Aparna Sinha

ProSeal as an alternative to endotracheal intubation in pediatric laparoscopy.

Background:  The increasing use of laparoscopic surgery in children mandates a leak‐free airway device during carboperitoneum for which tracheal tubes (TT) have been traditionally used. The pediatric ProSeal is a recent introduction to the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) family. The ProSeal LMA (PLMA) has been successfully used in adult laparoscopic procedures. We hypothesized that the ProSeal can be equally effective in achieving adequate oropharyngeal seal and pulmonary ventilation during elective laparoscopic procedures in children.

Safe removal of LMA in children – at what BIS?

Background:  Removal of an LMA without producing untoward complications has remained a matter of concern to all anesthesiologists; more so in pediatric practice where the margin of safety is narrow. Most work on LMA in adults supports its removal following return of airway reflexes. The situation regarding its removal in children is, however, less clear.

A comparative study to evaluate the effect of intranasal dexmedetomidine versus oral alprazolam as a premedication agent in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery

Background: Morbidly obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea are extremely sensitive to sedative premedication. Intranasal dexmedetomidine is painless and quick acting. Intranasal dexmedetomidine can be used for premedication as it produces adequate sedation and also obtund hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Materials and Methods: Forty morbidly obese patients with BMI > 35 were chosen and divided into two groups. Group DEX received intranasal dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg (ideal body weight) while other group (AZ) received oral alprazolam 0.5 mg. Sedation scale, heart rate and the mean arterial pressure was assessed in both the groups at 0 hour, 45 minutes, during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Results: The demographic profile, baseline heart rate, means arterial pressure, oxygen saturation and sedation scale was comparable between the two groups. The sedation scores, after 45 min, were statistically significant between the two groups i.e., 2.40 ± 1.09 in the AZ group as compared to 3.20 ± 1.79 in DEX group P value 0.034. The heart rate, mean arterial pressure and oxygen saturation were statistically similar between the two groups, after 45 min. The heart rate was significantly lower in the DEX group as compared to the AZ group. There was no statistical difference in the mean arterial pressure between the two groups either during laryngoscopy or tracheal intubation. Conclusion: Intranasal dexmedetomidine is a better premedication agent in morbidly obese patients than oral alprazolam.

Caudal block and emergence delirium in pediatric patients: Is it analgesia or sedation?

Background: Emergence delirium (ED) although a short-lived and self-limiting phenomenon, makes a child prone to injury in the immediate postoperative period and hence is a cause of concern not only to the pediatric anesthesiologist, surgeons, and post anesthesia care unit staff but also amongst parents. Additional medication to quieten the child offsets the potential benefits of rapid emergence and delays recovery in day care settings. There is conflicting evidence of influence of analgesia and sedation following anesthesia on emergence agitation. We hypothesized that an anesthetic technique which improves analgesia and prolongs emergence time will reduce the incidence of ED. We selected ketamine as adjuvant to caudal block for this purpose. Methods: This randomized, double blind prospective study was performed in 150 premedicated children ASA I, II, aged 2 to 8 years who were randomly assigned to either group B (caudal with bupivacaine), BK (bupivacaine and ketamine), or NC (no caudal), soon after LMA placement. Recovery characteristics and complications were recorded. Results: Emergence time, duration of pain relief, and Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scores were significantly higher in the NC group (P<0.05). Duration of analgesia and emergence time were significantly more in group BK than groups B and NC. However, the discharge readiness was comparable between all groups. No patient in BK group required to be given any medication to treat ED. Conclusion: Emergence time as well as duration of analgesia have significant influence on incidence of emergence delirium. Ketamine, as caudal adjuvant is a promising agent to protect against ED in children, following sevoflurane anesthesia.

