Effect of Intravenous Lidocaine, Dexamethasone, and Their Combination on Postoperative Sore Throat: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative sore throat (POST), hoarseness, and cough after tracheal intubation are not uncommon. Although both lidocaine and dexamethasone have been used independently to reduce these events, there is no study assessing the combined effects of lidocaine and dexamethasone. METHODS: This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study enrolled 180 patients requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation for >90 minutes. They received 1 of the 4 intravenous agents just before induction of anesthesia: lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) in group L, dexamethasone (8 mg) in group D, lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) with dexamethasone (8 mg) in group DL, and placebo as normal saline in group NS. Standard anesthesia protocol was followed. Incidence and severity of a sore throat, cough, and hoarseness of voice were assessed up to 24 hours postoperatively. The primary outcome was the incidence of POST, and the main effects of dexamethasone and lidocaine were the primary interest. RESULTS: Data of 45 patients in D, 44 in L, 44 in DL, and 43 in NS groups were analyzed. The incidence of a sore throat was 36%, 43%, 25%, and 56% in group D, L, DL, and NS, respectively (P = .02). Dexamethasone with or without lidocaine reduced the incidence of the POST (odds ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.82; P < .01). However, lidocaine was not effective in reducing POST (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-1.14; P = .12). No difference was observed in the severity of a sore throat, incidence and severity of a cough, and hoarseness among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone, with or without lidocaine, was effective in reducing the incidence of POST in patients requiring prolonged tracheal intubation.

Prediction of Difficult Airway Among Patients Requiring Endotracheal Intubation in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Various screening tests are done for predicting difficult laryngoscopy with variable diagnostic accuracy. Difficult laryngoscopy is being considered a surrogate indicator of difficult intubation, though it is not the exact measure of intubation difficulty. Our objectives were to find out the better predictor of difficult laryngoscopy amongst the routinely used tests and also to find the ability of difficult laryngoscopy to predict difficult intubation. METHODS: This prospective, observational study involved 314, ASA I/II adult patients requiring endotracheal intubation. Measurement of sternomental, thyromental and inter-incisor distances and gradings of mandibular protrusion and modified Mallampati were done. Statistical values including sensitivity and specificity of these tests were calculated to find the better predictor of difficult laryngoscopy. Cormack and Lehane laryngoscopy grade III/IV was defined as difficult laryngoscopy. Requirement of >3 attempts for endotracheal intubation was defined as difficult intubation. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the Modified Mallampatti Test for predicting difficult laryngoscopy was highest, 83% compared to other tests. Total 12 (3.8%) patients had difficult laryngoscopy. Intubation was difficult in 7 (2.2%) patients, of which four had difficult laryngoscopy (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Modified Mallampati test was better for predicting difficult laryngoscopy compared to other bedside screening tests. Difficult laryngoscop could significantly predict difficult intubation in our patients.

Premedication with oral alprazolam and melatonin combination: a comparison with either alone--a randomized controlled factorial trial.

We assessed if the addition of melatonin to alprazolam has superior premedication effects compared to either drug alone. A prospective, double blind placebo controlled trial randomly assigned 80 adult patients (ASA 1&2) with a Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for anxiety ≥ 3 to receive a tablet containing a combination of alprazolam 0.5 mg and melatonin 3 mg, alprazolam 0.5 mg, melatonin 3 mg, or placebo orally 90 min before a standard anesthetic. Primary end points were change in anxiety and sedation score at 15, 30, and 60 min after premedication, and number of patients with loss of memory for the five pictures shown at various time points when assessed after 24 h. One-way ANOVA, Friedman repeated measures analysis of variance, Kruskal Wallis and chi square tests were used as relevant. Combination drug produced the maximum reduction in anxiety VAS (3 (1.0-4.3)) from baseline at 60 min (P < 0.05). Sedation scores at various time points and number of patients not recognizing the picture shown at 60 min after premedication were comparable between combination drug and alprazolam alone. Addition of melatonin to alprazolam had superior anxiolysis compared with either drugs alone or placebo. Adding melatonin neither worsened sedation score nor the amnesic effect of alprazolam alone. This study was registered, approved, and released from ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier number: NCT01486615.

Nepalese patients' anxiety and concerns before surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in anxiety level and need for information at three different time points before surgery. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Ward (T(1)), preoperative holding area (T(2)), and operating room (T(3)) of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 201 adult, ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients scheduled for elective operations. MEASUREMENTS: Level of anxiety and need for information about surgery and/or anesthesia were assessed with the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) three times before the start of surgery: in the ward, the preoperative holding area, and the operating room. RESULTS: The psychometric characteristics of the APAIS were similar to its original Dutch version. The frequency of patients with high preoperative anxiety peaked at the preoperative holding area. The median score on need for information decreased from T(1) [4; interquartile range (IR) 2-5] to T(2) (3; IR 2-4) (P < 0.005) and T(3) (3; IR 2-4) (P < 0.01). While the mean anxiety scores for anesthesia were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than for the surgical procedure at all three time points, when patients were still in the ward their need for information about their surgical procedure was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than it was for the anesthesia. Patients who were more desirous of information also were more anxious (P < 0.001). Predictors of high anxiety were female gender [odds ratio (OR) 4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-14.94] and need for general anesthesia (OR 7.1; 95% CI 0.93-54.98). The characteristics, general anesthesia (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.1-10.0), younger age (≤ 30 yrs; OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.3-6.4), education (>12 yrs; OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.4), and no previous surgery (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.5), correlated with greater need for information. CONCLUSION: The frequency of anxious patients is variable at different time points before surgery. The factors correlating with anxiety before surgery are nonmodifiable. Providing information to those individuals is the only modifiable option.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS type-1) in an Adolescent Following Extravasation of Dextrose Containing Fluid-an Underdiagnosed Case.

Due to its complex pathophysiology and wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of CRPS is often missed in the early stage by primary care physicians. After being treated by a primary care physician for 5 months for chronic cellulitis, a 16-year-old girl was referred to our hospital with features of type-1 CRPS of the right upper extremity. Inability to diagnose early caused prolonged suffering to the girl with all the consequence of CRPS. The patient responded well with marked functional recovery from multimodal therapy. Ability to distinguish CRPS from other pain conditions, referral for specialty care at the appropriate time and full awareness of this condition and its clinical features among various healthcare professionals are essential in reducing patient suffering and stopping its progression towards difficult-to-treat situations.