Preoperative “R wave amplitude variation” on electrocardiogram predicts severe hypovolemia

Preoperative fasting is essential to prevent aspiration and associated complications. However, quite often patients end up fasting for 12 h or more due to changes in the operating room schedules, delays, and postponements. Preoperative fasting may lead to a fluid deficit, which may contribute to perioperative discomfort and morbidity. We report a case of 44-year-old female posted for total mastectomy with axillary clearance for carcinoma breast, with prolonged fasting where preoperative R wave amplitude variation along with associated changes in the plethysmograph was noticed on the monitor. 500 milliliters of lactated ringer solution was administered before induction of anesthesia, by the time R wave amplitude variation decreased. Variations in plethysmography became normal after 1 L of fluid administration after induction of anesthesia. Gross R wave amplitude variation is not a very common finding and may predict severe hypovolemia in preoperative area in prolonged fasting patients.

Acupressure versus dilution of fentanyl to reduce incidence of fentanyl-induced cough in female cancer patients: a prospective randomized controlled study / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Fentanyl-induced cough (FIC) is a transient condition with a reported incidence of 18% to 65% depending on the dose and route of administration of fentanyl. Nonpharmacological methods to prevent FIC are more cost-effective than medications. Dilution of fentanyl has a proven role in the prevention of FIC. Acupressure can also prevent FIC because it has a proven role in the treatment of cough. METHODS: This study included 225 female patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I or II who were randomly divided into 3 groups of 75 patients each. Patients in the control group received undiluted fentanyl at 3 µg/kg, patients in the acupressure group received undiluted fentanyl at 3 µg/kg with acupressure, and patients in the dilution group received diluted fentanyl at 3 µg/kg. Coughing was noted within 2 min of fentanyl administration. The severity of FIC was graded as mild (1-2 coughs), moderate (3-4 coughs), or severe (≥5 coughs). The timing of coughs was also noted. RESULTS: The incidence of FIC was 12.7% in the control group, 6.8% in the dilution group, and 1.3% in the acupressure group. The difference in the incidence of cough was statistically significant (P = 0.008) between the control and acupressure groups. The difference in the severity of cough among the groups was not statistically significant. The median onset time of cough among all groups was 9 to 12 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: The application of acupressure prior to administration of fentanyl significantly reduces the incidence of FIC. Dilution of fentanyl also reduces the incidence of FIC, but the difference is not statistically significant.

Perioperative predictors of morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass

Prediction of outcome after cardiac surgery is difficult despite a number of models using pre-, intra- and post-operative factors. Ideally, risk factors operating in all three phases of the patients' stay in the hospital should be incorporated into any outcome prediction model. The aim of the present study was to identify the perioperative risk factors associated with morbidity, mortality and length of stay in the recovery room [LOSR] and length of stay in the hospital [LOSH]. Eighty-eight adults of either sex, patients undergoing elective open cardiac surgery were studied prospectively. The ability of a number of pre-, intra- and post-operative factors to predict outcome in the form of mortality, immediate morbidity [LOSR] and intermediate morbidity [LOSH] was assessed. Factors associated with higher mortality were preoperative prothrombin index [PTI], American Society of Anesthesiology-Physical Status [ASA-PS] grade, Cardiac Anaesthesia Risk Evaluation [CARE] score and New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, intraoperative duration of cardiopulmonary bypass [DCPB], number of inotropes used while coming off cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperatively, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE] II excluding the Glassgow Comma Scale [GCS] component and the number of inotropes used. Immediate morbidity was associated with preoperative PTI, inotrope usage intra- and post-operatively and the APACHE score. Intermediate morbidity was associated with DCPB and intra- and post-operative inotrope usage. Individual surgeon influenced the LOSR and the LOSH. APACHE score, a general purpose severity of illness score, was relatively ineffective in the postoperative period because of sedation, neuromuscular blockade and elective ventilation used in a number of these patients. The preoperative and intraoperative factors like CARE, ASA-PS grade, NYHA, DCPB and number of inotropes used influencing morbidity and mortality are consistent with the literature, despite the small size of our sample

