Oesophageal intubation can lead to life threatening complications if left undetected. Several devices and techniques are available to confirm tracheal intubation and for early detection of oesophageal intubation. This study was carried out to evaluate the utility of the Umesh's intubation detector device for rapid and reliable differentiation of tracheal from oesophageal intubation by novice users. In this prospective, double blind and randomised study, 100 healthy patients undergoing general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation received two identical size endotracheal tubes; one inserted into trachea and the other into the oesophagus. The Umesh's intubation detector was connected to one of the tubes randomly and a novice was asked to observe for inflation of the reservoir bag of the device while two chest compressions of approximately one inch each were given to the patient. Out of the total 100 tracheal intubations, 96 were correctly identified while the observers could not clearly conclude whether the tube was in trachea or oesophagus in the other four patients. Out of the total 100 oesophageal intubations, 99 were correctly identified. There were no complications related to the study. Umesh's intubation detector device can be used by novices for rapid and reliable differentiation of tracheal from oesophageal intubation in healthy adult patients.

The influence of parental literacy and socio-economic status (SES) on infant mortality rate (IMR) was studied. This report is only a part of much larger community-based prospective study conducted to determine the factors influencing infant mortality in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, by the Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, with the financial assistance form IDRC, Canada. A total of 12,857 livebirths during the period of October 1, 1991, to September 30, 1992, where registered and followed up for one year. There were 391 infant deaths which gives an IMR of 30.4 per 1,000 livebirths. Univariate analysis and subsequent stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that, literacy and SES have a very significant role in reducing IMR.

Context: Following microvascular surgeries, stenosis and spasm of the arterial graft or the recipient vessel are serious complications which are often caused by intimal hyperplasia and perivascular nerves, respectively. Aims: The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of arterial wall and sympathetic innervation of the human superficial temporal artery (STA) and also, the effect of aging on STA. Methods and Materials: Fifty-two fresh human STA (frontal branch) samples were obtained from 26 cadavers (19 males and 7 females) between the ages of 19 and 83 years. Samples were divided into three age groups: G1, 19-40 years; G2, 41-60 years; G3, over 61 years. 5μm-thin sections of each sample were taken and stained with haematoxylin-eosin, Verhoff's and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining. Results: The well-defined internal elastic lamina (IEL) was observed in all samples of STA, whereas external elastic lamina (EEL) was not prominent in almost all cases or absent in few cases. This might be the important factor in the process of intimal and medial hyperplasia in the frontal branch of STA. Notably, intimal thickening appeared from second decade of life. Sympathetic fibres are located mainly in tunica adventitia and outer media. Mean adventitial and sympathetic areas were found to be 0.080 and 0.010mm2, respectively. Statistical analysis used: One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD post hoc test by using the SPSS 11.5 software. Conclusions: STA is prone to age related pathological changes. Sympathetic index may be used for analysis of sympathetic fibre-related problems (vasospasm, migraine) of the STA.