An Unusual Complication of a Usual Guidewire during Central Venous Cannulation.

How to cite this article: Palanisamy S, Arish BT, Segaran S, Ranjan RV. An Unusual Complication of a Usual Guidewire during Central Venous Cannulation. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(6):761-762.

Comparison of dexmedetomidine in two different doses on emergence agitation in children under sevoflurane anaesthesia: A double-blind randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emergence agitation (EA) in children is one of the most common postoperative problems encountered in the recovery room. Sevoflurane has been strongly associated with EA owing to its lower solubility and rapid recovery. Dexmedetomidine has been found to reduce the incidence of EA. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in two doses in reducing EA in children. METHODS: This was a prospective double-blinded randomised study done on eighty children aged 5-14 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy/tonsillectomy under sevoflurane anaesthesia. Patients in Group A (n = 40) received 0.3 µg/kg/h and patients in group B (n = 40) received 0.5 µg/kg/h infusion after a bolus dose of 0.5 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine. The primary objective was to compare two different doses of dexmedetomidine on EA in the postoperative period. The secondary objectives were to assess the pain and perioperative haemodynamics in the recovery room. The anaesthesiologist blinded to the study charted the paediatric anaesthesia emergence delirium score (PAED), perioperative haemodynamic parameters, objective pain score and rescue medications if given. The data were analysed using Student's unpaired t-test, Chi-square test, repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Mann-Whitney U test wherever appropriate. RESULTS: The incidence of EA was comparable between both groups (P = 0.960). The haemodynamic parameters (P > 0.05) and the objective pain score (P = 0.810) also did not show a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: A lower dose of dexmedetomidine (0.3 µg/kg/h) is equally effective as a higher dose (0.5 µg/kg/h) after a bolus dose of 0.5 µg/kg in decreasing EA.

A randomised double-blind trial of minimal bolus doses of oxytocin for elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: Optimal or not?

BACKGROUND: Oxytocin administration regimens are arbitrary and highly subjective. Hence, it is essential to reinvestigate the appropriate dose for effective uterine contraction with minimal bleeding and adverse effects. AIM: To determine the optimal dose of bolus oxytocin for uterine contractions for elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. METHODS: Ninety term mothers (37 to 41 weeks) undergoing caesarean section electively under spinal anaesthesia were considered for the trial and divided into three groups to receive oxytocin bolus of one, two or three units. The uterine tone was assessed at 2 min after oxytocin administration. Intraoperative blood loss, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and possible side effects were also compared. Paired t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with Scheffe multiple comparisons were used as inferential statistics. RESULTS: Adequate uterine contraction was seen in 66% of participants who received one unit of oxytocin, and in 83.3% of participants who received two units of oxytocin. All those who received three units of oxytocin had an adequate uterine contraction. Blood loss was inversely related to the bolus dose of oxytocin. CONCLUSIONS: Lower bolus oxytocin doses of one and two units were inadequate for uterine contraction at elective caeserean section, while three units appeared to be effective in terms of adequate uterine contraction, reduced blood loss and stable haemodynamic system and absent side effects.

Transversus Abdominis Plane Block versus Ilioinguinal/Iliohypogastric Nerve Block with Wound Infiltration for Postoperative Analgesia in Inguinal Hernia Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Various analgesic modalities have been used for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. In this randomized clinical trial, we have compared the analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with that of ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric (IIIH) nerve block with wound infiltration in patients undergoing unilateral open inguinal hernia repair. AIM: The primary objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of postoperative analgesia of ultrasound-guided TAP block and IIIH block with wound infiltration (WI) in patients undergoing open inguinal hernia surgery. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a randomized clinical trial performed in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled for hernia repair were randomized into two groups, Group T and Group I. Postoperatively, under ultrasound guidance, Group T received 20 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine - TAP block and Group I received 10 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine - IIIH block + WI with 10 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine. The primary outcome measure was the time to rescue analgesia in the first 24 h postoperatively. Fentanyl along with diclofenac was given as first rescue analgesic when the patient complained of pain. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical comparisons were performed using Student's t-test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Mean time to rescue analgesia was 5.900 ± 1.881 h and 3.766 ± 1.754 h (P < 0.001) and the mean pain scores were 5.73 ± 0.784 and 6.03 ± 0.850 for Group TAP and IIIH + WI, respectively. Hemodynamics were stable in both the groups. One-third of the patients received one dose of paracetamol in addition to the rescue analgesic in the first 24 h. There were no complications attributed to the block. CONCLUSION: As a multimodal analgesic regimen, definitely both TAP block and IIIH block with wound infiltration have a supporting role in providing analgesia in the postoperative period for adult inguinal hernia repair. In this study, ultrasound-guided TAP block provided longer pain control postoperatively than IIIH block with WI after inguinal hernia repair. There were no complications attributed to the blocks in either of the group.

