Efficacy of analgesia using ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric (IIIH) nerve block, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and diclofenac after caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia: A non-randomised clinical trial.

Background and Aims: Our aim was to assess the efficacy of analgesia using ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric (IIIH) nerve block, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and diclofenac after caesarean delivery (CD) under spinal anaesthesia (SA).]. Methods: A total of 457 healthy parturients undergoing CD under SA were included in this prospective, observational study. Groups differed in the postoperative analgesic strategies received by the parturient at the end of surgery: group D (n = 148) received intramuscular diclofenac sodium, group I (n = 153) received bilateral IIIH block with bupivacaine plus clonidine and group T (n = 156) received bilateral TAP block with bupivacaine plus clonidine. Total duration of postoperative analgesia, numerical pain rating scale (NRS) scores, patient satisfaction score, rescue analgesics in the first 48 h postoperatively and adverse effects were observed. A value of P < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Total duration of analgesia was longest (18.2 ± 1.3 h) in group T and shortest in group D (6.3 ± 0.8 h) compared to group I (13.1 ± 1.2 h) (P < 0.001). Total analgesic requirement in postoperative 48 h was lowest in group T (152.1 ± 34.9 mg), highest in group D (355.0 ± 25.6 mg) and intermediate in group I (221.0 ± 30.0 mg) (P < 0.001). Mean NRS scores were lower in group T compared to those in groups D and I. The patients in group T were extremely satisfied, in group I were satisfied and in group D were dissatisfied (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Bilateral TAP block with bupivacaine and clonidine after CD under SA increases the duration of postoperative analgesia.

Case series on use of intrathecal morphine in pediatric thoracic spine surgeries.

Intrathecal morphine is a very good analgesic agent and was used frequently in the past. Its use has decreased over the years due to side effects such as respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, pruritis, and so on. Also, with the introduction of drugs like clonidine and the availability of ultrasonography for regional blocks, the role of morphine has declined. Yet, there are surgeries where intrathecal morphine supersedes all other analgesic modalities to provide excellent intraoperative and postoperative analgesia.

Recent advances in anaesthesia for intrauterine and foetal surgery.

Advances in prenatal diagnostic techniques have enabled early detection of potentially correctable foetal anomalies. Here, we summarise recent developments in anaesthesia for foetal surgery. Types of foetal surgery include minimally invasive, open mid-gestational and ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedures. Foetoscopic surgery avoids hysterotomy, with risk of uterine dehiscence, preserving the possibility of subsequent vaginal delivery. Minimally invasive procedures are performed under local or regional anaesthesia; open or EXIT procedures are usually done under general anaesthesia. Requirements include maintenance of uteroplacental blood flow, and uterine relaxation to prevent placental separation and premature labour. Foetal requirements include monitoring of well-being, providing analgesia and immobility. EXIT procedures require maintenance of placental circulation till the airway is secured, requiring multidisciplinary involvement. Here, the uterine tone must return after baby delivery to prevent major maternal haemorrhage. The anaesthesiologist plays a crucial role in maintaining maternal and foetal homeostasis and optimising surgical conditions.

Perioperative Course of COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Emergency Surgeries.

Objective: Adults with COVID-19 infection undergoing surgery have an increased risk of complications and mortality. However, literature mentioning the perioperative course and outcome of children with COVID-19 infection undergoing emergency surgery is still lacking. Therefore, we planned this study to observe the need for postoperative ventilation, oxygen requirements, and postoperative mortality in pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection scheduled for emergency surgery. Methods: After ethical committee approval, all the COVID-19-infected pediatric patients who underwent an emergency surgery from April 2020 to May 2021 were included. Data collected included details of COVID-19 disease, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grading, comorbidities, perioperative details such as tachycardia or bradycardia, any oxygen desaturation (SpO2<90), need for postoperative oxygen therapy, postoperative ventilation, and recovery/death. Results: A total of 22 COVID-19-infected pediatric patients underwent emergency surgery in the study period. Fourteen (63.6%) were asymptomatic at the time of admission. Nineteen patients (86.4%) belonged to ASA grade IE and three (13.6%) patients belonged to ASA grade III E. Three patients (13.6%) had comorbidities. Only one patient had hypotension and tachycardia intraoperatively. The same patient needed postoperative ventilation and succumbed. Conclusion: Our study shows that pediatric surgical patients with COVID-19 infection do not exhibit an increased need for oxygen or postoperative ventilation, postoperative pulmonary complications, or high mortality unless there is associated comorbidity.

