Postdural Puncture Headache after Spinal Anaesthesia in Parturients Undergoing Cesarean Section in the Department of Anesthesia in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: The post-dural puncture headache is one of the common complications of spinal anaesthesia. It is one of the most frequent claims for malpractice involving obstetrics anaesthesia. Though self-limiting it is troublesome to the patient. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of post-dural puncture headache after spinal anaesthesia in parturients undergoing cesarean section in the Department of Anesthesia in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among parturients who underwent cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia from 27 June 2022 to 19 January 2023 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: MEMG/480/IRC). The pregnant patients aged 18-45 years of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status II/IIE who underwent elective or emergency cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were included. A convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 385 parturients, the prevalence of post-dural puncture headache was 27 (7.01%) (4.53-9.67, 95% Confidence Interval). A total of 12 (44.44%) cases experienced post-dural puncture headache in the first 24 hours followed by 9 (33.33%) and 6 (22.22%) cases in 48 and 72 hours respectively. Moderate pain was complained of by 3 (11.11%) and 2 (7.41%) cases at 48 and 72 hours post-cesarean section respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of post-dural puncture headache after spinal anaesthesia in parturients undergoing cesarean section was similar to studies done in similar settings. Keywords: cesarean section; headache; prevalence.

Preoperative Anxiety among Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Preoperative anxiety is universal in patients before surgery. It is mostly unaddressed by health professionals due to a lack of time. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of preoperative anxiety among patients undergoing elective surgery in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 surgical patients in the Department of Anaesthesia, from 27 November 2021 to 20 April 2022 in a tertiary care hospital posted for elective surgery. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: MEMG/481/IRC). A convenience sampling was used. The level of anxiety and need for information was assessed using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale questionnaire in a preoperative holding area. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 385 patients posted for elective surgery, preoperative anxiety was present in 88 (22.85%) (18.66-27.04, 95% Confidence Interval) patients. The mean Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale score for total anxiety and need for information was 13.59±2.47 and 5.91±3.06 respectively. Anxiety was present in 60 (68.18%) females, 45 (51.13%) young patients aged <30 years and 50 (56.81%) patients without prior experience with surgery and anaesthesia. Conclusions: The prevalence of preoperative anxiety among surgical patients was lower than in previous studies done in similar settings. Preoperative anxiety was common in females, young patients and patients without previous experience with anaesthesia and surgery. Keywords: anxiety; patient; preoperative; surgical.

Hemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Intubation Using McCoy Laryngoscope: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngoscopy and intubation are stressful as they lead to a rise in heart rate and blood pressure. Though transient, it may be detrimental to the cardiac and neurosurgical patients. There is a need to explore the possibility of obtunding the pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation with the use of McCoy blade laryngoscope. We aimed to find out the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation using McCoy laryngoscope in adult patients undergoing general anesthesia. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 37 American Society of Anesthesiologists' Physical Status I/IIpatients, with normal airway from December 2019- May 2020 in a tertiary care hospital. Ethical approval was obtained from Institutional Research Committee (reference number.: MEMG/IRC/290/GA). Convenience sampling method was used. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured at baseline, one, three and five minutes after laryngoscopy and intubation. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 21.0. RESULTS: In the first minute after laryngoscopy and intubation, the rise in mean blood pressure was noted in 14 (37.83%) cases. The peak rise in mean blood pressure was 3%, note done minute after laryngoscopy and intubation. CONCLUSIONS: We noted better attenuation of pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation using McCoy blade laryngoscope in adult patients undergoing general anesthesia.

Assessment of Airway Parameters for Predicting Difficult Laryngoscopy and Intubation in a Tertiary Center in Western Nepal.

BACKGROUND: The screening tests used for pre-operative evaluation of airway to predict difficult laryngoscopy and intubation have variable diagnostic accuracy. The unanticipated poor laryngeal view is gold standard for defining difficult intubation. We aimed to find out the prevalence of difficult laryngoscopy and intubation, which airway parameter better predicts difficult intubation and whether difficult laryngoscopy is associated with difficult intubation or not. METHODS: This analytic cross sectional study was conducted in 665 ASA I/II adult patients, aged 18-65, without obvious airway pathology undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. The pre-operative screening tests included mouth opening, modified mallampatti, ratio of height to thyromental distance, sternomentaldistance and upper lip bite test. Cormack-Lehane grade III/ IV was defined as difficult laryngoscopy and potentially difficult intubation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy and area under curve at 95% confidence interval was calculated for all five screening tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of difficult laryngoscopy and intubation was 6.6% (44 cases). The upper lip bite test because of its highest specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy and area under curve (99.7%; 93.9%; 99.7%; 95.2%; 85.1% respectively) with moderate level of sensitivity (70.5%) was better predictor of difficult intubation than other tests. The difficult laryngoscopy was associated with difficult intubation (p=0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of difficult laryngoscopy and intubation was 6.6%.The upper lip bite test was a better predictor of difficult intubation and there was a significant association of difficult laryngoscopy with difficult intubation.

