Comparison of the Efficacy of Pregabalin and Gabapentin for Preemptive Analgesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Patients: A Randomised Double-Blind Study.

Introduction Preemptive analgesia is now an essential step of perioperative pain management. Pregabalin and gabapentin, which are drugs primarily used in the treatment of neuropathic pain, are now being contemplated for use as preemptive analgesics. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gabapentin and pregabalin as preemptive analgesics. The primary objective of the study was to compare pregabalin and gabapentin versus placebo with regard to a visual analogue scale (VAS) score for postoperative pain for 24 hours, time to first rescue analgesia, and total analgesic consumption over 24 hours. The level of sedation with the help of a modified Ramsay sedation score was also compared. Methods This randomised, double-blind study was conducted on 90 patients aged 18-60 years of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia at a tertiary health care institute. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of 30 each, namely, Group A (gabapentin - oral two capsules of 300 mg gabapentin), Group B (pregabalin - oral two capsules of 150 mg pregabalin), and Group C (placebo - oral two capsules). The various parameters that were recorded in both groups included a VAS score for pain, total dose of tramadol consumed in 24 hours, modified Ramsay sedation scores in the immediate postoperative period, and adverse effects related to the study drugs (at zero and one hour and two, four, six, 12, and 24 hours). The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 25; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) software. Results VAS scores were significantly lower in groups A and B when compared to Group C. However, the scores were comparable in Group A (gabapentin) and Group B (pregabalin). The difference in the mean time of rescue analgesia was statistically highly significant when Group A (gabapentin) was compared with Group C (placebo) (P value<0.001) and when Group B (pregabalin) was compared with Group C (placebo) (P value<0.001). Thus, gabapentin and pregabalin provide a longer postoperative pain-free period (382.6 min and 502.3 min, respectively) when compared to the placebo group (137.8 min). Moreover, the mean dose of tramadol consumption in 24 hours was significantly lower in pregabalin (170 mg) and gabapentin groups (176.7 mg) when compared to the placebo group (286.7 mg). However, there was no significant difference in the total tramadol consumption between the gabapentin and pregabalin groups. The level of sedation up to six hours postoperatively was higher in Group B (pregabalin) and Group A (gabapentin) patients compared to Group C (placebo). On comparing the mean Ramsay sedation scores of Group A (gabapentin) versus Group C (placebo) and Group B (pregabalin) versus Group C (placebo), it was found that there was a highly significant difference at zero and one-hour time intervals (P value<0.001 in both comparisons). Conclusion A single preoperative dose of pregabalin 300 mg or gabapentin 600 mg can be used for effective preemptive analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Postoperative Analgesia with Intrathecal Nalbuphine versus Intrathecal Fentanyl in Cesarean Section: A Double-Blind Randomized Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Nalbuphine when used as adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine has improved the quality of perioperative analgesia with fewer side effects. Fentanyl is a lipophilic opioid with a rapid onset following intrathecal injection. It does not cause respiratory depression and improves duration of sensory anesthesia without producing significant side effects. AIM: This study aims to compare the postoperative analgesia of intrathecal nalbuphine and fentanyl as adjuvants to bupivacaine in cesarean section. METHODOLOGY: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, and comparative study was conducted on 150 parturients of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II of age group 20-45 years with normal coagulation profile undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. These patients were randomized into three groups with fifty patients in each group. Group I received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml nalbuphine (0.8 mg), Group II received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml fentanyl (20 µg), and Group III received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml of normal saline. RESULTS: The mean duration of effective analgesia was 259.20 ± 23.23 min in Group I, 232.70 ± 13.15 min in Group II, and 168.28 ± 7.55 min in Group III. The mean number of rescue analgesics required was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in Group I as compared to Group II and III. CONCLUSION: Both intrathecal nalbuphine 0.8 mg and fentanyl 20 µg are effective adjuvants to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in subarachnoid block. However, intrathecal nalbuphine prolongs postoperative analgesia maximally and may be used as an alternative to intrathecal fentanyl in cesarean section.