Comparison of Intravenous Anti-hypertensives for Preoperative Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Effect of Oral Labetalol.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intravenous hydralazine and labetalol are recommended as first-line anti-hypertensives for controlling severe hypertension in pregnancy. Our study aimed at identifying the most effective drug with minimum side effects for preoperative management of severe hypertension in parturients scheduled for Caesarean delivery (CD). We also studied the effect of these drugs on patients already on oral labetalol in the antenatal period. METHODS: A prospective observational study was done on 162 hypertensive parturients scheduled to undergo emergency CD who received hydralazine or labetalol in the preoperative period. Demographic data, booking status, hemodynamic data, time taken to reach adequate control of blood pressure (BP), drug efficacy, the incidence of persistent hypertension, adverse effects associated with the drugs, and maternal and fetal outcomes were noted. RESULTS: The time taken for the control of BP was similar with both drugs (p-value = 0.425). The mean number of doses required to achieve target BP was significantly less with hydralazine compared to labetalol (p-value = 0.009). Patients on tablet labetalol in the antenatal period were poorly controlled when put on the same drug intravenously but had better control with hydralazine (p-value = 0.005). The incidence of persistent hypertension was lower in patients treated with hydralazine compared with labetalol (p-value = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Both drugs took a similar time for BP control. However, hydralazine was more efficacious, produced adequate control of BP in a higher number of patients, and had a lower incidence of persistent hypertension.

Effect of intrathecal catheterisation on incidence of postdural puncture headache after accidental dural puncture in non-obstetric patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: After accidental dural puncture (ADP) with large bore epidural needles, postdural puncture headache (PDPH) develops in 16%-86% of patients, which is unpleasant and interferes with activities of daily life of the patient. Hence we aimed to assess the effect of intrathecal catheter insertion after ADP with 18G Tuohy needle on incidence of PDPH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In all, 173 patients after ADP were enrolled and divided into two groups according to the choice of treating anesthesiologist. Group IC included 74 patients who had intrathecal catheter placed in subarachnoid space. In group NIC, which included 99 patients, one of the following was done: epidural catheter was cited in a different intervertebral space, or the procedure was abandoned and general anesthesia was administered or single-shot spinal anesthesia was administered through the Tuohy needle itself. The catheters were left in situ for 36-48 h. Patients were monitored for the next 7 days after ADP for the incidence of PDPH, its severity and requirement of analgesics, and duration of catheter in situ from the time of ADP. RESULTS: The incidence of PDPH in group IC was 36% in comparison to 59% in group NIC (P = 0.001). The severity of PDPH and requirement of analgesics was significantly less in group IC. CONCLUSION: Insertion of intrathecal catheter at the site of ADP significantly reduces the incidence and severity of PDPH.

Antimicrobial consumption and bacterial resistance pattern in patients admitted in I.C.U at a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Throughout the world multi drug resistant nosocomial infections are one of the leading causes of death and morbidity among hospitalized patients. Antimicrobial resistance [AMR] has become a major problem in treatment of such infections. High consumption of antimicrobials particularly in ICUs is often described as the most important factor leading to AMR. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to study the magnitude of antimicrobial resistance amongst nosocomial pathogens and the antimicrobial prescription patterns of patients admitted in intensive care unit. METHODS: The study was conducted in I.C.U of a tertiary care government hospital in Delhi over a period of 4 months, on 100 patients admitted in I.C.U. Depending on clinical suspicion laboratory samples were collected and subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity testing. Antimicrobial prescription of these patients were collected from I.C.U records and analyzed. OBSERVATIONS: Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella species were the most common organism [23%]. Among patients where causative organism was isolated, two or more organisms were isolated from 50% of the samples. Most of the Klebsiella species and Acinetobacter species were resistant to beta lactam group of antibiotics such as cephalosporins and piperacillin-tazobactam. 60% of isolates of S. aureus were found to be MRSA while none of the S. aureus were resistant to linezolid and vancomycin. All patients were prescribed two or more antimicrobials while 66% patients were prescribed 3-5 antimicrobials. Commonest combination was beta lactam with metronidazole followed by levofloxacin with metronidazole with addition of aminoglycosides or linezolid as third drug. Total 20 antimicrobial agents were used in the treatment of the patients. Among these consumption [in DDD/100bed days] of metronidazole was highest [100.9] followed by fluconazole [76.6] and levofloxacin [62.7]. CONCLUSION: High usage of antimicrobial consumption has been noted in this study, prompting institution of measures to formulate and adherence to antimicrobial policy strictly.