ProSeal laryngeal mask airway improves oxygenation when used as a conduit prior to laryngoscope guided intubation in bariatric patients

Background: The primary objective of this study was to compare the effect of ventilation using the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) with facemask and oropharyngeal airway (FM), prior to laryngoscopy, on arterial oxygenation in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Methods: Forty morbidly obese patients were randomly recruited to either PLMA or FM. After pre-oxygenation (FiO2 1.0) in the ramp position with continuous positive airway pressure of 10 cm H2O for 5 min, anaesthesia was induced. Following loss of jaw thrust oropharyngeal airway, the FM and PLMA were inserted. On achieving paralysis, volume control ventilation with PEEP (5 cm H2O) was initiated. The difficulty in mask ventilation (DMV) in FM, number of attempts at PLMA and laryngoscopy were graded (Cormack and Lehane) in all patients. Time from onset of laryngoscopy to endotracheal tube confirmation was recorded. Hypoxia was defined as mild (SpO2 ≤95%), moderate (SpO2 ≤90%) and severe (SpO2 ≤85%). Results: Significant rise in pO2 was observed within both groups (P=0.001), and this was significantly higher in the PLMA (P=0.0001) when compared between the groups. SpO2 ≥ 90% (P=0.018) was seen in 19/20 (95%) patients in PLMA and 13/20 (65%) in FM at confirmation of tracheal tube. A strong association was found between DMV and Cormack Lehane in the FM group and with number of attempts in the PLMA group. No adverse events were observed. Conclusion: ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway as conduit prior to laryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients seems effective in increasing oxygen reserves, and can be suggested as a routine airway management technique when managing the airway in the morbidly obese.

Pressure vs. Volume Control Ventilation: Effects on Gastric Insufflation with Size‐1 LMA

Background:  In this randomized prospective study, peak airway pressure (PAP) and gastric insufflation were compared between volume control ventilation (VCV) and pressure control ventilation (PCV) using size‐1 laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in babies weighing 2.5–5 kg.

Transversus abdominis plane block for pain relief in patients undergoing in endoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernia: A comparative, randomised double-blind prospective study

Introduction: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is now a well-established technique in post-operative analgesia for lower abdominal surgeries. We evaluated the effect of ultrasound-guided TAP block on recovery parameters in patients undergoing endoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernia. Methods: Thirty adults were randomised to receive either ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine (TR) or saline (TP) in TAP block, before emergence from anaesthesia. The patients were assessed for pain relief, sedation, time to ambulate (TA), discharge readiness (DR), postoperative opioid requirement and any adverse events. Results: The median visual analogue scale pain score of the study group (TR) and the control group (TP) showed a significant difference at all time points. TA was 5.3 ± 0.5 (TR) versus 7.4 ± 0.8 (TP), P< 0.001 and DR was 7.5 ± 0.9 (TR) versus 8.9 ± 0.6 (TP), P< 0.001 in hours. No adverse events were observed in any group. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that TAP block is a feasible option for pain relief following endoscopic repair of abdominal wall hernias. It produces markedly improved pain scores and promotes early ambulation leading to greater patient satisfaction and earlier discharge.

Size 2.5 ProSealTM LMA: Is it associated with increased attempts at insertion?

Background: This randomized controlled study evaluated the success rate of insertion and the associated oropharyngeal morbidity for sizes 1.5,2 and 2.5 of ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) using an alternative digital technique (D) with conventional technique using the introducer tool (IT) technique. Methods: After approval from the hospital ethics committee, 250 healthy children, 6-months to 10 years of age, undergoing elective sub-umbilical surgeries, were included and randomly allocated to D and IT groups for PLMA insertion. The standard anaesthesia protocol was followed. The primary outcomes were success rate of insertion at first attempt and blood on device on removal and the secondary outcomes were oropharyngeal leak pressure and gastric tube placement. Results: The success rate of PLMA insertion at first attempt for sizes 1.5 and 2 did not differ between the two groups. However, for size 2.5, it was significantly lower than that for the other two sizes in both groups. The incidence of blood on device was higher with the 2.5 airway in both groups, reaching statistical significance only in group D. Other parameters did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: We conclude that size 2.5 PLMA is associated with a lower success rate of insertion and a higher incidence of blood on device using both techniques. Insertion of PLMA sizes 1.5 and 2 by an alternative digital technique is comparable to the IT technique.