Anesthetic management in a patient with Kindler's syndrome

A 35-year-old male with pan-anterior urethral stricture was scheduled to undergo perineal urethrostomy. He was a known case of Kindler's syndrome since infancy. He was having a history of blister formation, extensive poikiloderma and progressive cutaneous atrophy since childhood. He had a tendency of trauma-induced blisters with clear or hemorrhagic contents that healed with scarring. The fingers were sclerodermiform with dystrophic nails and inability to completely clench the fist. Airway examination revealed thyromental distance of 7 cm with limited neck extension, limited mouth opening and mallampatti class III with a fixed large tongue. He was reported as grade IV Cormack and Lehane laryngoscopic on previous anesthesia exposure. We described the anesthetic management of such case on guidelines for epidermolysis bullosa. In the operating room, an 18-G cannula was secured in the right upper limb using Coban[TM] Wrap. The T-piece of the cannula was than inserted into the slit and the tape was wrapped around the extremity. The ECG electrodes were placed on the limbs and fixed with Coban[TM]. Noninvasive blood pressure cuff was applied over the wrap after wrapping the arm with Webril cotton. Oral fiberoptic tracheal intubation was done after lubricating the laryngoscope generously with a water-based lubricant with 7-mm endotracheal tube. Surgery proceeded without any complication. After reversing the residual neuromuscular block, trachea was extubated once the patient became awake. He was kept in the postanesthesia care unit for 2 hours and then shifted to urology ward

Low-dose sequential combined-spinal epidural anesthesia for Cesarean section in patient with uncorrected tetrology of Fallot

Tetrology of Fallot [TOF] is the most commonly encountered congenital cardiac lesion in pregnancy. Although there are controversies regarding safe anesthetic technique for parturient with TOF, we use low-dose sequential combined-spinal epidural anesthesia in such a case posted for Cesarean section and found that low dose [0.5 ml of 0.5%] intrathecal bupivacaine and fentanyl with sequential epidural bupivacaine supplementation was adequate for the performance of an uncomplicated Cesarean section with minimal side effects and good fetal outcome. Thus, though the choice of anesthesia can vary in such patients, low-dose sequential combined-spinal epidural can be a safe alternate to achieve good anesthesia with impressive cardiovascular stability

Studies on leptospirosis outbreaks in Peddamandem Mandal of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh.

An outbreak of leptospirosis in Peddamandem Mandal, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh occurred during Aug to Oct 2005. Out of 86 single human sera samples of suspected cases collected during the investigation, 49 (56.97%) samples from seven villages were found positive for leptospirosis both by DGM tests and IgM antibodies. Out of total 49 positive cases 16 (47.05%) were male and 33 (69.46%) female patients. The mean age of the positive cases were 42.7 years. There was no significant differences in male and female ratio and age groups in affected population. The higher degree of seropositivity was observed in adult females as they were mainly engaged in both domestic and peridomestic works. Geographical clustering of cases was evident. All the 49 positive cases had fever (100%). Myalgia (42.9%), stiffness of calf muscles (55.1%) and headache (32.6%) were the other major clinical features observed. There was only 1 (2.04%) case with conjunctival suffusion. None of the case presented with jaundice. All the suspected cases were tested negative for malaria, typhoid and dengue fever. In Peddamandem, contaminated water stagnation due to heavy rainfall and frequent contact of barefooted villagers with the infected sources registered higher incidence of leptospirosis. Most of the cases were from the contaminated water logged areas of the affected villages. In the affected villages none of the individual occupational category showed a significant association with seropositivity. It indicated that the transmission was from the common single category source in the villages i.e. contaminated stagnant water. The villagers living with livestocks and rodents were significantly associated with seropositivity.

Present susceptibility status of rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), vector of plague against organochlorine, organophosphate and synthetic pyrethroids 1. The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India.

The susceptibility status of Xenopsylla cheopis, the efficient vector of human plague in India was assessed in erstwhile plague endemic areas of Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu following standard WHO techniques. The studies revealed the development of resistance in rat fleas to DDT--4.0%, Malathion--5.0%, Deltamethrin--0.05% and tolerance to Permethrin--0.75% in all the four blocks of Nilgiris hill district. Development of resistance may be due to the extensive use of insecticides in tea plantations and agricultural sectors where the domestic/peri-domestic rodents find their natural habitats and intermingle with each other.