Anesthetic and Surgical Management of Mucoid Retention Cyst in the Vallecular Region: An Airway Challenge.

Growth of any kind in the oropharynx poses a threat to the airway especially during anaesthesia. Being aware of the challenges and adequately equipped to handle the situation is the duty of the anesthesiologist. METHODS AND MATERIAL: An eight year old girl diagnosed case of multiple mucous cysts presented to the outpatient department for excision of a lower lip mucous cyst. So an ultrasound was done which revealed a large intramural mucous cyst. After a preanaesthetic checkup she was posted for the excision of the cyst. RESULTS: The girl was posted for Elective surgery and was induced without prior premedication as she had revealed a history of snoring in supine position. After preoxygenating with 100% oxygen, she was induced with Injection Ketamine and Sevoflurane. She started desaturated abruptly so nasal airway and finally # 2.5 LMA was inserted but SpO2 didn't improve. With backup of Ent and paediatric surgeons direct larngoscopy was attempted and #5 ETT was inserted successfully. Following which the huge vallecular cyst was removed.

Premedication dilemmas, is Pregabalin the answer?

OBJECTIVE: Laryngoscopy and intubation are associated with sympathetic stimulation which can prove deleterious in patients with cardiovascular compromise; so, various methods have been tried to obtund this pressor response. In this study, we have assessed the efficacy of pregabalin in attenuating the pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation. METHODS: This prospective randomized study included 80 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status grades I-II, in the age group of 18-60 years of age. The patients were randomized into two groups of 40 patients each. Group A received the placebo orally, 90 min prior to surgery. Group B received 150 mg of pregabalin orally, 90 min prior to surgery. These patients were assessed in terms of sedation with Ramsay sedation scale (RSS). In the operation theatre, the heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and oxygen saturation recorded at baseline and 1, 3, 5, and 10 min after intubation. The rate pressure product (RPP) was calculated for these time intervals. In the postoperative period, patients were assessed for complications like dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square and ANOVA tests. FINDINGS: The group receiving 150 mg of pregabalin as premedication was found to be adequately sedated at 1 h post-premedication with 52% patients having a RSS score of 3 compared to 4% with the same RSS score in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Hemodynamics was more stable post-intubation with significant stability in the HR (P = 0.002) and RPP (P = 0.004) in the pregabalin group. CONCLUSION: Pregabalin when given as a premedication provides adequate sedation and obtunds the pressor response seen with intubation.

Ideal anesthetic agents for day-care gynecological procedures: A clinical trial comparing thiopentone with ketamine as adjuncts to propofol.

BACKGROUND: Day-care gynecological procedures require the use of anesthetic agents, which ensure rapid induction and recovery. Although propofol is the gold standard drug in day-care procedures, it has its own side effects like apnea, cardiovascular instability, pain on injection, as well as its cost. The ideal drug combination to achieve this end remains elusive. Therefore, a combination of propofol, thiopentone, and ketamine may be a better alternative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, double-blind, randomized study was conducted on 60 women, aged 18-50 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1 and 2, undergoing day-care gynecological surgeries. The patients were allocated to two groups. Group T received an admixture containing 10 ml of 1% propofol and 10 ml of 1.25% thiopentone. Group K received an admixture containing 10 ml of 1% propofol and 10 ml of 0.5% ketamine. RESULTS: There was less variation in the mean systolic blood pressure of patients in Group K as compared to patients in Group T. The mean total dose of propofol required in Group K (0.85 mg/kg) was significantly less than that required in Group T (1.12 mg/kg) (P = 0.0004). The mean recovery time in Group T (3.67 minutes) was significantly less than in Group K (6.27 minutes; P = 0.0001). However, the mean discharge time in both the groups was similar. (P = 0.7392). The results were analyzed statistically using the Student's t-test and the Fisher's exact test. CONCLUSIONS: Both the propofol-thiopentone and propofol-ketamine admixtures provided adequate anesthesia. Propofol-ketamine proved superior to propofol-thiopentone in terms of hemodynamic stability and requirement of a lesser total dose of propofol. However, the patients in the propofol-thiopentone group had faster recovery.

