Randomized Open-Labelled Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Nitroglycerine, Esmolol and Dexmedetomidine in Producing Controlled Hypotension in Spine Surgeries.

AIM: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of nitroglycerine (NTG), esmolol, and dexmedetomidine (DEX) as hypotensive agents in decreasing intraoperative blood loss by producing controlled hypotension in posterior spine surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients aged 18-60 years, the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Classes I and II of either gender, were randomly assigned into three groups to receive either: NTG (0.01%) at the rate of 3-10 µg.kg-1.min-1 after positioning without a prior loading dose in Group N, esmolol 500 µg.kg-1 loading dose over 1 min before induction of anesthesia followed by 50-300 µg.kg-1.min-1 infusion in Group E, and DEX 1 µg.kg-1 over 10 min before induction followed by 0.2-0.7 µg.kg-1.h-1. infusion in Group D to maintain mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) between 60 and 65 mmHg. The three groups were compared for the achievement of target MAP, intraoperative blood loss, reversibility of hypotensive state, quality of surgical field, emergence time, and postextubation sedation score. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Analysis of variance was used for intergroup analysis, and for multiple comparisons, Bonferroni post hoc test was applied. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients in Group D and Group E achieved the target MAP with better heart rate control as compared to Group N. The intraoperative blood loss was significantly lesser in Group D (P < 0.001). The time to hypotension reversal and emergence time was prolonged in Group D (P < 0.001). The mean quality of surgical field score was statistically insignificant among the three groups. The mean Ramsay Sedation Scores were significantly higher in Group D compared to Groups N and E at 20th and 40th min postextubation (P < 0.001) with no significant intergroup difference at 60th min postextubation (P = 0.130). CONCLUSION: Continuous infusion of DEX is an effective and safe method of producing controlled hypotension by achieving the target MAP, minimizing blood loss, and maintaining superior hemodynamics in comparison with NTG and esmolol in posterior spine surgeries.

A comparison between ProSeal laryngeal mask airway and Air-Q Blocker in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) is an established device for airway management, while Air-Q Blocker (AQB) is a relatively new supraglottic device. The aim of this study is to compare AQB against PLMA in adults undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-eight adult patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups. A drain tube (gastric tube for PLMA and blocker tube for AQB) was inserted through the drain channel of the respective device. PLMA was inserted in Group P (n = 44) and AQB was inserted in Group A (n = 44) to secure the airway. The primary endpoint was airway seal pressure. Secondarily, we sought to compare overall insertion success, ease of insertion, hemodynamic effects after initial placement, ease of drain tube placement, and perioperative oropharyngolaryngeal morbidity between the devices. RESULTS: Oropharyngeal seal pressures for AQB and PLMA were 31.5 ± 2.41 and 29.41 ± 2.14 cm H2O, respectively (P = 0.01). Insertion time was longer with AQB than PLMA, 25.59 ± 5.71 and 18.66 ± 3.15 seconds, respectively (P = 0.001). Ease and success rate of insertion was better with PLMA compared to AQB. Failure of device insertion was seen in 2 cases of Group A. Gastric distension was seen in 4 patients in Group A, requiring replacement with endotracheal tube in two patients. Ventilation was successful in all 44 patients with PLMA. Both the devices were comparable in providing a patent airway and adequate oxygenation during controlled ventilation. There was an increased trend of airway trauma and complications in the AQB group. CONCLUSION: Both PLMA and AQB show similar efficacy in maintaining ventilation and oxygenation, during laparoscopic surgery. However, proper positioning and functioning of the blocker tube of AQB is a limiting factor, and needs further evaluation.

