Medical journal, Armed Forces India
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Med J Armed Forces India · Jan 2013
Correlation of haemoglobin and red cell indices with serum ferritin in Indian women in second and third trimester of pregnancy.
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anaemia in pregnancy in Indians and is associated with increased risk of low birth-weight infants. Studies from developed countries recommend iron supplementation based on serum ferritin levels. However, screening by serum ferritin is not feasible in all cases in India. This study was undertaken to document haematological profile of pregnant Indian women. ⋯ All pregnant women in India should continue to get iron supplements unlike what is recommended in the developed countries where iron supplementation is based on serum ferritin levels.
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Med J Armed Forces India · Oct 2012
ReviewEvolution of the role of army transfusion services in the management of trauma patients and battle casualties with massive hemorrhage.
Providing blood at the times of national emergencies and war-like scenarios is a challenge to the blood transfusion services. The dictum should be adequate bleeding, minimum storage time, quick transportation and maximum utilization of blood as soon as possible. For the successful implementation of its role, forward transfusion services should be fully mobile with integral transportation and communication systems. ⋯ Once patients are resuscitated and further bleeding is stopped, use of conservative transfusion triggers is recommended to avoid excessive transfusion and adverse outcomes. A host of new technologies are being developed that have the potential of reducing blood loss. These will help in reducing the transfusion requirements in trauma patients with massive hemorrhage.
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Med J Armed Forces India · Oct 2012
ReviewLocal anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) - Should we not be concerned?
Local anesthetics are one of the most commonly used drugs in the field of medicine. Yet little is known about the systemic toxicity that can occur with their overdose. In the last few years, a lot of research has taken place understanding the etiology of the Local anesthetics systemic toxicity (LAST) and the role of lipid emulsion in treating it. There is a need to increase the awareness about LAST and establish a protocol to treat any serious neuro or cardiotoxicity.
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Med J Armed Forces India · Jan 2011
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Three Different Steroid Agents for Treatment of Low Backache through the Caudal Route.
Although epidural steroids are commonly used for conservative management of sciatica, controversies exist regarding optimal approach, type and dose of steroids, volume of injectate and frequency of administration. This randomized comparative blinded study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of caudal methylprednisolone acetate with triamcinolone acetonide and dexamethasone acetate, for pain relief for sciatica associated with lumbar-disk herniations. ⋯ Short-term improvement in leg pain and sensory deficits was observed in patients with sciatica due to a herniated nucleus pulposus with both epidural bupivacaine and steroids. All long-acting steroids had no statistically significant difference between their efficacy in pain relief but methylprednisolone and triamcinolone were more effective by the second injection as compared to dexamethasone which required a third injection in a significant number of cases. Differences between methylprednisolone and triamcinolone were insignificant. Complications were negligible and temporary.
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Med J Armed Forces India · Jan 2010
Verapamil as an Adjunct to Local Anaesthetic for Brachial Plexus Blocks.
Calcium channel blockers potentiate the effects of local anaesthetics. We examined the effect of adding verapamil to local anaesthetic solution on anaesthetic duration in patients undergoing surgery under brachial plexus block. ⋯ We conclude that adding verapamil to brachial plexus block can prolong sensory anaesthesia without any effect on analgesic duration.