The comparative evaluation of intravenous with intramuscular clonidine for suppression of hemodynamic changes in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Clonidine diminishes stress response by reducing circulating catecholamines and hence increases perioperative circulatory stability in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries. The aim of this study was to compare intravenous (IV) clonidine (2 µg/kg) with intramuscular (IM) clonidine (2 µg/kg) for attenuation of stress response in laproscopic surgeries. METHODS: Eighty adult patients classified as ASA physical status I or II, aged between 20 and 60 years undergoing elective cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were enrolled for a prospective, randomized, and double-blind controlled trial. They received either IV clonidine (2 µg/kg) 15 min prior to the scheduled surgery (Group I) or IM clonidine (2 µg/kg) 60-90 min prior to the scheduled surgery (Group II). Hemodynamic variables (Heart rate, systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP)), SpO2 and EtCO2 were recorded at specific times - baseline, prior to induction, 1 min after intubation, before CO2, insufflation, after CO2 insufflation at 1,5,10,20,30,45,60 min, after release of CO2, at 1 and 10 minutes after extubation. Secondary outcomes included evaluation of adverse effect profile of the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the HR throughout the intraoperative period in between the two groups (P>0.05). There was statistically significant difference in SBP between the two groups starting from 1 minute after induction till 1 min after extubation (P<0.05) but not in DBP except at 1 minute after intubation (P=0.042). Significant difference in MAP was noted at 1 minute after intubation (P=0.004) and then from 5 minutes after CO2 insufflation to 1 minute after extubation (P<0.05). Incidence of adverse effects were higher in group II (P=0.02) especially incidence of hypertension requiring treatment (0.006). CONCLUSION: We conclude that under the conditions of this study, hemodynamic parameters (SBP, DBP and MAP) were better maintained in the IV as compared to the IM route that had significantly higher incidence of hypertension requiring treatment.

Tetany: A diagnostic dilemma.

Tetany is a disorder of increased neuronal excitability usually associated with hypocalcemia. We report a patient with typical tetanic cramps and carpopedal spasm in the postoperative period, despite normal serum concentrations of calcium, which responded to intravenous infusion of calcium.

Wound infiltration with plain bupivacaine as compared with bupivacaine fentanyl mixture for postoperative pain relief after abdominal surgery.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of wound infiltration with Bupivacaine or Bupivacaine with fentanyl for post operative analgesia. BACKGROUND: The role of Bupivacaine and fentanyl mixture as wound infiltration for post operative analgesia is less explored in human subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized included 60 ASA grade I, II, and III patients in the age group of 20-75 years of age. The patients were randomized into two groups of 30 patients each: Group A received wound infiltration with a solution containing 0.5% bupivacaine (2 mg/kg), while, Group B received infiltration with a solution containing fentanyl 25 µg added to 0.5% bupivacaine (2 mg/kg). RESULTS: None of the patients in both groups had unbearable incisional pain but addition of fentanyl to 0.5% bupivacaine reduced analgesic consumption in the postoperative period (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Addition of opioids to local anesthetics results in better postoperative analgesia and reduced opioid requirement post operatively.

Comparison of intrathecal bupivacaine-fentanyl and bupivacaine-butorphanol mixtures for lower limb orthopedic procedures.

CONTEXT: Intrathecal use of butorphanol is less explored in human subjects. AIMS: To compare the safety and efficacy of anesthesia and analgesia of intrathecal bupivacaine-butorphanol mixture with intrathecal bupivacaine-fentanyl mixture. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Tertiary level, teaching hospital. Prospective, randomized, double-blind study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients aged above 18 years, of ASA physical status 1 or 2, undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries were randomly allocated to two groups of 40 patients each. Patients in group A and group B received intrathecal 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%), with 25 µg of fentanyl and 25 µg of butorphanol, respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Fisher's exact test and Chi square tests. RESULTS: The times required for onset of sensory and motor blockade were comparable among the two groups. Significantly slower block regression to S2 level was observed in the group receiving intrathecal butorphanol as compared to intrathecal fentanyl (P=0.0230). A higher number of patients in group A requested for rescue analgesia during the postoperative period than in group B (9 versus 2; P=0.0238). The average times to first request for rescue analgesia were 308.6±14.9 minutes and 365.9±12.3 minutes in group A and B, respectively (P=0.0254). CONCLUSIONS: Both 25 µg fentanyl and 25 µg butorphanol given intrathecally along with 12.5 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine provide effective anesthesia for lower limb surgeries. Intrathecal bupivacaine-butorphanol mixture provides longer duration of sensory blockade and superior analgesia than intrathecal fentanyl-bupivacaine mixture.