Gastric fluid volume and pH: a comparison of effects of ranitidine alone with combination of ranitidine and metoclopramide in patients undergoing elective caesarean section

Seventy five patients undergoing elective caesarean section under general anaesthesia were randomly divided into three groups of twenty rive patients each to receive placebo [group I], H-2 receptor blocker, ranitidine [group 11] and combination of H-2 receptor blocker and prokinetic drug, metoclopramide [group III]. Gastric fluid volume >25 ml was recorded in sixteen [64%] patients in-group I, in three [12%] patients in-group 11 and in six [24%] patients in-group HL Gastric fluid pH <2.5 was recorded in sixteen [64%] patients in group I, in one [4%] patient in group H and no patient in group HL Group H and HI patients were not statistically significantly different [p-value < 0.05] regarding both the parameters but group I patients were at a high risk [60%] of aspiration pneumonitis when compared to group 11 and HI [p-value > 0.05]

Comparison of end-tidal carbon-dioxide with arterial carbon-dioxide during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, insufflation of C02 into the peritoneal cavity brings about changes in cardiovascular and respiratory systems due to compression of inferior vena cava, abdominal aorta, splinting of diaphragm and hypercarbia due to absorption of C02 from peritoneum into circulation. This study was designed to compare the PaC02 and PETC02 and evaluate the predictability of PETC02 as an index of PaC02 Thirty patients of either sex, receiving general anaesthesia were studied. PaC02 and PETC02 were determined before insufflation of C02 into the peritoneal cavity and then at 30 minutes intervals until the end of the procedure Before insufflation of C02, PaC02 ranged from 32-38.7 mm of Hg and PETC02 from 30-35 mm of Hg. Both the parameters at various intervals have shown parallel changes. The difference between PaC02 and PETC02 at all times during surgery had a definite upward trend which is statistically highly significant [P<0.0001]. It has been concluded from results of this study that PETC02 is a reliable predictor of PaC02 during laparoscopic cholecystectomy