Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a highly selective a 2 -adrenoceptor agonist that has been used increasingly in children. However, the effect of caudal DEX has not been evaluated before in children. This prospective randomized double-blinded study was designed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of caudal DEX with bupivacaine in providing pain relief over a 24-h period. Methods: Sixty children (ASA status I) aged 1-6 years undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair/orchidopexy were allocated randomly to two groups (n 5 30 each). Group B received a caudal injection of bupivacaine 2.5 mg/ml, 1 ml/kg; Group BD received the same dose of bupivacaine mixed with DEX 1 mg/kg during sevoflurane anesthesia. Processed electroencephalogram (bispectral index score), heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry and end-tidal sevoflurane were recorded every 5 min. The characteristics of emergence, objective pain score, sedation score and quality of sleep were recorded post-operatively. Duration of analgesia and requirement for additional analgesics were noted.

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Background Patient position after spinal anesthesia has had variable effects on blood pressure and ephedrine requirements. The aim of this study was to determine the effects that sitting the patient up for five minutes after spinal anesthesia would have on intraoperative fluid and ephedrine requirements. Methods The study included 120 women at term gestation who were scheduled for Cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. After anesthetic administration, the women were randomized either to sit up for five minutes then lie down (Group S) or to lie down immediately (Group L) to a tilted supine position. A blinded observer recorded sensory block level, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, ephedrine and fluid requirements, adverse events, and time to motor recovery (modified Bromage score of 2). Results Group S had a lower intraoperative sensory block height than Group L [T4 (1) vs T2 (1), respectively; P \ 0.001]; Group S also required less ephedrine (8% vs 47%, respectively; P \ 0.001), received less fluid [709 (59) mL vs 789 (90) mL, respectively; P \ 0.001], and experienced less nausea and vomiting (5% vs 22%, respectively; P = 0.014) and shortness of breath (3% vs 28%, respectively; P \ 0.001) intraoperatively. In Group S, the odds of requiring ephedrine were 0.09 compared with 0.89 in Group L (odds ratio 0.10). There were no differences in systolic blood pressure (P = 0.127) or heart rate (P = 0.831) over time between groups. Time to a modified Bromage score of 2 was longer in Group S than in Group L [101 (15) min vs 88 (14) min, respectively; P \ 0.001]. Conclusions Sitting the patient up for five minutes rather than laying the patient down immediately after spinal anesthesia for Cesarean delivery decreased intraoperative sensory block height, ephedrine and fluid requirements, and intraoperative nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath without affecting systolic blood pressure or the success of the anesthetic. However, the method resulted in delayed postoperative motor recovery. RésuméContexte Il a e´te´de´montre´que la position du patient a`la suite d'une rachianesthe´sie a des effets variables sur la Authorship contributions Drs. Essam E. Abd El-Hakeem, Abdullah M. Kaki, and Adnan A. Almazrooa contributed to the conception and design of the study and to acquisition of the data and its interpretation. Dr. Nisma M. Al-Mansouri made substantial contribution to the recruitment of patients, acquisition of data, and obtaining the necessary references. She helped draft the manuscript and approved its final submitted version. Dr. Jamal A. Alhashemi performed the statistical analysis and he made substantial contribution to the interpretation of the data, drafting the manuscript and revising it for important intellectual content.

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Assessment, which entails the systematic evaluation of student learning, is an integral part of any educational process. Computer-based assessment (CBA) techniques provide a valuable resource to students seeking to evaluate their academic progress through instantaneous, personalized feedback. CBA reduces examination, grading and reviewing workloads and facilitates training. This paper describes a six step approach for developing CBA in higher education and evaluates student perceptions of computer-based summative assessment at the College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University. A set of questionnaires were distributed to 341 third year medical students (161 female and 180 male) immediately after examinations in order to assess the adequacy of the system for the exam program. The respondents expressed high satisfaction with the first Saudi experience of CBA for final examinations. However, about 50% of them preferred the use of a pilot CBA before its formal application; hence, many did not recommend its use for future examinations. Both male and female respondents reported that the range of advantages offered by CBA outweighed any disadvantages. Further studies are required to monitor the extended employment of CBA technology for larger classes and for a variety of subjects at universities.