An observational study to evaluate the effect of different epidural analgesia regimens on dynamic pain scores in patients receiving epidural analgesia for postoperative pain relief after elective gynecological surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The primary measure of efficacy of any analgesic regimen is pain relief, but it is important to measure dynamic pain relief rather than pain relief at rest. Epidural analgesia is an effective technique for postoperative analgesia. The drug combinations given therein (local anesthetics with adjuvants such as opioids/alpha-2 agonists), however, remain a personal choice. The aim of this study was to evaluate dynamic pain scores in patients receiving different epidural analgesia regimens for postoperative pain relief after elective gynecological surgery used in our institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-seven patients enrolled in this study received postoperatively either bupivacaine 0.125% + morphine 0.1 mg/mL (group BM) or bupivacaine 0.125% + fentanyl 2 µg/mL (group BF) or bupivacaine 0.125% + clonidine 1 µg/mL (group C1) or bupivacaine 0.125% + clonidine 2 µg/mL (group C2) by continuous epidural infusion @ 5 mL/h. Differences in dynamic pain scores (on coughing and mobilization), pain scores at rest, sensory and motor blockade, sedation scores, dry mouth, pruritus, nausea, and vomiting were recorded. Also duration of postoperative analgesia, epidural top-ups, requirement of rescue analgesic, and patient satisfaction were determined. All observations were carried out at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 h after surgery and then at 8 am, 12 noon, 4 pm, 8 pm on subsequent postoperative day till removal of epidural catheter (after 96 h). RESULTS: There was no difference in demographic or hemodynamic profile among the four groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in pain scores at rest among the four groups but dynamic pain scores were found to be better in group C2 as compared to group BM, BF, and C1 at most of the time intervals although not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Requirement of rescue analgesics was lower in group BM and group C2 as compared to group BF and C1 (P < 0.01). Incidence of pruritus was 43.5% in group BM and 19% in group BF, while no patients in group C1 or C2 had pruritus. Mean postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) scores were higher in group BM and group BF as compared to group C1 and C2 (P < 0.001). Mean sedation scores were comparable in all four groups. Incidence of dry mouth was 22% in group C2 as compared to 11% in group C1, while no patients in group BM or BF had dry mouth. Patients in group C2 were more satisfied as compared to other three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of clonidine 2 µg/mL to 0.125% bupivacaine @ 5 mL/h in combined spinal epidural provides better postoperative analgesia as compared to combination of bupivacaine with opioids with greater patient satisfaction and significantly reduced side effects.

Atypical presentation of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: Two cases.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinico-neuroradiological entity, first described in 1996. It is commonly associated with systemic hypertension, intake of immunosuppressant drugs, sepsis and eclampsia and preeclampsia. Headache, alteration in consciousness, visual disturbances and seizures are common manifestations of PRES. Signs of pyramidal tract involvement and motor dysfunction are uncommon clinical findings. However, clinical presentation is not diagnostic. On neuroimaging, lesions are characteristically found in parieto occipital region of the brain due to vasogenic edema. We report two cases of PRES with atypical clinical presentation-one which was suggestive of neurocysticercosis and the other in which agitation and opisthotonic posture were predominant features.

Spectrum of Neurological Complications in Eclampsia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India.

