Background: The key to success in newborn resuscitation is theknowledge about the neonatal physiology and adequate preparation of the staff involved in the resuscitation process.The pulmonary part of the resuscitation can be accomplished with either Endotracheal Tube (ETT) or Face Mask (FM),both of these techniques require expertise and are associated with high rates of failure. Hence a third potential optionhas been suggested to overcome these problems. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of Laryngeal Mask Airway(LMA) in neonatal resuscitation and artificial ventilation and to compare it with that of ETT and FM. To evaluate LMA’sefficiency in situation where endotracheal intubation and facemask ventilation is difficult or not possible. Design: A Noninterventional, analytical / comparative study Setting: Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi. Period: 20 weeks (1stJanuary 2002 to 31 May 2002). Subjects: A group of 75 neonates born with C-Section were selected on the basis ofnon-probability convenience sampling. They were subdivided into three sub gps with 25 neonates in each sub gp.Interventions; 75 neonates born after C-Section, were divided into sub gps i.e. A, B, and C containing a no of 25neonates in each gp. They were ventilated with ETT, FM and LMA respectively. These newborn babies had an Apgarscore < 4. They were resuscitated using a fix protocol. The efficacy of ventilation with either technique was evaluatedin terms of placement and ventilation. Results: The LMA emerged, as a valuable and better option in newbornresuscitation. Moreover, it was a successful tool in situations where endotracheal intubation and facemask ventilationwas difficult or impossible. Conclusion: The LMA is a potential valuable adjunct for the management of neonatalairway.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are most common and distressing complications after anaesthesia and surgery, leading to various problems. Metoclopramide, a benzamide, used as an anti-emetic, has got various side-effects. Propofol, a short acting induction agent, possesses anti-emetic properties in sub hypnotic doses, without having unwanted side- effects in this low dose. Objectives: To compare the frequency of PONV in patients treated with propofol and metoclopramide. Study Design: Experimental study. Setting: Department of anaesthesia and intensive care, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi. Duration: 06 months (01st July to 31st December 2004). Materials and Methods: 182 female patients scheduled for open cholecystectomy were selected for this study. All of them received general anaesthesia without any prophylactic antiemetic. Out of them, 60 patients who complained of PONV in post anaesthesia care unit (PACU) were selected by non probability convenience sampling and were equally divided into two groups. Group ‘A’ received propofol (0.5 mg/kg) while group ‘B’ received metoclopramide (0.2 mg/kg). Recurrence of PONV was recorded 60 min after administration of the study drug. Patients still complaining of PONV 30 min after administration of the study drug received a rescue medication i.e. I/V ondansetron (4mg). Results: In group “A”,18 patients responded to intervention (60%) whereas 26 (86.66%) patients gave a positive response in group “B” (p 0.020). More patients who received propofol needed the rescue medication (40%) than those who received metoclopramide (13.33%) (p 0.020). Conclusion: Metoclopramide is a better option for managing PONV than propofol.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effective role of Dexmedetomidine as a sedative and analgesic agent in Covid-19 patients when used in conjunction with the established treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.  INTRODUCTION: Covid-19 disease is a deadly contagious disease with milder symptoms to a more severe form with acute respiratory failure, septic shock leading to even death. Literature study shows High Flow Nasal Oxygen therapy and prolonged prone position sessions to be beneficial in the treatment of ARDS, however, to facilitate those sessions, a sedative and anxiolytic agent must be added in the treatment. Therefore, this study was conducted to document the beneficial role of dexmedetomidine as a sedative agent.  METHODOLOGY: Retrospective observational study which included 150 PCR positive patients admitted in Covid ITC, from 1st February 2021 to 31st July 2021 residing in the premises of PAF Air Base, Mushaf, Sargodha. Data was analyzed using SPSS software.   RESULTS: Out of 150 patients, 120 (80%) were treated with High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO), Dexmedetomidine infusion (DEXME) and long periods of prone position (PP) sessions. Among these 120 patients, 88 (73.3%) were discharged while 32 (26.67%) patients died of which 7 (21.875%) died while being on HFNO therapy and 25 (78.125%) patients were intubated. DEXME infusion was found to have a positive outcome (P-value <0.005) in the treatment of moderate to severe ARDS.  CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that DEXME infusion is beneficial in moderate to severe ARDS caused by SARS-CoV2  when given along with HFNO therapy and prolonged PP sessions, thereby, avoiding intubation.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effective role of plasmapheresis in the treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome associated with severe Covid 19 pneumonia. INTRODUCTION: Covid-19 disease is a deadly contagious disease with milder symptoms to a more severe form with acute respiratory failure, septic shock leading to even death. Literature study showed  that  in severe  Covid-19  patients, a hyper-inflammatory response  to  initial  infection could accelerate  to  severe  hyper-cytokinaemia that  could  lead to  an  underlying endothelial  dysfunction and multiple organ dysfunction. Thus, removal of these inflammatory cytokines by Therapeutic Plasma Exchange is considered to be an essential part of the treatment of critically ill patients in order to improve their survival rates. METHODOLOGY:  Retrospective observational study which included 150 RT-PCR positive patients admitted in Covid ITC, from the time period of 1st February 2021 to 31st July 2021 –removed for blind review---Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Frequencies were calculated along with mean and standard deviation. Chi square and ANOVA test was applied to the data. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Linear regression study was applied to predict the prognosis. RESULTS: Out of 150 patients, 51 patients (34%) were of severe ARDS category of whom 13 (25.5%) developed Cytokine Release Syndrome. They received plasmapheresis therapy subsequently and 7 out of those 13 (53.8%) patients got improved. P- value was found to be significant ( <0.05). Overall, the mortality rate was low with 120/150 (80%) getting discharged successfully. CONCLUSION:  Our findings suggest that Therapeutic plasma exchange is beneficial in Cytokine storm caused by SARS-CoV2 removing the inflammatory cytokines and improving symptoms, thereby, avoiding intubation. KEY WORDS: , Therapeutic plasma exchange, Hypercytokinaemia, Cytokine Release Syndrome