Background: Drug utilization is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the marketing, distribution, prescription, and use of drugs in society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social, and economic consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of prescription and then drug utilization in outpatient (OPD) of the Department of Otolaryngology in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the A.C.S. medical college and hospital, Chennai for a period of 7 months. All the patients who attended the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) OPD were included. The total number who attended the OPD was 10,249 which include 6,956 new cases and 3313 old cases. Results: The antibacterials commonly used were β Lactams (56%), macrolides (14%), fluoroquinolones (12%), aminoglycosides (8%). Among the penicillin group, the commonest drug prescribed was a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (27%), in cephalosporins was cefixime + clavulanic acid (19%). Aminoglycosides include gentamycin in refractory cases. Fluoroquinolones include ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Others Drugs like antihistamines and mucolytics were prescribed in 27%, anti- ulcer drugs in 36% cases, analgesics in 33% cases and herbal medicines in 4%. The average number of drugs used in each prescription was 3.20. All the drugs were prescribed with brand names. The average cost per prescription per day for OPD patients is 37 Rupees. Conclusions: β Lactams were commonly used antibacterials in the otorhinolaryngology department. [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2013; 2(3.000): 306-310

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Background: Umbilical artery Doppler blood flow studies were a better predictor of neonatal outcome than estimated fetal weight alone in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses. Perinatal mortality and morbidity are increased if the umbilical artery Doppler abnormality worsens.Methods: This study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Thanjavur medical college from August 2015 to August 2016. One hundred singleton pregnancies complicated by IUGR beyond 32 weeks were subjected for Doppler study of umbilical artery. Perinatal outcome in terms of baby outcome, birth weight, early neonatal death, admission in NICU and duration of admission in NICU were analysed.Results: The main indication of termination of pregnancy was oligohydramnios (70%). The other causes of termination were 8% for uncontrolled hypertension and 4 % for post term. 60 % were delivered vaginally and 40% by lower segment cesarean section. Various indication for LSCS were Non-reactive CTG, fetal distress, severe oligohydramnios and failed induction. 92% were delivered alive babies and 8% still born babies. Birth weight of the babies varied from 900gm to 2.5Kg. But patients with absent or reversed end diastolic flow in umbilical artery Doppler, 80% of the babies weighed less than 1.5Kg. Perinatal mortality in our study is 19% which includes 8% of intrapartum mortality and 11% of neonatal mortality and perinatal morbidity is 24%. When the diastolic flow in the umbilical artery is, absent or reversed, it is associated with increased perinatal mortality of 80%.Conclusions: The results of present study clearly demonstrated the efficacy of umbilical artery Doppler in predicting the fetal outcome. To improve the predictive value of this tool, a better method is needed to assess the wellbeing of the IUGR fetuses such as integrated antenatal test which combines BPP and Doppler study employing other vessels.