Rajesh Mane

Effect of pre-operative rectal diclofenac suppository on post-operative analgesic requirement in cleft palate repair: A randomised clinical trial

Background: Opioid analgesics used for analgesia are associated with sedation, respiratory depression and post-operative nausea and vomiting. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac are a safe and effective alternative with opioid-sparing effect. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of pre-operative rectal diclofenac suppository (1 mg/kg) in cleft palate repair for post-operative analgesia and reduction in post-operative opioid requirements. Study Design: A randomized clinical trial. Methods: After obtaining approval from the institutional ethical committee, 60 children were allocated by a computer-generated randomisation into two groups of 30 each; group D (Diclofenac group) and group C (Conventional group). Children in group D and group C were similar in all aspects except for the fact that group D children received 1 mg/kg diclofenac suppository after induction. Pain was evaluated using modification of the objective pain scale by Hannallah and colleagues for 6 h post-operatively by an anaesthesiology resident or nursing staff who was blinded to the group. If the pain score was more than 3, rescue analgesic I.V. fentanyl 0.5 μgm/kg was administered. The pain scores at different intervals, number of doses and quantity of rescue analgesic required were noted. Results: We observed that pre-operative rectal diclofenac provided effective analgesia in the immediate post-operative period, as evidenced by reduced pain scores and reduced opioid requirement (P=0.00002). There was no evidence of any increased perioperative bleeding in the diclofenac group. Conclusion: Pre-operative rectal diclofenac reduces opioid consumption and provides good post-operative analgesia.

Combined spinal epidural anesthesia for laparoscopic appendectomy in adults: A case series

Background: Laparoscopy is one of the most common surgical procedures and is the procedure of choice for most of the elective abdominal surgeries performed preferably under endotracheal general anesthesia. Technical advances in the field of laparoscopy have helped to reduce surgical trauma and discomfort, reduce anesthetic requirement resulting in shortened hospital stay. Recently, regional anaesthetic techniques have been found beneficial, especially in patients at a high risk to receive general anesthesia. Herewith we present a case series of laparoscopic appendectomy in eight American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I and II patients performed under spinal-epidural anaesthesia. Methods: Eight ASA Grade I and II adult patients undergoing elective Laparoscopic appendectomy received Combined Spinal Epidural Anaesthesia. Spinal Anaesthesia was performed at L2-L3 interspace using 2 ml of 0.5% (10 mg) hyperbaric Bupivacaine mixed with 0.5ml (25 micrograms) of Fentanyl. Epidural catheter was inserted at T10-T11 interspace for inadequate spinal anaesthesia and postoperative pain relief. Perioperative events and operative difficulty were studied. Systemic drugs were administered if patients complained of shoulder pain, abdominal discomfort, nausea or hypotension. Results: Spinal anaesthesia was adequate for surgery with no operative difficulty in all the patients. Intraoperatively, two patients experienced right shoulder pain and received Fentanyl, one patient was given Midazolam for anxiety and two were given Ephedrine for hypotension. The postoperative period was uneventful. Conclusion: Spinal anaesthesia with Hyperbaric Bupivacaine and Fentanyl is adequate and safe for elective laparoscopic appendectomy in healthy patients but careful evaluation of the method is needed particularly in compromised cardio respiratory conditions.

A comparison of oral midazolam and oral dexmedetomidine as premedication in pediatric anesthesia

Context: Oral premedication is widely used in pediatric anesthesia to provide preoperative anxiolysis and ensure smooth induction. Midazolam is currently the most commonly used premedicant, but newer drugs such as the α2-agonists have emerged as alternatives for premedication in children. Aims: The aim of this study was to compare clinical effects of oral midazolam and oral dexmedetomidine on preanesthetic sedation and postoperative recovery profile in children. Settings and Design: Randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled study in 60 children, aged 1-7 years undergoing elective, minor, lower abdominal surgeries under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either oral midazolam 0.75 mg/kg (Group M, n = 30) or oral dexmedetomidine 4 μg/kg (Group D, n = 30) 40 min prior to mask induction. Preoperative sedation and anxiolysis, the response at parental separation, quality of mask acceptance and recovery profile were compared for the two groups. Statistical Analysis Used: Results were analyzed using unpaired Students t-test and Chi-squared test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was no significant difference in the levels of preoperative sedation and anxiolysis between the two groups, but the onset of sedation was significantly faster with midazolam (18.90 ± 3.68 min) than with dexmedetomidine (30.50 ± 4.44 min). Response to parental separation and quality of mask acceptance was comparable between two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative agitation was significantly less in the dexmedetomidine group (P< 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, premedication with oral dexmedetomidine produced equally effective preoperative sedation and a better recovery from anesthesia in children in comparison to oral midazolam.

Fiberoptic intubation through laryngeal mask airway for management of difficult airway in a child with Klippel-Feil syndrome

The ideal airway management modality in pediatric patients with syndromes like Klippel-Feil syndrome is a great challenge and is technically difficult for an anesthesiologist. Half of the patients present with the classic triad of short neck, low hairline, and fusion of cervical vertebra. Numerous associated anomalies like scoliosis or kyphosis, cleft palate, respiratory problems, deafness, genitourinary abnormalities, Sprengels deformity (wherein the scapulae ride high on the back), synkinesia, cervical ribs, and congenital heart diseases may further add to the difficulty. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy alone can be technically difficult and patient cooperation also becomes very important, which is difficult in pediatric patients. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with the aid of supraglottic airway devices is a viable alternative in the management of difficult airway in children. We report a case of Klippel-Feil syndrome in an 18-month-old girl posted for cleft palate surgery. Imaging of spine revealed complete fusion of the cervical vertebrae with hypoplastic C3 and C6 vertebrae and thoracic kyphosis. We successfully managed airway in this patient by fiberoptic intubation through classic laryngeal mask airway (LMA). After intubation, we used second smaller endotracheal tube (ETT) to stabilize and elongate the first ETT while removing the LMA.

Successful management of difficult airway: A case series

Management of difficult airway is widely recognized as one of the important tasks of an anesthesiologist. The problems related to it are known to be primary causes of life-threatening consequences. Herewith, we present a case series of difficult airway scenarios managed successfully with different techniques and airway gadgets. The following cases were managed successfully with appropriate airway techniques: 1) Ludwig′s angina for drainage with awake fiberoptic intubation, 2) temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis for bilateral gap arthroplasty with fiberoptic intubation, 3) burn contractures for the release managed with intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA). Airway management is one of the vital aspects of clinical care provided by an anesthesiologist. The airway-related complications have significantly decreased due to better knowledge, skills of the anesthesiologist, and an array of airway gadgets. The three case scenarios of difficult airway were successfully managed with the appropriate airway gadgets suitable for each case without any untoward complication. Most airway problems can be solved with available gadgets and techniques, but clinical judgement borne of experience and expertise is crucial in implementing the skills in any difficult airway scenario.