BackgroundAnesthesiologists and anesthesia has been considered behind the scene. The image and status of anesthesiologist in the eyes of the medical and lay communities has always been a problem. ObjectivesThis study was designed to assess the knowledge about the role of anesthesiologist among the paramedical staffs at Kathmandu University Hospital. MethodsThis prospective questionnaire based study was done at Kathmandu University School of Medical Science, Dhulikhel Hospital for 2 nd January 2011 to 30 th Jan 2011 among the paramedical staffs working in different department of the hospital. ResultsThere were 150 questionnaire distributed out of which 120 responded. Mean Age was 23.33 and most of the respondents were female with majority having education qualification equivalent to intermediate level. Only 49.20 said it to be a different specialty and 72.5% said anaesthesiologist work differently in the theatre where as 70% knew anaesthesiologist did something in the post-operative period too. ConclusionAnesthesiologists have duty to visit patient's pre operatively and post operatively. The role inside the theatre and expanding role outside the theatre is poorly known. The awareness about the role of anesthesiologist in operation theatre, in intensive care unit, acute and chronic pain management and emergency care areas should be highlighted to all the staffs.

Background The ability of good glottis visualization during direct laryngoscopy is major determinant of easy tracheal intubation. Sniffing position for laryngoscopy is considered as gold standard and ideal position. Several studies have questioned the validation of sniffing potion. Objectives This study aims to compare relative efficacy of sniffing position and simple head extension for visualization of glottis during direct laryngoscopy. Methods Four hundred patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation were randomized into two groups and study was concluded. Glottic visualization was assessed using modified Cormack and Lehane classification. After laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation was performed and intubation difficulty scale was noted. Results Both the groups were comparable regarding glottis visualization. Both the groups were comparable in demographic profiles. All the intubation difficulty scale variables were comparable in both the groups except N3. Total Intubation Difficulty Score was better in sniffing position than in simple head extension group. Conclusion Glottic visualization and intubation difficulty score was better in sniffing position as compared to simple head extension.http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v9i1.6265 Kathmandu Univ Med J 2011;9(1):58-63

This paper reports the generation of atmospheric pressure gaseous discharge and its electrical characterization. For this purpose, a point-plane electrode system has been fabricated. A high voltage power supply (0-11 kV, 50 Hz) was applied across the electrodes. Discharge was generated with and without the dielectric barrier between the electrodes. The gas discharge was seen as in-homogenous filamentary type discharge without the dielectric. Whereas the filamentary discharge turned into bluish glow when the lower electrode was covered by a dielectric. The current and voltage of the discharge were measured by using a high frequency digital oscilloscope. The power consumed by the discharge was measured from the measured values of current and voltage. A special attention has been paid to investigate the effect of electrode geometry on the nature of the discharge Key words: Gaseous discharge, point-plane electrode, dielectric material, filamentary discharge, current and voltage measurement INTRODUCTIONRecently, much attention has been paid to the development of atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma sources. The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), as one of the main nonequilibrium plasma sources, can generate a non-equilibrium plasma under atmospheric pressure, requiring no expensive vacuum equipment, which is a must for conventional low-pressure glow discharge, and so processing cost is reduced and the ability of continuous processing is improved, and therefore large-scale industrial applications are possible [5][6][7]. Because of the thermal non-equilibrium between electrons and the bulk of the plasma, many physico-chemical reactions of interest can be carried out at near ambient temperature without any damage to the bulk of the material.