Comparative study of haemodynamic effects of intravenous ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl for laryngeal mask airway insertions in children undergoing herniotomy under general anaesthesia in a nigerian tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Insertion of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with propofol in children may cause hypotension, laryngospasm and apnoea. Ketamine and fentanyl have been combined separately with propofol to prevent depression of cardiovascular system during LMA insertion, especially in paediatric patients. Ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl combinations have analgesic effect, prevent coughing and apnoea and regarded as agents of choice for LMA insertions. However, the cardiovascular effects of the two admixtures for LMA insertions have not been fully assessed in children. We compared the haemodynamic effects of ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl combinations for LMA insertion in paediatric patients who underwent herniotomy in our facility. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This comparative study was conducted on 80 children aged 1-15 years, ASA physical Statuses I and II, who had herniotomy under general anaesthesia. The patients were randomised into two groups (A and B) of 40 patients each and LMA was inserted following administrations of the two different drug combinations. Patients in Group A received pre-mixed ketamine 2 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 µg/kg while the patients in Group B received pre-mixed propofol 2.5 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 µg/kg. The blood pressure and incidence of apnoea were determined in the two groups during and after the LMA insertion. RESULTS: The haemodynamic states of the patients were not comparable statistically as the heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly higher and stable in the ketamine-fentanyl group than the propofol-fentanyl group (P < 0.05). The incidence of apnoea was significantly lower in the ketamine-fentanyl group compared with propofol-fentanyl group (P = 0.045), but post-anaesthesia discharge scores were similar, with no significant difference in both groups (P = 0.241). CONCLUSION: The use of ketamine-fentanyl combination for LMA insertion in paediatric patients was associated with better haemodynamic changes and lower incidence of apnoea when compared with propofol-fentanyl combination.

Fluoroscopic-guided sacroiliac, joint injections for treatment of chronic axial low back pain in a tertiary Hospital in Nigeria: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The injection of mixture of plain bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetonide into the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) to relieve chronic low back pain is uncommon in the West African sub-region. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy or otherwise of fluoroscopic-guided SI joint injection in the management of chronic axial low back pain in Nigeria. DESIGN: This was a prospective observational interventional study. SETTING: The study was carried out at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six patients with SI joint pain, based on IASP diagnostic criteria, who presented to our unit over 36 months from March 2012 to March 2015 and. INTERVENTIONS: Fluoroscopic-guided injections of 5mls mixture of bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetonide into the sacro-iliac (SI) joints of 26 patients with SI joint pain out of 116 patients who were offered different interventions for chronic low back pain. The patients were followed up for year and pain intensity and functional status were assessed at 3-, 6- and 12 months post-intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain relief and functional improvement were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean numeric rating score (NRS) and Oswestry Disability index (ODI) score in 14 (53.9%) patients at 12 months post-interventions were significantly lower compared with baseline values; 3.19 ± 1.10 vs 8.54 ±1.14 p=0.000 and 25.35 ± 5.40 vs 37.54 ±8.41, p=0.000 respectively. CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopic-guided steroid injection into the SI joint resulted into reduction in pain intensity and improved physical function in the majority of patients with SI joint pain. FUNDING: Not declared.