Preemptive Analgesia by Intraperitoneal Instillation of Ropivacaine in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Preemptive analgesia has the potential to be more effective than a similar analgesic treatment initiated after surgery as it reduces immediate postoperative pain as well as chronic pain. AIM: To study the efficacy of preemptive analgesia with intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized double-blind study was conducted on patients undergoing LC. Hundred patients were randomly divided into two groups of fifty each. In Group A, patients received 3 mg/kg of ropivacaine intraperitoneal instillation in 100 ml normal saline (NS) before creation of pneumoperitoneum and in Group B patients received 3 mg/kg of ropivacaine intraperitoneal instillation in 100 ml NS after completion of surgery. Postoperative visual analog scale score for abdominal and shoulder tip pain alongwith requirement of rescue analgesic were recorded for 24 h. RESULTS: Significantly lower visual analog scores for pain were observed in Group A versus Group B. Group A reported significantly lower pain at 0 h (P < 0.001), 1 h (P = 0.003), 3 h (P = 0.006), 6 h (P = 0.003), and 12 h (P = 0.001) postoperatively, but the difference was not statistically significant after 12 h. The mean time of first rescue analgesic was 472.8 ± 26.32 min in Group A, as compared with 189 ± 11.87 min in Group B. A significantly lower analgesic requirement was observed in Group A versus Group B throughout the entire study period (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The preemptive analgesia with intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine before creation of pneumoperitoneum is much more effective for postoperative pain relief in comparison to intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine after completion of surgery.

Comparison of Postoperative Pain After Epidural Anesthesia Using 0.5%, 0.75% Ropivacaine and 0.5% Bupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Lower Limb Surgery: A Double-Blind Study.

BACKGROUND: Ropivacaine (S (-)-1-propyl-2", 6"; pipecoloxylidide hydrochloride) a newer long-acting amide local anesthetic has various clinical and pharmacokinetic advantages over bupivacaine. AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare the onset as well as the duration of sensory block, hemodynamic variables, and postoperative analgesia with 0.5%, 0.75% ropivacaine and 0.5% bupivacaine after epidural anesthesia for lower limb orthopedic surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II patients scheduled for lower limb orthopedic surgery were enrolled into this randomized, double-blind study. Epidural block was obtained with 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine (Group I), 15 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine (Group II), and 15 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine (Group III). The onset time, duration, and maximum level of sensory blockade achieved, as well as hemodynamic parameters and any side effects, were noted and treated accordingly. Postoperative monitoring for pain by visual analog scale (VAS) was done every 2 hourly for 24 h and transient neurological symptoms for 72 h. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test for nonparametric data and ANOVA for parametric data. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar among groups. The onset of sensory block varied from 22.35 ± 2.74 min (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) in Group I, 16.95 ± 2.96 min (mean ± SD) in Group II, and 19.70 ± 2.25 min (mean ± SD) in Group III. The mean duration of analgesia in Group III (157 ± 14.90 min)was comparable to Group II (149 ± 16.51 min) but it was significantly more than Group I (141.5 ± 17.55 min). Postoperatively, VAS scores were higher in Group I patients who required more number of postoperative epidural top-ups with tramadol. Adverse effects were noted and treated accordingly. There was no incidence of transient neurological symptoms postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Both ropivacaine and bupivacaine provided effective epidural anesthesia for lower limb surgery. Postoperative pain was less with 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine as compared to 0.5% ropivacaine.

Foreign body blocking closed circuit suction catheter: An unusual cause of retained tracheal secretions in a mechanically ventilated patient.

Closed circuit suction system (CCSS) has become a standard of care for the tracheal suctioning of mechanically ventilated patients. The advantages of CCSS over the open suction system include decreased environmental, personnel and patient contamination, preservation of lung volumes and oxygenation especially in the severely hypoxemic patients. On the other hand, CCSS has lower efficacy in removal of secretions and it may have certain other disadvantages due to the invisibility of its tip. We report an unusual case of an airway foreign body causing blockage of the CCSS leading to retained secretions and deterioration of patient. Timely changing over to open suction system helped in its detection and improvement of patient.

A giant left atrial appendage aneurysm with a large pinball-like thrombus in a 2 year old.

Congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm is very rare. We describe a giant left atrial appendage aneurysm with a pinball-like mobile thrombus in a 2-year-old child with cardioembolic stroke. Patient underwent successful surgical resection of the aneurysm.

Use of intubating laryngeal mask airway in a morbidly obese patient with chest trauma in an emergency setting.

A morbidly obese male who sustained blunt trauma chest with bilateral pneumothorax was referred to the intensive care unit for management of his condition. Problems encountered in managing the patient were gradually increasing hypoxemia (chest trauma with multiple rib fractures with lung contusions) and difficult mask ventilation and intubation (morbid obesity, heavy jaw, short and thick neck). We performed awake endotracheal intubation using an intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) size 4 and provided mechanical ventilation to the patient. This report suggests that ILMA can be very useful in the management of difficult airway outside the operating room and can help in preventing adverse events in an emergency setting.