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia or eclampsia is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality, and neurological complications are varied. This prospective observational study sought to collect data and push for early aggressive diagnostic evaluation for neurological complications in eclamptic women. METHODS: The study was conducted in Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital in New Dehli, India from July 2014 to July 2016. All women who underwent Caesarean delivery (CD) and had preeclampsia were identified, and eclamptic women who had CD and required critical care in the ICU were further followed up. RESULTS: A total of 741 women (of the 5564 women with CDs) had preeclampsia. Of the 63 women in whom eclampsia developed, 32 required ICU admission. The incidence of neurological complications associated with eclampsia was 20.63%, and it was 40.62% among patients admitted to the ICU. In the patients who developed neurological complications, the mortality rate was 46.15%. CONCLUSION: Neurological complications are not uncommon in eclampsia, and a high index of clinical suspicion is essential for early detection and proper management of these patients. All patients with eclampsia and neurological complications had raised systolic blood pressure, but not all had thrombocytopenia. Despite control of seizure with MgSO4, the incidence of neurological complications remains high.

A randomised trial to compare Truview PCD®, C-MAC® and Macintosh laryngoscopes in paediatric airway management.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the Truview PCD and C-MAC laryngoscopes to the standard Macintosh laryngoscope in paediatric patients. METHODS: One hundred and fifty ASA I-II patients in the age group of 1-6 years (10-20 kg) scheduled for elective surgery were randomised into three equal groups for laryngoscopy and intubation with either Truview PCD (Group T), C-MAC (Group C) or Macintosh (Group M) laryngoscopes under general anaesthesia. Percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score, application of external laryngeal manoeuvre, time to intubation, number of attempts at intubation, failed intubations, episodes of desaturation and trauma caused were recorded and statistically analysed. A p value of <0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: POGO scores were significantly better with Truview PCD as compared with C-MAC and Macintosh laryngoscopes (94.7 ± 12.9/82 ± 25.0/85.1 ± 17.1; p < 0.01). There were no failed attempts, episodes of desaturation or trauma in any of the patients. The mean intubation time taken was 19.2 s in group T, 12.3 s in group C and 10.7 s in group M, respectively. There is a statistically significant difference among groups (p < 0.01). Eight patients in group T, 21 out of 50 patients in group C and 19 out of 50 patients in group M needed OELM, respectively. There is significant difference among the groups (p < 0.01) CONCLUSION: Using Truview PCD to assist intubation offers excellent view field of glottic opening after OLEM and the mean time taken is less than 20 s. The Truview PCD tool is suitable for paediatric patients.

Addition of clonidine to bupivacaine in transversus abdominis plane block prolongs postoperative analgesia after cesarean section.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim was to compare duration of postoperative analgesia with addition of clonidine to bupivacaine in bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block after lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I and II pregnant patients undergoing LSCS under spinal anesthesia were randomly divided to receive either 20 ml bupivacaine 0.25% (Group B; n = 50) or 20 ml bupivacaine+1ug/kg clonidine bilaterally (Group BC; n = 50) in TAP block in a double-blind fashion. The total duration of analgesia, patient satisfaction score, total requirement of analgesics in the first 24 h, and the side effects of clonidine such as sedation, dryness of mouth, hypotension, and bradycardia were observed. P < 0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: In 99 patients analyzed, TAP block failed in five patients. Duration of analgesia was significantly longer in Group BC (17.8 ± 3.7 h) compared to Group B (7.3 ± 1.2 h; P < 0.01). Mean consumption of diclofenac was 150 mg and 65.4 mg in Groups B and BC (P < 0.01), respectively. All patients in Group BC were extremely satisfied (P < 0.01) while those in Group B were satisfied. Thirteen patients (28%) in Group BC were sedated but arousable (P = 0.01) compared to none in Group B. In Group BC, 19 patients complained of dry mouth compared to 13 in Group B (P = 0.121). None of the patients experienced hypotension or bradycardia. CONCLUSION: Addition of clonidine 1 µg/kg to 20 ml bupivacaine 0.25% in TAP block bilaterally for cesarean section significantly increases the duration of postoperative analgesia, decreases postoperative analgesic requirement, and increases maternal comfort compared to 20 ml of bupivacaine 0.25% alone.