Indian journal of anaesthesia
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During paediatric cleft surgeries intraoperative heat loss is minimal and hence undertaking all possible precautions available to prevent hypothermia and use of active warming measures may result in development of hyperthermia. This study aims to determine whether there will be hyperthermia on active warming and hypothermia if no active warming measures are undertaken. The rate of intraoperative temperature changes with and without active warming was also noted. ⋯ In pediatric cleft surgeries, we recommend active warming during the first 30 minutes if the surgery is expected to last for <2h, and no such measures are required if the expected duration is >2h.
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This case report exemplifies how the anaesthetic technique of general anesthesia with continuous bilateral femoral nerve block for bilateral knee arthroplasty was well chosen for the management of perioperative complications in an elderly patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). A 69-year-old female patient of HOCM was scheduled for bilateral total knee replacement. Echocardiography revealed severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with peak systolic gradient of 56 mmHg. ⋯ This complication was successfully managed without interrupting the management of pain. Management of patients with HOCM for noncardiac surgery requires knowledge of variable presentation of two forms of disease. Also, this case report highlights the practical advantage of continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB)s over epidural anaesthesia.
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Unanticipated difficult tracheal intubation remains a primary concern of anaesthesiologists and upper lip bite test (ULBT) is one of the assessments used in predicting difficult intubation. In this study, we aimed to check the utility of lateral neck X-ray measurements in improving the diagnostic value of the ULBT. ⋯ Although all the tests used had relatively acceptable predictive values, combination of tests appeared to be more predictive. Highest sensitivities were observed with ULBT, mandibulohyoid distance and thyromental distance respectively. Use of radiological parameters may not be suitable as screening tools, but may help in anticipating and preparing for a difficult scenario.