el perfil de los pacientes ingresados a través de los servicios de telemedicina. Conclusiones: Concluimos que la telemedicina puede convertirse en una herramienta efectiva para proporcionar atención en salud cardíaca al limitar la exposición tanto de pacientes como de médicos con un mejor triage de pacientes cardíacos en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19, y puede llegar a ser un complemento de la atención cardíaca habitual en tiempos normales.

How far we are from achieving universal health coverage? A situational analysis and way forward for India

Universal Health coverage (UHC) is required for fulfilment of Health for All. Currently World Health Organization has proposed indicators for tracing coverage of UHC. This study aimed to find the current status of the UHC in India and Indian States. Material and Methods: Data were collected from the national data portals, national surveys and annual reports of ministry. In case of non-availability, numerator and denominator were used from different sources. Data were entered in to Microsoft excel and analysed using Stata-12. Results: Coverage indicators for Non Communicable diseases and cataract surgery were not available in any national survey or national report of ministry. Coverage of none of the health system indicators were found to be 100%. Few indicators like Skilled attendance at birth, TB cure rate, Preventive chemotherapy against filariasis, access to improved water source had a coverage of 80%. Across the states and union territories the coverage was variable but no significant difference was observed between the EAG and Non EAG states. Very few states have achieved the minimum coverage of 80% in various coverage indicators. Conclusion: There is non-availability of some data and some data were collected in duplication. Because of the lack of data, it is not yet possible to compare the UHC service coverage index across key dimensions of inequality. Until these data gaps are overcome, inequalities in service coverage cannot be assessed.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome is a rare disorder of autonomic dysfunction where the body "forgets to breathe". The primitive responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia are sluggish to absent. Since, it was first described in 1970, not much has been discovered about its etiology and pathophysiology except its relationship with PHOX2B gene mutations and associations with disorders of neural crest origin like Hirschprung's Disease. Here, we describe such a case where the diagnosis of anything other than CCHS seems unlikely.

Superior mesentric artery compression syndrome.

Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome is an atypical cause of high intestinal obstruction seen frequently in patients with rapid weight loss or immobilization in a body cast (\also called CAST Syndrome). The SMA impinges on the third part of the duodenum immediately after originating from the anterior aspect of aorta, making an abnormally narrow angle with the later. Intestinal obstruction results causing characteristic symptoms like postprandial epigastric pain, eructations, fullness and vomiting. Here we report such a case of SMA syndrome in a patient with history of rapid loss of weight.