Background:Hypobaric spinal anesthesia is advantageous for unilateral lower extremity fractures as it obviates pain of lying on fractured limb for performing subarachnoid block.Aims:This study compares block characteristics and complications of three different baricities of constant dose intrathecal hypobaric levobupivacaine to determine an optimum baricity.Settings and Design:One-twenty American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status 1 and 2 patients aged 18–65 years undergoing unilateral lower limb surgeries were divided into three equal groups for this prospective cohort study.Materials and Methods:To 2 mL intrathecal 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine (10 mg), 0.4 mL, 0.6 mL, and 0.8 mL of distilled water were added in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Baricities of Groups A, B, and C are 0.999294, 0.998945, and 0.998806, respectively. Development of sensory and motor block was assessed by the pinprick method and Bromage scale, respectively. The total duration of analgesia and complications were noted.Statistical Analysis Used:Mean, standard error, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni were used to analyze quantitative variables; proportions and Chi-square tests for qualitative variables.Results:Demographic parameters, motor block of operated limb, and complications were comparable. Group C had the fastest onset of sensory block (10.10 min) and maximum duration of analgesia (478.97 min; P < 0.001); but high sensory levels in 48.7%. Group B had T10 sensory level in 92.5%; onset comparable to Group C (P = 0.248), and reasonable duration of analgesia (332.50 min). Group A had inadequate sensory levels, slow onset, and early regression.Conclusions:Group B (baricity - 0.998945) has better block characteristics among three groups compared.

Background:We conducted a prospective observational study to find out the effectiveness, complications and technical

Background:Effective management of postoperative pain is a part of well-organized perioperative care, which helps in reduced morbidity and improved patient satisfaction. Preventive analgesia can reduce acute and chronic pain by blocking the noxious inputs to pain pathways, preventing sensitization. Studies have reported efficacy of gabapentin as a preventive analgesic in perioperative pain. In this study, we aimed to determine whether preoperative gabapentin reduced postoperative pain and tramadol consumption after thyroidectomy under general anesthesia.Materials and Methods:Sixty patients scheduled for thyroidectomy were allocated to two groups of thirty each for this prospective, observational study. Patients in Group A and Group B received oral gabapentin 600 mg (6 × 10−4 kg) and diazepam 10 mg (1 × 10−5 kg), respectively, 2 h prior to surgery. Tramadol was given as rescue analgesic for postoperative pain with a verbal rating score of two. The analgesic efficacy of preoperative gabapentin was assessed in terms of postoperative pain scores at rest or swallowing, time to first rescue analgesic, and total tramadol consumption for 24 h. Ramsay sedation score and side effects of drug were also looked into.Results:Postoperative pain scores and total tramadol consumption were significantly lower in Group A during 24 h (P = 0.00). Time to first rescue analgesic was significantly prolonged in Group A (P = 0.001). Side effects were comparable.Conclusion:Oral gabapentin is effective as a preventive analgesic in reducing postoperative pain and tramadol consumption after thyroidectomy under general anesthesia.

Major obstetric haemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality globally. Irrespective of the etiology of haemorrhage, rapid and efficient intervention using proactive standardised protocols should gain precedence in the management of major obstetric haemorrhage. As the available resources vary between institutions, protocol specific to each institution is important for timely intervention. This case series reports a few successfully managed cases of obstetric haemorrhage by the implementation of institution based Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP). Two antenatally diagnosed patients with placenta percreta had elective hysterectomy with bladder repair. The massive haemorrhages in both these cases were managed efficiently with the use of MTP without any sequelae. Another case of atonic Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) which did not respond to first line management also was treated successfully with the prompt activation of protocol. A case of uterine rupture with haemorrhagic shock was managed with massive transfusion according to protocol and vasopressors and she survived with no major side effects. A case of traumatic PPH which presented with severe anaemia (Hb 4.6 gm/dL) could also be successfully resuscitated by the timely activation of MTP.

Introduction: Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL), a common endourologic procedure for removal of renal stones is associated with significant pain. Regional blocks are being used for postoperative analgesia after PCNL. Aim: To compare the analgesic efficacy of intercostal nerve block and fluoroscopic guided peritubal infiltration in terms of duration of analgesia, postoperative pain scores and total analgesic consumption in first 24 hours. Materials and Methods: This was a randomised clinical trial conducted from May 2018 to October 2018 on total of eighty patients, randomly allocated to two groups of 40 each. Group IC received intercostal nerve block and group IF received fluoroscopy guided peritubal infiltration with 0.25% bupivacaine. Duration of analgesia was assessed from postoperative pain scores (Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) during rest and coughing). Total analgesic consumption for 24 hours was also noted. Data was analysed using Chi-square test for categorical variables and independent Student’s t-test for quantitative variables. Results: The duration of analgesia was 702.00±140.022 minutes in Group IC and 346.50±129.566 minutes in group IF which was significant statistically with a p-value of <0.001. Resting and dynamic NRS were lower upto 12 hours postoperatively in group IC (p-value less than 0.05). Both tramadol (50.00±11.32 mg vs 82.50±24.15 mg) and paracetamol (100±303.82mg vs 850±622.23mg) requirements were lower in group IC as compared to group IF with p-values less than 0.001. Total consumption of first rescue analgesic tramadol as well as second analgesic Paracetamol both were significantly lesser(p-value<0.001) in group IC than group IF. Conclusion: Intercostal Nerve Block (INB) provided superior analgesia compared to fluoroscopic guided peritubal infiltration after PCNL.