Comparison of IV granisetron and IV palonosetron on hemodynamics and sensory and motor block after spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The present study evaluated the effects of two 5-HT3 serotonin receptor antagonists; granisetron and palonosetron on hemodynamics, sensory, and motor blockade induced by intrathecal bupivacaine in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 126 female patients (ASA I and II physical status) undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under spinal anesthesia with intrathecal bupivacaine were randomly divided into three groups out of which 40 patients in each group were evaluated for final outcome. Group G received intravenous 1 mg granisetron, group P received intravenous palonosetron 0.075 mg, and group C received intravenous normal saline. Study drug was given 5 min before the spinal anesthesia. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, sensory and motor blockade were assessed. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate showed no significant differences among the three groups. Time to reach peak sensory block and modified Bromage 3 motor block, time to two segmental regression of sensory block, and motor regression to modified Bromage score of 0 were not statistically different among the three groups. Although statistically significant early regression of sensory block to segment S1 was seen in group G as compared to group P and group C, it was of no clinical significance. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in group G and P. CONCLUSION: Intravenous administration of granisetron and palonosetron before intrathecal bupivacaine does not attenuate the hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. Further, both 5-HT3 receptors antagonists do not have clinically significant effects on the spinal blockade produced by hyperbaric bupivacaine.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms as markers of genetic susceptibility for oral potentially malignant disorders risk: Review of evidence to date.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancers are preceded by oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). Understanding genetic susceptibility for OPMD risk could provide an opportunity for risk assessment of oral cancer through early disease course. We conducted a review of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) studies for OPMD risk. METHODS: We identified all relevant studies examining associations of SNPs with OPMD (leukoplakia, erythroplakia and oral sub-mucous fibrosis) conducted world-wide between January, 2000 and February, 2016 using a combined keyword search on PubMed. Of these, 47 studies that presented results as odds ratios and 95% CI were considered for full review. RESULTS: The majority of eligible studies that explored candidate gene associations for OPMD were small (N<200 cases), limiting their scope to provide strong inference for any SNP identified to date in any population. Commonly studied SNPs were genes of carcinogen metabolism (n=18 studies), DNA repair (n=11 studies), cell cycle control (n=8 studies), extra-cellular matrix alteration (n=8 studies) and immune-inflammatory (n=6 studies) pathways. Based on significant associations as reported by two or more studies, suggestive markers included SNPs in GSTM1 (null), CCND1 (G870A), MMP3 (-1171; promotor region), TNFα (-308; rs800629), XPD (codon 751) and Gemin3 (rs197412) as well as in p53 (codon 72) in Indian populations. However, an equal or greater number of studies reported null or mixed associations for SNPs in GSTM1 (null), p53 (codon 72), XPD (codon 751), XRCC (rs25487 C/T), GSTT1 (null) and CYP1A1m1 (MspI site). CONCLUSION: Candidate gene association studies have not yielded consistent data on risk loci for OPMD. High-throughput genotyping approaches for OPMD, with concurrent efforts for oral cancer, could prove useful in identifying robust risk-loci to help understand early disease course susceptibility for oral cancer.

DNA methylation markers for oral pre-cancer progression: A critical review.

Although oral cancers are generally preceded by a well-established pre-cancerous stage, there is a lack of well-defined clinical and morphological criteria to detect and signal progression from pre-cancer to malignant tumours. We conducted a critical review to summarize the evidence regarding aberrant DNA methylation patterns as a potential diagnostic biomarker predicting progression. We identified all relevant human studies published in English prior to 30th April 2015 that examined DNA methylation (%) in oral pre-cancer by searching PubMed, Web-of-Science and Embase databases using combined key-searches. Twenty-one studies (18-cross-sectional; 3-longitudinal) were eligible for inclusion in the review, with sample sizes ranging from 4 to 156 affected cases. Eligible studies examined promoter region hyper-methylation of tumour suppressor genes in pathways including cell-cycle-control (n=15), DNA-repair (n=7), cell-cycle-signalling (n=4) and apoptosis (n=3). Hyper-methylated loci reported in three or more studies included p16, p14, MGMT and DAPK. Two longitudinal studies reported greater p16 hyper-methylation in pre-cancerous lesions transformed to malignancy compared to lesions that regressed (57-63.6% versus 8-32.1%; p<0.01). The one study that explored epigenome-wide methylation patterns reported three novel hyper-methylated loci (TRHDE; ZNF454; KCNAB3). The majority of reviewed studies were small, cross-sectional studies with poorly defined control groups and lacking validation. Whilst limitations in sample size and study design preclude definitive conclusions, current evidence suggests a potential utility of DNA methylation patterns as a diagnostic biomarker for oral pre-cancer progression. Robust studies such as large epigenome-wide methylation explorations of oral pre-cancer with longitudinal tracking are needed to validate the currently reported signals and identify new risk-loci and the biological pathways of disease progression.

A randomized comparative study of efficacy of axillary and infraclavicular approaches for brachial plexus block for upper limb surgery using peripheral nerve stimulator.

Brachial plexus block via the axillary approach is problematic in patients with limited arm mobility. In such cases, the infraclavicular approach may be a valuable alternative. The purpose of our study was to compare axillary and infraclavicular techniques for brachial plexus block in patients undergoing forearm and hand surgeries. After obtaining institutional approval and written informed consent, 60 patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade I or II scheduled for forearm and hand surgeries were included in the study and were randomly allocated into two groups. Brachial plexus block was performed via the vertical infraclavicular approach (VIB) in patients of Group I and axillary approach in Group A using a peripheral nerve stimulator. Sensory block in the distribution of individual nerves supplying the arm, motor block, duration of sensory block, incidence of successful block and various complications were recorded. Successful block was achieved in 90% of the patients in group I and in 87% of patients in group A. Intercostobrachial nerve blockade was significantly higher in group I. No statistically significant difference was found in sensory and motor blockade of other nerves. Both the approaches are comparable, but the VIB scores ahead of axillary block in terms of its ability to block more nerves. The VIB because of its easily identifiable landmarks, a comfortable patient position during the block procedure and the ability to block a larger spectrum of nerves should thus be considered as an effective alternative to the axillary approach.