Comparative study between epidural methylprednisolone and indomethacin in chronic low back pain patients using P300

Thirty patients were included in this study and divided into two equal groups: Group I received 80 mg methylprednisolone [MTP] epidurally and group II received 2 mg lyophilized, preservative-free indomethacin [INM] epidurally. Another dose of the drug was given after two weeks. The values of absolute peak latencies and amplitudes of P300 were recorded before [baseline] and after two weeks of the first injection as well as after two weeks of the second injection in both groups. The intensity of pain was also recorded using a 10-cm visual analog scale [VAS]. The study concluded that INM administered epidurally is a good alternative to MTP whenever corticosteroids are contraindicated in chronic low back pain patients

Prevention of post operative nausea and vomiting PONV in day care surgery

Postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] is one of the unpleasant side effects in the postoperative period. The need for an effective antiemetic is increasing specially with the development of day care surgery. Many drugs were tried but heir clinical benefit and the most effective dose regimen were not established. In this study, 250 patients were operated upon on day care basis and were given either ondansetron, metoclopramide or placebo for prevention of PONV. It was found that the first drug had the highest success rate and the least incidence of side effects. Its use is recommended for day care surgical patients