Indian journal of anaesthesia
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[This corrects the article on p. 478 in vol. 54, PMID: 21189893.][This corrects the article on p. 52 in vol. 54, PMID: 20532074.].
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Efforts to find a better adjuvant in regional anaesthesia are underway since long. Aims and objectives are to compare the efficacy and clinical profile of two α-2 adrenergic agonists, dexmedetomidine and clonidine, in epidural anaesthesia with special emphasis on their sedative properties and an ability to provide smooth intra-operative and post-operative analgesia. A prospective randomized study was carried out which included 50 adult female patients between the ages of 44 and 65 years of (American Society of Anaesthesiologists) ASAI/II grade who underwent vaginal hysterectomies. ⋯ However, sedation scores with dexmedetomidine were better than clonidine and turned out to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The side effect profile was also comparable with a little higher incidence of nausea and dry mouth in both the groups which was again a non-significant entity (P > 0.05). Dexmedetomidine is a better neuraxial adjuvant compared to clonidine for providing early onset of sensory analgesia, adequate sedation and a prolonged post-operative analgesia.
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Aims to compare the efficacy of Proseal laryngeal mask airway(PLMA) and endotracheal tube (ETT) in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries under general anaesthesia. This prospective randomised study was conducted on 60 adult patients, 30 each in two groups, of ASA I-II who were posted for laparoscopic procedures under general anaesthesia. After preoxygenation, anaesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl and vecuronium. ⋯ No significant difference in laryngopharyngeal morbidity was noted. A properly positionedPLMA proved to be a suitable and safe alternative to ETT for airway management in elective fasted, adult patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries. It provided equally effective pulmonary ventilation despite high airway pressures without gastric distention, regurgitation, and aspiration.
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A 1 year prospective analysis of all critically ill obstetric patients admitted to a newly developed dedicated obstetric intensive care unit (ICU) was done in order to characterize causes of admissions, interventions required, course and foetal maternal outcome. Utilization of mortality probability model II (MPM II) at admission for predicting maternal mortality was also assessed. During this period there were 16,756 deliveries with 79 maternal deaths (maternal mortality rate 4.7/1000 deliveries). ⋯ The mean duration of ventilation (30.17±21.65 h) and ICU stay (39.42±33.70 h) were of significantly longer duration in survivors (P=0.01, P=0.00 respectively) versus non-survivors. The observed mortality (n=10, 41.67%) was significantly higher than MPM II predicted death rate (26.43%, P=0.002). We conclude that obstetric haemorrhage leading to haemodynamic instability remains the leading cause of ICU admission and MPM II scores at admission under predict the maternal mortality.
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Lightwand-guided intubation is a semi-blind technique that takes advantage of the anterior location of the trachea in relation to the oesophagus. Fibreoptic evaluation of lightwand-guided intubation has revealed a possibility of laryngeal interference and epiglottic distortion. Jaw lift, tongue traction or a combination of both have been used to assist in lightwand-guided intubation. ⋯ Laryngeal interference was significantly higher (P=0.012) with combined manoeuvre (30/78) than with jaw lift alone (9/81). Although lightwand-guided intubation can be performed quickly and easily, interference with laryngeal structures and distortion of the epiglottis can occur. Jaw lift manoeuvre causes less laryngeal interference than combined jaw and tongue traction applied by a single operator.