Background and Aims: Shoulder arthroscopic surgeries can produce intense post-operative pain. Inter-scalene block (ISB) provides good analgesia after shoulder surgery, but concerns over its associated risks have prompted the search for alternatives. Shoulder block (SHB), which includes suprascapular block along with axillary nerve (AN) block, was recently proposed as an alternative to ISB, but evidence of its efficacy is conflicting. The aim of our study was to compare SHB with ISB in shoulder surgery for post-operative analgesia. Methods: A total of 76 patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopic surgery were equally divided into 2 groups of 38 patients each: ISB group and SHB group. Both the nerve blocks were achieved by using ultrasound and a nerve stimulator. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were evaluated at 1, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h post-operatively. The time to first analgesia request, total analgesic requirement for 24 h post-operatively, patient satisfaction and any complications were recorded. Results: SHB provided equivalent analgesia to ISB in terms of post-operative VAS scores. Time to first analgesic request was 6.2 ± 1.3 h in ISB group and 5.9 ± 1.2 h in SHB group, which was not statistically significant. Complications like subjective dyspnoea and weakness of arm were significantly higher in ISB group compared to SHB group. Patient satisfaction scores were also significantly higher in SHB group compared to ISB group. Conclusion: SHB is as effective as ISB for post-operative pain relief and with fewer complications due to selective blockade of suprascapular and axillary nerves.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a commonly performed minimally invasive surgery. LC can cause moderate to severe postoperative pain due to small keyhole entries on the abdominal wall. The oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block (OSTAP) has been used for postoperative analgesia after LC but found not so effective. Our aim is to compare the effectiveness of erector spinae block with OSTAP block for postop analgesia after LC. Materials and Methods: This prospective, randomized study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Seventy patients, 18 to 65 years old posted for LC were divided into two equal groups of 35 each. Erector spinae plane block was performed in the ESP group and oblique subcostal transverses abdominis plane block was performed in the OSTAP group. Postoperative rescue analgesic consumption, time to 1 st rescue analgesia, numerical rating score (NRS), and any complications in 1 st 24 hrs between the groups were compared. Results: Postoperative rescue analgesic (paracetamol) consumption was 1.9± 0.85gm in ESP group and 2.84 ± 0.29gm in OSTAP group which was statistically significant. Time to 1 st rescue analgesia request was 360.34±28.94 mins in ESP group and 280.51±45.66 mins in OSTAP group which was statistically significant. Although NRS scores at almost all time-points were lower in the ESP group compared to OSTAP block, the difference was significant in 1 st 6 hrs. Conclusion: Ultrasound guided ESP block reduced postoperative rescue analgesic consumption and pain scores more effectively than OSTAP block after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery.

Background and objectivesPropofol-based sedation is one of the most commonly used methods for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The commonest complications during ERCP are in the form of adverse cardiopulmonary events as a result of sedation. Etomidate has a more stable cardiovascular and respiratory profile than propofol and has been used for sedation in simple gastrointestinal endoscopy but has not been studied for procedural sedation in ERCP. The objective of the present study was to compare the safety and feasibility of etomidate and propofol for sedation during ERCP procedures. MethodsThis single-center, randomized trial included 100 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class I to II patients who were scheduled for ERCP. All patients received midazolam 0.02 mg/kg, lignocaine (2%) 1 mg/kg, and fentanyl 1 µg/kg intravenously, followed by etomidate or propofol according to the group allocation. The primary outcome was to compare the mean arterial pressure (MAP) at various timepoints between the two groups and secondary outcomes were to compare oxygen saturation, induction and recovery times, and adverse events. Transient hypotension was defined as any decrease in MAP below 60 mmHg or 20% below the baseline. Transient hypoxia was defined as desaturation (saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) <92%) lasting for more than 10 seconds requiring airway intervention. ResultsFifty patients were enrolled in each group (Group E: etomidate and Group P: propofol). Transient hypotension occurred in eight (16%) patients in Group P, and two (4%) patients in Group E (P= 0.045). Baseline MAP was comparable between the two groups but was significantly lower in Group P at three timepoints during the study. Nine (18 %) patients in Group P had a transient hypoxic episode, compared to none in Group E (p= 0.006). The induction and recovery times were similar in the two groups. ConclusionsEtomidate offers better hemodynamic and respiratory stability than propofol and can be recommended for use during ERCP in ASA I/II patients.