Target-controlled Infusion Propofol Versus Sevoflurane Anaesthesia for Emergency Traumatic Brain Surgery: Comparison of the Outcomes

Background: The choice of anaesthetic techniques is important for the outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) emergency surgery. The objective of this study was to compare patient outcomes for target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia. Methods: A total of 110 severe TBI patients, aged 18–60, who underwent emergency brain surgery were randomised into Group T (TCI) (n = 55) and Group S (sevoflurane) (n = 55). Anaesthesia was maintained in Group T with propofol target plasma concentration of 3–6 μg/mL and in Group S with minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane 1.0–1.5. Both groups received TCI remifentanil 2–8 ng/mL for analgesia. After the surgery, patients were managed in the intensive care unit and were followed up until discharge for the outcome parameters. Results: Demographic characteristics were comparable in both groups. Differences in Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at discharge were not significant between Group T and Group S (P = 0.25): the percentages of mortality (GOS 1) [27.3% versus 16.4%], vegetative and severe disability (GOS 2–3) [29.1% versus 41.8%] and good outcome (GOS 4–5) [43.6% versus 41.8%] were comparable in both groups. There were no significant differences in other outcome parameters. Conclusion: TCI propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia were comparable in the outcomes of TBI patients after emergency surgery.

Passive Warming using a Heat-Band versus a Resistive Heating Blanket for the Prevention of Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia during Laparotomy for Gynaecological Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) is a common problem, despite advancements in a variety of warming systems. The use of a resistive heating blanket (RHB) is a common but costly approach to patient warming. We have introduced the use of a heat-band in our centre as a cost-effective alternative to the RHB for patient warming. The efficacy of the heat-band in preventing IPH during laparotomy for gynaecological surgeries was compared with that of the RHB. METHODS: Thirty-two patients undergoing surgeries under combined general-epidural anaesthesia, with an expected duration of surgery of 2-4 h, were randomised to receive either the heat-band or RHB. The core body temperatures of the two groups were compared at several perioperative times, in addition to the incidence of post-anaesthesia shivering, time to extubation and intraoperative blood loss. RESULTS: The core body temperatures were comparable between the two groups in the pre-operative period, immediately after the induction of anaesthesia and skin incision, 1 h after the incision, at the time of complete skin closing, at extubation, upon arrival to the recovery room and 1 h post-operatively. There were no significant between-group differences in the incidence of post-anaesthesia shivering, time to extubation and intra-operative blood loss. CONCLUSION: The heat-band is as effective as the RHB in preventing IPH and its complications in gynaecological laparotomies.

Awake Craniotomy: A Case Series of Anaesthetic Management using a Combination of Scalp Block, Dexmedetomidine and Remifentanil in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Awake craniotomy is a brain surgery in patients who are kept awake when it is indicated for certain intracranial pathologies. The anaesthetic management strategy is very important to achieve the goals of the surgery. We describe a series of our first four cases performed under a combination of scalp block and conscious sedation. Scalp block was performed using a mixture of ropivacaine 0.75% and adrenaline 5 μg/ ml administered to the nerves that innervate the scalp. Conscious sedation was achieved with a combination of two recently available drugs in our country, dexmedetomidine (selective α 2-agonist) and remifentanil (ultra-short acting opioid). Remifentanil was delivered in a target controlled infusion (TCI) mode.

The effects of topical viscous lignocaine 2% versus per-rectal diclofenac in early post-tonsillectomy pain in children.

INTRODUCTION: Tonsillectomy is frequently associated with postoperative pain of considerable duration, which is usually accompanied by the substantial consumption of both opioid and non-opioid analgesic such as NSAIDs and local anaesthetics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy between 2% viscous lignocaine and sodium diclofenac based upon the visual analogue scores (VASs), consumption of pethidine 0.5mgkg(-1) as the rescue drug postoperatively and time taken to resume feeding. METHODS: 130 patients aged between 5 and 12 years old were randomly allocated into 2 groups to be given either 2% viscous lignocaine 4mgkg(-1) body weight topically post-tonsillectomy or sodium diclofenac 1mgkg(-1) per-rectal post-induction of anaesthesia. Postoperatively visual analogues score was done for 24h, the amount of pethidine given and time when the patient start taking oral feeding of clear fluid, soft diet and normal diet were documented. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the visual analogue scores in both groups, however the requirement of pethidine as the rescue drug postoperatively was significant 2h post-tonsillectomy (p=0.023) in viscous lignocaine group compared to sodium diclofenac. The time taken to resume oral feeding and soft diet was also significant in viscous lignocaine group (p=0.016 and p=0.007) whereas there was no significant in taking normal diet. CONCLUSION: We concluded that 2% viscous lignocaine applied topically post-tonsillectomy is comparable to sodium diclofenac per-rectal in providing analgesia and faster oral feeding.