Anaesthetic implications of free-flap microvascular surgery for head and neck malignancies - A relook.

Head and neck free-flap microvascular surgery is a type of surgery where multiple anaesthetic factors play a very important role in the outcome of the surgery while the conduct of anaesthesia itself may be quite challenging for the anaesthesiologist. In microvascular reconstruction of head and neck malignancies, flaps are used to reconstruct a primary defect formed by wide local excision. A free flap is raised after removing the neurovascular pedicle from the donor site and transplanting it by microvascular anastomosis to the new location. This gives rise to a secondary defect which is then repaired by direct suture or skin graft. The anaesthesiologist's role includes optimizing the physiological conditions for the survival of the flap while decreasing morbidity at the same time. Failure of the free flap is attributed to numerous causes. This is an attempt to highlight them along with discussion of the anaesthesia-related issues that are faced during this type of surgery. The various pre-, intra- and postoperative factors affecting flap survival and overall postoperative outcome in the patient are discussed here.

Humble Foley's catheter to the rescue in a case of T-tube insertion: a case report.

The Montgomery T-tube poses a challenge to anesthesiologists because of loss of anesthetic gases through the open proximal end of the vertical limb and lack of standard anesthesia circuit connectors. Here, we present a case of a 25-year-old woman with a reported history of accidental strangulation 18 months previously. The patient had a metallic tracheostomy tube in situ due to the development of tracheal stenosis. Computed tomography showed significant narrowing in a 7-8-mm segment, 2 cm proximal to the tracheostomy tube in situ. She was scheduled for tracheal reconstruction surgery and T-tube insertion due to persistent subglottic stenosis. In this case, the Foley's catheter, which was inserted into the glottis orally, not only aided easy insertion of the T-tube into the trachea through the tracheal stoma, but also enabled us to stop the loss of anesthetic gases through the proximal vertical limb of the T-tube.

Comparative evaluation of the effects of propofol and sevoflurane on cognitive function and memory in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomised prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: General anaesthesia (GA) may cause post-operative impairment of cognition and memory. This is of importance where time to discharge after anaesthesia is short as after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study was conducted to compare the effects of propofol and sevoflurane on cognitive function in the post-operative period. METHODS: After approval of the Ethical Committee, 80 female patients posted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy to be performed under GA were randomly divided into two groups. Propofol was used in Group P and sevoflurane in Group S. Data analysis was done with California verbal learning test (CVLT), digit span test (DST), Rivermead behavioural memory test (RBMT), mini mental state examination (MMSE) score, and semantic memory tests. Aldrete recovery scoring system and visual analogue scale for pain were assessed post-operatively. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in demographic and haemodynamic data. Cognition and explicit memory were affected more in the propofol group in the immediate post-operative period. With majority of tests, such as semantic memory test, MMSE score, DST and RBMT, the difference was insignificant at 2 and 4 h post-operatively. But CVLT values were found to be statistically significant between groups even at 4 h. CONCLUSION: Propofol was associated with significant impact on cognitive functions in comparison to sevoflurane in the immediate post-operative period. Sevoflurane anaesthesia might be a better option in day care surgeries.

Comparative evaluation of two doses of tranexamic acid used prophylactically in anemic parturients for lower segment cesarean section: A double-blind randomized case control prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and anemia thereafter can be a life threatening condition in parturients undergoing lower segment cesarean section (LSCS), especially when anemia is present. AIM: The objective of this study was to assess two doses of Tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing intra operative blood loss and incidence of PPH, in terms of both efficacy and safety profiles, when used prophylactically. METHODS: A monocenter prospective case control double blind randomized study was carried out on a consecutive series of 90 anemic patients undergoing LSCS, with hemoglobin between 7-10 g percent. Three random groups were formed. Group T1 (n=30) received 10mg/kg TXA in 20 ml of 5% dextrose intravenously, while T2 group (n=30) received 15mg/kg. Group C (n=30) received a placebo. Drug was administered prophylactically 20 min before skin incision. Blood loss was measured from placental delivery up to 24 hours by method of weight and volume. STAISTICAL ANALYSIS: To compare quantitative data between two groups, t-test, and for more than two groups ANOVA was used. To compare the mean for non- parametric data between two groups Mann - Whitney test was used, while in case of more than two groups Kruskal - Wallis test was employed. Probability (p) value was considered significant when it was 0.05 or less. RESULTS: TXA significantly reduced blood loss in both the study groups. Mean total blood loss was 527.17±88.666 ml, 376.83±31.961ml and 261.17±56.777 ml in group C, T1, and T2 respectively. While reduction of blood loss in T1 group compared to control group was 146.34±56.32ml, it was 262±31.51ml in T2 group. Difference between T1 and T2 was 115.66±24.81ml, which was statistically significant (P<0.05). Postoperative blood loss was insignificant in all three groups. Pre- and post-operative hemoglobin levels differed significantly when compared to control group. Blood transfusion was needed in two patients in the control group, whereas no patient in groups T1 and T2 needed transfusion (P=0.02). No significant adverse effect was seen in all the three groups. CONCLUSION: Hence, TXA was found to be effective in reducing blood loss and transfusion in anemic parturients undergoing LSCS. 15mg/kg dose of TXA was more efficacious than the 10mg/kg dose and without any undue increase in adverse events. Postpartum anemia is a public health problem worldwide and TXA could prove to be a very useful drug to prevent blood loss and transfusions in patients undergoing LSCS, especially in the anemic subgroup.