Background and Aims: The diffusion of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) into the air-filled cuff of the classic laryngeal mask airway (LMA) may lead to an increase in cuff pressure (CP) and displacement of LMA affecting its performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the change in optimal position of LMA by fibre-optic bronchoscope, the changes in cuff pressure and oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP), and post-operative laryngo-pharyngeal morbidity during N 2 O–oxygen (O 2 ) anaesthesia in children. Methods: After ethics committee approval and written informed consent, 84 children, aged 2 to 8 years undergoing lower abdominal surgery using LMA were included. Anaesthesia was induced with sevoflurane and maintained with either 33% O 2 in air (Group 1) or with 33% O 2 in 67% N 2 O (Group 2) along with sevoflurane. The position of LMA using fibre-optic bronchoscope, CP and OLP were recorded at 30, 60 and 90 minutes and at the end of surgery. The incidence of post-operative sore throat, hoarseness of voice and dysphagia was assessed for 24 hours. Results: A mild (Grade 1) change in fibre-optic position of LMA was observed in 6 out of 42 children maintained with N 2 O–O 2 anaesthesia. The cuff pressure was higher than baseline in group 2 at all three time points with the maximum at 90 minutes (93.23 ± 14.86 cm H 2 O vs. 39.78 ± 7.75 cm H 2 O; P < 0.05). The OLP was comparable between the groups during the initial 60 minutes and then increased in group 2. The incidence of post-operative sore throat was significantly higher in group 2 ( P = 0.008). Conclusion: The diffusion of anaesthetic gases into the air-filled cuff does not change the fibre-optic position of the LMA significantly but increases the cuff pressure and incidence of post-operative laryngo-pharyngeal complications in children.

Background: Requirement of anesthetic agents is reduced due to addition of adjuvants in epidural anaesthesia as they augment the local anesthetic action and have analgesic properties as well. Effective epidural analgesia ensures stable hemodynamics and satisfactory perioperative period. Objective: To evaluate efficacy of epidural clonidine compared to dexmedetomidine as adjuvants in postoperative analgesia Materials and Methods: Comparative, randomized clinical study was carried out among 100 subjects undergoing abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies of age 44-65 years with ASA grade I and II. They were divided randomly into two group of 50 each. Group A received 17ml of 0.5% of bupivacaine with 2mcg per kg clonidine. Group B received 17ml of 0.5% of bupivacaine with 1.5mcg per kg dexmedetomidine. Various parameters related to sensory and motor blockade, Ramsay sedation scale for sedation score, Hemodynamic parameters were monitored continuously and recordings were made at regular intervals. Results: Both groups were comparable in terms of age, weight, duration of surgery, ASA grades and type of surgery. Parameters pertaining to time for onset of sensory and motor block were significantly higher in clonidine group compared to the dexmedetomidine group (p<0.05). Postoperative block duration was significantly higher in dexmedetomidine group compared to clonidine group (p<0.05). The hemodynamic parameters and Ramsay sedation score at pre-operative and at 120min were comparable (p>0.05) between two groups except for heart rate which was significantly less in dexmedetomidine group at 120min compared to clonidine group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine added to bupivacaine epidurally prolonged postoperative analgesia longer than clonidine.

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