Comparison of intravenous labetalol and bupivacaine scalp block on the hemodynamic and entropy changes following skull pin application: A randomized, open label clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The application of skull pins in neurosurgical procedures is a highly noxious stimulus that causes hemodynamic changes and a rise in spectral entropy levels. We designed a study to compare intravenous (IV) labetalol and bupivacaine scalp block in blunting these changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures were randomized into two groups, L (labetalol) and B (bupivacaine) of 33 each. After a standard induction sequence using fentanyl, propofol and vecuronium, patients were intubated. Baseline hemodynamic parameters and entropy levels were noted. Five minutes before, application of the pins, group L patients received IV labetalol 0.25 mg/kg and group B patients received scalp block with 30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. Following application of the pins, heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and response entropy (RE)/state entropy (SE) were noted at regular time points up to 5 min. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable with respect to their demographic characteristics. Baseline hemodynamic parameters and entropy levels were also similar. After pinning, the HR, SAP, DAP, MAP, and RE/SE all increased in both groups but were lower in the scalp block group patients. HR increased by 19.8% in group L and by 11% in group B. SAP increased by 11.9% in group L and remained unchanged in group B. DAP increased by 19.7% in group L and by 9.9% in group B, MAP increased by 15.6% in group L and 5% in group B (P < 0.05). No adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION: Scalp block with bupivacaine is more effective than IV labetalol in attenuating the rise in hemodynamic parameters and entropy changes following skull pin application.

Anaesthesia for a minor procedure in a patient with fontan physiology.

Fontan procedure is a palliative surgery done for patients born with single ventricle physiology. An understanding of the hemodynamic alterations in such a patient is important for successful perioperative management. We have discussed the anaesthetic considerations in a 12 year-old girl with complex congenital heart disease ultimately palliated by a Fontan operation, who was posted for Botox injections for upper limb spasticity under general anaesthesia.

Anesthetic management of a case of severe pre-eclampsia with antepartum hemorrhage with pulmonary edema for caesarean section.

Pulmonary edema is a rare complication of pre-eclampsia. We report a case of severe pre-eclampsia with abruptio placentae with intra-uterine fetal demise, complicated by pulmonary edema, managed under general anesthesia for caesarean section.

Anesthetic management of a parturient with uncorrected tetralogy of Fallot for Cesarean section.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease. We report the anesthetic management of a patient with uncorrected Fallot's tetralogy for Cesarean section.