Context:Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a complication that is unresolved in patients undergoing endotracheal intubation.Aim:To compare the effects of ketamine and magnesium sulfate nebulizations in two strengths, on the incidence and severity of POST, hoarseness, and cough.Settings and Design:Sixty surgical patients undergoing elective abdominal and lower limb surgeries under combined epidural and general anesthesia were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.Subjects and Methods:Patients in each group were nebulized with the respective study drug 15 min prior to the surgery, i.e., ketamine in Group K, magnesium sulfate 250 mg, and 500 mg in Group M1 and Group M2, respectively, and normal saline as control in Group C. A standardized anesthesia protocol was followed for all patients. After extubation, the patients were asked to grade POST, hoarseness, and cough at 0, 2, 4, 12, and 24 h.Statistical Analysis Used:One-way analysis of variance, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, paired t-tests, and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test as applicable.Results:Ketamine and magnesium sulfate 500 mg demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in POST at 0, 2, and 4 h, and postoperative hoarseness at 0 h. There was decrease in the incidence and severity of sore throat, hoarseness, and cough at all periods in the study groups as compared with control.Conclusion:Nebulization with ketamine 50 mg and magnesium sulfate 500 mg, 15 min before induction of general anesthesia and intubation, reduce the incidence and severity of POST and hoarseness of voice.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. United Arab Emirates has a young population, but cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the commonest cause of death (40%). Myocardial infarction and stroke occurs at least a decade earlier than in western countries. Previous screening in our young population showed that 85% of the population had at least one CVD risk factor and about 62% of them were unaware of it. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. Screening was held in 23 sites such as mosques, sports, and men’s/ladies’ clubs, airports, parks, shopping malls, work places as well as their residences, and in the public areas of hospitals or outpatient clinics. A total of 6193 individuals were screened during MMM17. The mean age was 39.2 ± 13.1 years. After multiple imputation, 1867 (30.2%) had hypertension. Of individuals not receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 813 (15.8%) were hypertensive. Of 1054 individuals receiving anti-hypertensive medication, 427 (40.6%) had uncontrolled BP. MMM17 was a useful screening model as it makes BP measurement easily accessible. Eight hundred and thirteen (16%) possibly new hypertensives were uncovered and 427(40.6%) of those on treatment for hypertension were found to be uncontrolled. These results suggest that opportunistic screening can identify significant numbers with raised BP.

Background and Aims:Lactate levels predict outcomes after hepatectomy. We compared metabolic effects of lactated versus lactate free solutions in living donor hepatectomy.Methods:Consecutive right lobe donors (n = 53) were alternatively allotted to lactated Ringer's solution and normal saline (Group L-control) or acetated crystalloid (Sterofundin B Braun® Group S -study group) in an observational prospective randomised study. The primary outcome measure was lactate level, and secondary outcomes were base excess, bicarbonate, glucose and chloride intra- and post-operatively. Mann–Whitney and Chi-square tests were used for analysis.Results:The intraoperative, post-operative lactate levels and the time for normalisation were comparable. Group L had significantly lower intraoperative bicarbonate levels (mmol/L) at 6 and 8 h (20.0 ± 2.14 vs. 21.3 ± 1.6, P = 0.0471; 18.68 ± 2.04 vs. 20.39 ± 17, P = 0.002), base excess at 4 and 6 h (mmol/L) (−3.64 ± 2.73 vs. −3.0 ± 1.52, P = 0.031; −6.64 ± 2.76 vs. −4.35 ± 1.7 P = 0.006). The intraoperative chloride levels (mmol/L) were higher in group L at 4 and 8 h (108 ± 5.9 vs. 105.99 ± 2.76, P = 0.0471; 109.51 ± 3.86 vs. 106.93 ± 3.09, P = 0.002). Intraoperative glucose (mg/dL) at 6 h was higher in group L, 160.55 ± 31.52 vs. 145.5 ± 24.29, P = 0.043. The highest post-operative chloride (mmol/L) was higher in Group L (112.3 ± 3.86 vs. 109.81 ± 3.72, P = 0.034). Post-operative base excess and bicarbonate showed an improved profile in Group S (−7.37 ± 2.99 vs. −5.06 ± 1.71 P = 0.001 and 17.79 ± 2.23 vs. 19.68 ± 1.51 P = 0.005).Conclusion:Acetated fluids were associated with higher levels of bicarbonate, lesser base deficit, glucose and chloride but no difference in lactate levels in comparison with Ringer's lactate and normal saline in living donor hepatectomy.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) associated with end-stage liver disease has a high morbidity when room air PaO is less than 50 mm Hg. Safe levels of oxygenation to facilitate transplantation have not been defined despite advancement in care. Postoperatively, hypoxaemia worsens due to ventilation perfusion mismatch contributed by postoperative pulmonary vasoconstriction and due to decrease in endogenous nitric oxide. A 16-year-old boy with cirrhosis presented with HPS and a PaO of 37 mm Hg on room air and underwent living donor liver transplant. Although stable intraoperatively, he desaturated on the second postoperative day. Despite a number of interventions, oxygenation remained critically low on 100% inspired oxygen. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) was established with instant improvement in oxygenation (PaO68 mm Hg), and the patient was eventually salvaged. We suggest that ECMO could be a means of managing refractory post-transplant hypoxaemia in patients with HPS.

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