What happens to the hemodynamic responses for laryngeal mask airway insertion when we supplement propofol with butorphanol or fentanyl for induction of anesthesia: A comparative assessment and critical review.

BACKGROUND: There is a delicate balance between respiratory tract anatomy, its physiology, physiological response to anesthetic agents, and airway management. The traditional gadgets to secure airway are face masks or endotracheal tubes. Recently, laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is gaining popularity. It does not require laryngoscopy thereby minimizing hemodynamic responses. For LMA placement, propofol is the induction agent of choice. Propofol, when used alone, requires large doses and leads to undesirable cardiorespiratory depression. To culminate its dose, various adjuncts are combined with it. AIM: Comparison of hemodynamic response of LMA using either butorphanol or fentanyl (according to group allocated) in combination with propofol. METHODOLOGY: Hundred patients scheduled for various surgical procedures were randomly selected and divided into two groups of 50 patients each, Group F (propofol and fentanyl) and Group B (propofol and butorphanol). One minute after giving intravenous (IV) opioids, induction was achieved with IV propofol 2.5 mg/kg. Depth of anesthesia was assessed, and LMA was inserted. Hemodynamic variables were measured before premedication, after premedication; 1, 3, and 5 min after insertion and after extubation of LMA. RESULTS: After insertion of LMA, statistically significant drop in mean heart rate, systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP, and mean BP was noted in Group F as compared to Group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of propofol-butorphanol combination produces stable hemodynamics as compared to propofol-fentanyl combination.

Resource utilization in the management of traumatic brain injury patients in a critical care unit: An audit from a rural set-up of a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Neurosurgical patients including patients with severe head injury are at risk of developing respiratory complications. These can adversely affect the outcome and can result in poor survival. Many studies confirm that tracheostomy is a safe, effective method of airway management for patients with severe head, facial and multisystem organ trauma. AIMS: To know the indications for performing early tracheostomy and its outcome. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a retrospective analysis of all patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of head injury between January 2007 and December 2009 and underwent tracheostomy at a rural tertiary care trauma center of Central India. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 40 patients with head injury underwent tracheostomy. All the patients sustained head injury in road traffic accidents. The mean age of the patients was 37.6 years (range 14-75 years, standard deviation 14 ± 14.9 years). Maximum number of patients were in their third decade of life, followed by those in the fifth and fourth decades. There were 36 males and 4 females. Tracheostomy was performed in 30 patients with severe head injury, 9 patients with moderate head injury and in only one case of mild head injury as the patient had multiple facial injuries compromising the airway. CONCLUSIONS: Neurocritical care is a relatively new field in India, and the facilities for critical neurosurgical patients are available only in a very few tertiary care centers mainly serving the urban areas. In the present study, we discuss our limited experience with tracheostomy in patients with head injury while facing the challenge of limited resources.

Resource utilization in the management of traumatic brain injury patients in a critical care unit: An audit from rural setup of a developing country.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are steadily increasing and are a major cause of mortality and morbidity, particularly in the young population, leading to the loss of life and productivity in the developing countries. Providing critical care to these patients with TBI is a challenge even in well-advanced centers in major cities of India. In the present study, we describe our experience of resource utilization in the management of TBI in a critical care unit (CCU) from a rural setup. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients who were admitted from January 2007 to December 2009 in the CCU for the management of traumatic brain injury were included in the study. The case records of the patients were reviewed retrospectively, and data were collected on age, gender, severity of head injury, associated injuries, total CCU stay, total hospital stay, and outcome. RESULTS: The total duration (days) of hospital stay was 8.96±6.16 days and a median of 8 days, and CCU stay was 3.77±6.34 days with a median of 2 days. No deaths occurred with mild head injury. A total of 73 (19.16%) deaths occurred in 381 admitted subjects in CCU. The risk of death among both the sexes is not significantly different, that is, odds ratio (OR) 1.032 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.351-3.03], so also the risk of death among the different age groups is also not significant having OR, 0.978 (95% CI, 0.954-1.00). The severity of head injury (mild, moderate, and severe) and CCU stay parameters had significant difference with risk of death [OR, 3.22 (95% CI, 2.49-4.16) and OR, 2.50 (95% CI, 1.9-3.2)]. CONCLUSIONS: Apparently it seems possible to use the existing health care structures in rural areas to improve trauma care. It becomes particularly relevant in poor resource, developing countries, where health care facilities and access to specialized care units are still far below the acceptable standard, there is a need to compare with the reference group to further support the evidence.

Metastatic lung cancer presenting with jugular foramen syndrome in a case of von Recklinghausens disease.

Metastatic carcinomas from a distant primary malignancy involving the temporal bone particularly the jugular foramen are rare tumors. A 57-year-old gentleman had multiple gradually increasing swellings over the body since many years. For last two years, he noticed enlargement of the swelling in left calf and rapidly enlarging painful new swelling over the left chest wall in back for last one year. He had recent involvement of left seventh, eighth and lower cranial nerves. CT scan showed an extensive lesion in left jugular foramen region with bone destruction. The patient underwent decompression of the left jugular foramen mass lesion. The tumor was extremely vascular and a partial decompression could only be performed. Although there was relief in the headache but the neurological deficits were persisting. Histopathology of the tumor showed features of metastatic small ling cancer. In the present case, there was presence of long standing multiple swelling all over the body and the patient had painful enlargement that he perceived as an ongoing process of the von Recklinghausen's disease and made a delay in seeking the medical advice resulting in a well advanced disease and with poor prognosis.