Postoperative analgesia via transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheter for small weight children-our initial experience.

Pain management in small infants and children is challenging. We report the use of unilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheters for analgesia following single-sided open lower abdominal surgery when epidural analgesia was undesirable in a series of six low-weight children. Data collection was done via a retrospective chart review. All catheters attempted were successfully placed with resultant low pain scores and the minimal use of rescue analgesic medications. No complications were reported related to these catheters. TAP catheters, although technically challenging, are feasible for the provision of analgesia for surgeries involving the lower abdominal wall in very small patients.

Histopathological Changes in Gallbladder Mucosa Associated with Cholelithiasis: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cholelithiasis is known to produce diverse histopathological changes in the gallbladder mucosa. In the present study, we aimed to find the correlation between various gallstone characteristics (i.e., number, size, and morphological type) with the type of mucosal response in gallbladder mucosa (i.e., inflammation, hyperplasia, metaplasia, and carcinoma). METHODS: The present study was conducted prospectively on 100 patients undergoing cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystitis. Gallstones were assessed for various parameters, i.e., number, size, and morphological type. Gallbladder mucosa was subjected to histopathological examination. Sections were taken from body, fundus, and neck of gallbladder. RESULTS: Of 100 cases, maximum type was of mixed stones (54%) and was multiple in number (46%). However, gallstone type and number are nonsignificant variables to produce precancerous lesions (i.e., hyperplasia and metaplasia). Statistically significant results were obtained while comparing the mucosal response with gallstone size (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: As the gallstone size increases, the response in gallbladder mucosa changes from cholecystitis, hyperplasia, and metaplasia to carcinoma. Gallstone type and number are nonsignificant variables to produce precancerous lesions.

Current nanotechnological strategies for treating glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a common cause of blindness worldwide, and the development of treatments is difficult for pharmaceutical scientists because successful delivery of drugs to the anterior and posterior segments of eye is challenging due to anatomical and physiological constraints. Conventional treatments use various dosage forms (solutions, suspensions, and ointments) that are hindered by poor intraocular penetration and/or rapid ocular elimination. Therefore, effective, safe, and comfortable methods of drug delivery are needed. One approach to improving ocular therapy is the use of nanotechnology for drug delivery. Recent drug delivery approaches using gels, liposomes, niosomes, ocular inserts, contact lenses, microparticles, nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, and other materials have produced exciting new therapies for ocular diseases, especially glaucoma. In this review, we discuss the importance of nanotechnology in novel drug delivery systems and the future possibilities for an effective treatment of glaucoma.