Introduction: Shivering is a common side effect of central neuraxial anaesthesia. Intravenous pethidine is commonly used in reducing shivering but has been associated with significant opioid side effects. Dexamethasone as a powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesia agent is postulated to inhibit inflammatory mediators’ release thus inhibiting central thermoregulatory centre, potentially attenuating post spinal shivering.  This double-blinded randomised controlled study was to determine the ability of intravenous dexamethasone in decreasing the incidence, severity and the need for treatment for post spinal shivering. Methods: We recruited 72 patients requiring spinal anaesthesia and randomised them to receive either dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg (up to 8 mg) or normal saline (placebo). We observed their tympanic membrane temperatures, mean arterial pressures and shivering scores at regular intervals up to 2 hours post-spinal or till end of surgery (minimum 30 minutes post spinal). Results: Both groups showed consistent and comparable drop in tympanic membrane temperatures and mean arterial pressures after spinal anaesthesia, except at 15 minutes in which patients of dexamethasone group demonstrated significantly higher temperatures than saline group (p=0.04). There were also significantly less patients in the dexamethasone group reporting incidence of visible shivering as compared to the placebo group (p=0.003). No significant difference was seen in severity of shivering or usage of pethidine. Conclusion: Dexamethasone has the potential to mitigate the reduction in core body temperature, especially at 15 minutes post spinal. It can reduce the incidence of clinically significant visible grade of shivering post spinal.

Background: Shivering is described as an involuntary, repetitive activity of the skeletal muscles that can have deleterious effects on anaesthetized patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of phenylephrine infusion in preventing perioperative shivering in patients undergoing lower segment cesarean section under spinal anesthesia and to observe the change in the patient’s core temperature between the study and control groups. Methods: A total of 118 patients scheduled for elective lower segment cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were recruited for this prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study. The patients were randomized into 2 groups with 59 patients per group. The phenylephrine Group received phenylephrine infusion at a rate of 0.5 mcg/kg/minutes, while the Control Group received normal saline at an equivalent rate. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, core temperature, and the presence and intensity of shivering were recorded before induction and every 15 minutes intraoperatively and postoperatively. Results: The incidence of intraoperative shivering was significantly lower in the Phenylephrine Group compared to control group (29.1% vs 47.5% respectively; P = .044). Postoperatively, the Phenylephrine Group also had a lower incidence of shivering (34.5% vs 42.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant ( P value = 0.391). There were no significant differences in the intensity of shivering between the 2 groups perioperatively, as well as in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and core temperature. The phenylephrine Group showed a significantly lower heart rate at 15, 30, and 45 minutes after spinal block ( P value = .005, .000, and .008, respectively), and at 0 and 30 minutes ( P value = .004 and .020 respectively) in the recovery room. There were no significant differences in perioperative adverse events such as hypotension, hypertension, and bradycardia. Conclusion: Phenylephrine infusion reduces the incidence of perioperative shivering in lower segment cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia.

Background: The emergence of video laryngoscopy in the management of pediatric airways has been invaluable as it has been known that these patients are prone to airway complications. Video laryngoscopes are proven to improve glottic view in both normal and difficult airways in pediatric patients. The time taken to intubate using these devices is inconsistent. Objectives: This study was designed to compare the time to intubate using two common video laryngoscopes, C-MAC®, and GlideScope®, aimed at pediatric patients age 3 - 12 years old. Methods: A Randomized controlled trial was conducted in 65 ASA I or II patients, aged 3 - 12 years old who underwent elective surgery using endotracheal tube. They were divided into group 1 patients who were intubated using C-MAC® video laryngoscope versus group 2 patients who were intubated with GlideScope® video laryngoscope. Laryngoscopists were all anesthetists with experience in both C-MAC® and GlideScope® intubation. Time to intubate and intubation attempts were measured. Any extra maneuver, airway complications, and laryngoscopist satisfaction scores were also recorded. Results: Total time to intubate was significantly longer in GlideScope® group than in C-MAC® group (P < 0.001). Both devices managed to achieve excellent glottic views. The first pass attempt success rate was similar between both devices. There was no difference between requirement of extra maneuvers to assist intubations. There were also no adverse events associated with all the intubations. The satisfaction score of anesthetists was comparable to each other. Conclusions: Even though intubation time using GlideScope® is longer, both devices give excellent glottic view, comparable success intubation, and anesthetists satisfaction score.

Background: The serratus plane block is an effective technique for providing analgesia to patients undergoing breast surgery. Methods: This prospective, double-blind, randomized study enrolled 60 female patients scheduled for unilateral mastectomy and axillary clearance. The patients received either a superficial serratus plane block or deep serratus plane block. Dermatomal spread was recorded 30 minutes after block administration. Postoperatively, pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores were documented at recovery (time 0), at 30 minutes; and in the ward hourly for 4 hours, and 4-hourly until 24 hours postoperatively. The time to first analgesic rescue and cumulative morphine consumption using patient-controlled analgesia morphine (PCAM) were recorded. Results: The results showed lower VAS scores at rest (at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours postoperatively), and during movement (at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 24 hours postoperatively) in the superficial serratus plane block group, P < .005. Similarly, cumulative morphine usage was lower in the superficial serratus plane group, P < .005. The time to the first rescue analgesic was also significantly longer in the superficial group, P < .001. More patients in the superficial serratus plane group achieved greater dermatomal spread at T2 and T7 than those in the deep group. Conclusions: Superficial serratus plane block provides better analgesic efficacy than deep serratus plane block in mastectomy and axillary clearance.

Background: Evaluation of the anterior neck anatomy is essential to identify the cricothyroid membrane (CTM) before invasive surgical airway. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of cricothyroid membrane identification done by digital palpation (DP) method and laryngeal handshake palpation (LHP).