Cesarean Sections under General Anesthesia at a Tertiary Care Center in Western Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: General anesthesia is feared to have adverse feto-maternal outcomes compared to neuraxial anesthesia. It is recommended to keep rate of caesarean sections under general anesthesia below 5% and 15% for elective and emergency caesarean sections respectively. This study was conducted to find out the prevalence of caesarean sections under general anesthesia at a tertiary care center in western Nepal. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among caesarean sections conducted at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal from January 2014 to December 2017. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee with reference number MEMG/IRC/GA/122. All the caesarean sections conducted during this study period were included in the study using whole sampling method. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Data for each patient was subsequently entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. RESULTS: Among 3613 cases, caesarean sections under general anesthesia was observed in 175 (4.84%) in our center over a period of four years at 95% Confidence Interval (4.13-5.55%). The yearly variations ranges from 2.83% to 8.99%. The rate of general anesthesia was found slightly higher in elective 31 (5.82%) as compared to emergency caesarean section 144 (4.67%). CONCLUSIONS: The four year medical records of our institution showed fluctuating trend of caesarian sections under general anesthesia. The rate of general anesthesia for emergency caesarian section was within the recommended rate while it was slightly higher in elective caesarian section.

Evaluation of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Postoperative Sore Throat.

BACKGROUND: The use of nitrous oxide and carboperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy lead to increase in endotracheal tube cuff pressure. It may impair tracheal mucosal perfusion with subsequent tracheal damage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cuff pressure and incidence of post-operative sore throat in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 128 patients aged 18-65 years of American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status I and II undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled and allocated alternately into two groups, Study Group (Maintenance of anesthesia with sevoflurane 1-2%, oxygen/nitrous oxide mixture; 40/60), Control Group (Maintenance of anesthesia with sevoflurane 1-2%, oxygen/air mixture; 40/60) were analysed and comapared. Each group contained 64 patients. Aneroid manometer was used to monitor cuff pressure. Volume of air used to inflate the cuff, baseline cuff pressure, comparison of intraoperative cuff pressure and incidence of post-operative sore throat were measured. RESULTS: The study results demonstrated higher cuff pressure in study group at all times after the creation of carboperitoneum (p=0.00) with increased incidence of sore throat(p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Increase in endotracheal tube cuff pressure was noted with the use of nitrous oxide in laparoscopic cholecystectomy with subsequent post-operative airway complication. Monitoring of cuff pressure is simple, noninvasive and efficient way of achieving therapeutic cuff pressure of 20-30 cm of H2O and thus recommends its use.

Prevention of Shivering during Spinal Anesthesia: Comparison between Tramadol, Ketamine and Ondansetron.

INTRODUCTION: Shivering is an unpleasant experience after spinal anesthesia. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of ondansetron, ketamine and tramadol for prevention of shivering. METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, 120 patients aged 18-65 years of American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status I and II undergoing various surgical procedures were included and allocated alternately to one of the 4 groups; Normal saline (Group1), Ondansetron 4mg (Group2), Ketamine 0.25mg/kg (Group3) and Tramadol 0.5mg/kg (Group4). Incidence of shivering, effect on hemodynamics, nausea, vomiting, sedation and emergence reactions were recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS (The Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 20.0 software. RESULTS: The patients were comparable in terms of demographic variables, baseline temperature, type of surgery, median level of sensory blockade, duration of surgery and anesthesia. Shivering was present in 17 (56.7%), 5 (16.7%), 3 (10%) and 3 (10%) patients respectively in Group 1, 2, 3 and 4 which was statistically significant when compared to Group 1 (P=0.00) The odds of NS and ondansetron, NS and ketamine, NS and tramadol was 6.53, 11.76 and 11.76 respectively which showed that study drugs were effective in preventing shivering. None of the patients were sedated in Group 1 and 2. Mild to moderate sedation was present in Group 3 and 4 (P=0.00). None of the patients had drug related adverse reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic use of ondansetron, low doses of ketamine and tramadol is effective in preventing shivering post spinal anesthesia without untoward effects.