Analgesic Efficacy of Transverse Abdominal Plane Block after Elective Cesarean Delivery - Bupivacaine with Fentanyl versus Bupivacaine Alone: A Randomized, Double-blind Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The analgesic benefit of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks for cesarean delivery remains controversial. In our study, we compared the analgesic efficacy of TAP block using local anesthetic bupivacaine and adjunct fentanyl with bupivacaine alone in patients undergoing elective cesarean section. METHODS: Our study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial where sixty patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery under subarachanoid block (2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine) were randomized into two groups, A and B. At the end of the surgical procedure, bilateral TAP block was performed guided by the ultrasound. Group A received 38 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 2 ml of 50 µg of fentanyl, whereas Group B received 38 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine + 2 ml of normal saline. The total volume was divided equally and administered bilaterally. Each patient was assessed for 24 h after TAP block, for time to rescue analgesia, pain using visual analog scale (VAS) score at rest and on movement, hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and blood pressure), nausea, vomiting, and sedation. Diclofenac 75 mg was given as rescue analgesia when the patient complained of pain or when VAS score >4. RESULTS: Prolonged postoperative analgesia was noticed with both the groups, with a mean time to rescue analgesia of approximately 6.5 h. There was no significant difference in time to rescue analgesia (6.49 ± 0.477 vs. 6.5 ± 0.480) when both the groups were compared among themselves. The pain scores among the two groups when compared did not show any added benefit. Incidence of nausea, vomiting, and sedation when compared between both the groups showed no difference. CONCLUSION: The TAP block as a part of a multimodal analgesic regimen definitely has a role in providing superior analgesia in the postoperative period. However, adjunct fentanyl to local anesthetic bupivacaine was found to have no added advantage when quality and duration of analgesia was compared.

Comparison of i-gel™ and laryngeal mask airway Classic™ in terms of ease of insertion and hemodynamic response: A randomized observational study.

CONTEXT: Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) Classic™ has an inflatable cuff while i-gel™ has a noninflatable cuff made of thermoplastic elastomer. AIMS: To compare ease of insertion, number, and duration of insertion attempts among the two device. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the hemodynamic response and SpO2 during device insertion and during maintenance of general anesthesia. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was conducted as randomized observational study in a teaching hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II, patients posted for surgery under general anesthesia were divided in two groups of fifty each. LMA Classic™ and i-gel™. Ease of insertion, duration of insertion, hemodynamic data, and episodes of hypoxia during insertion, 1, 3 and 5 min for 30 min, during removal and 1 min after removal. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive analyses were expressed as a mean ± standard deviation. Independent t-test used for parametric data, Chi-square test for nonparametric data and hemodynamic data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to find statistical difference within the groups. RESULTS: Devices were easy to insert, the mean duration of insertion attempts was 15.92 ± 1.62 s in the i-gel™ group, while it was 26.06 ± 5.12 s in the LMA Classic™ group, was statistically significant (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Successful and shorter duration of insertion, with less hemodynamic response makes i-gel™ a suitable alternative to LMA Classic™ during general anesthesia.

Perioperative management of poly-trauma in a postmitral valve replacement patient with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

The anesthetic management of a patient with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction undergoing noncardiac surgery poses a challenge to the anesthesiologist as LV dysfunction is commonly complicated by progressive congestive heart failure and malignant arrhythmias. When the cause for LV dysfunction is postvalve replacement, additional complications such as intraoperative thrombosis, bleeding, and infective endocarditis need to be addressed perioperatively. In such situations, the anesthesiologist must have the knowledge hemodynamics, diagnostic evaluations, and treatment modalities, more so regarding various drugs used during anesthesia. We report a case of postmitral valve replaced patient with severe LV dysfunction posted for surgery of fracture of the femur and facial fractures managed successfully during anesthesia.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy with obesity for elective cesarean section: Anesthetic management and brief review of the literature.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is an autosomal recessive disorder in which the pelvic or shoulder girdle musculature is predominantly or primarily involved. We report the management of a 27-year-old primigravida with LGMD associated with obesity posted for elective cesarean section. She was successfully managed with epidural anesthesia assisted with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. She had an uncomplicated intra- and post-operative course.

Perioperative management of a patient with Gilberts syndrome and rheumatic heart disease.

Anaesthetic management of patients with hepatic dysfunction can be quite challenging, as many anaesthetic agents are metabolized by liver. Heart disease on anti coagulation can pose additional challenge. Here we report a case of Gilbert's syndrome with rheumatic heart disease on anti coagulation posted for elective hernia repair.

Anesthetic management of congenital broncho-esophageal fistula in an adult.

Broncho-esophageal fistula (BEF) are quite rare in adults, more so the congenital variety. The common causes of BEF in adults include infections, trauma, and malignancies. We report a rare case of congenital BEF manifesting in adulthood with repeated pulmonary infections. We emphasize mainly on the preoperative preparation and perioperative management of this patient. It is essential to have a high index of suspicion to diagnose congenital BEF in adults. Anesthesiologists play an important role in successful management of these cases.

Cholecystectomy under segmental thoracic epidural block in a patient with twin gestation.

Cholecystectomy represents the second most common surgery during pregnancy. Both general and regional anesthetic techniques have been successfully used for cholecystectomy in pregnant patients. Authors present here a case of a pregnant patient carrying twin gestation who underwent cholecystectomy, which is not frequently encountered by the anesthesiologists. This report enumerates the perioperative issues relating to anesthesia given to a pregnant patient in addition to emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary approach when such a case is encountered.