Marching Ahead through the Pandemic: Continuing Anesthesia Services in COVID Era-Our Experience from a Tertiary Care Cancer Centre.

Swati BhanIntroduction This paper aims to provide an overview of the administrative and clinical preparations done in a tertiary care cancer hospital in continuing operation theatre (OT) services through the COVID pandemic. Methods Retrospective data collection, data for the past 1.5 years (COVID period) March 2020 to August 2021 were compared to surgical output for a similar duration of time before the COVID era (September 2018-February 2020). Results A total of 1,022 surgeries were done under anesthesia in the COVID period as against 1,710 surgeries done in a similar time frame in the pre-COVID era. Overall, we saw a 40%drop in the total number of cases. Thorax, abdominal, and miscellaneous surgeries (soft tissue sarcomas, urology, and gyneconcology) saw a maximum fall in numbers; however, head and neck cases saw an increase in numbers during the pandemic. Surgical morbidity and mortality were similar in the COVID and pre-COVID era. No cases of severe COVID infection were reported among the healthcare staff working in OT. Discussion We could successfully continue our anesthesia services with minimal risk to healthcare staff throughout the pandemic by adopting major guidelines in a pragmatic and practical approach with minor changes to suit our setup.

No Doppler Single Position-Lateral Intercostal Artery Perforator Flap (NDSP-LICAP): a Safe and Versatile Flap for Breast Oncoplasty in Resource-Limited Setting.

INTRODUCTION: The lateral intercostal artery perforator flap (LICAP) has emerged as one of the safest and less morbid flaps for lateral and central breast defects. We hereby describe a reproducible no Doppler single position (NDSP) technique to harvest it in single position without handheld Doppler, making it a versatile flap for lateral breast defects in resource-limited setting also. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With this technique, we performed a total of 22 LICAP turnover flaps over a period of 18 months from January 2020 to June 2021. In all 22 cases, the indication of flap was to fill the post-breast conservation surgery (BCS) defects in outer quadrant of breast. All LICAP flaps were harvested by surface marking of anatomical landmarks and without handheld Doppler. RESULTS: Out of 22 LICAP turnover flaps, thirteen were harvested for left breast and nine for right breast. The median width and length of the flap were 12.2 cm and 19.6 cm, respectively. The additional mean operative time was 41 min. All LICAP flaps survived well, and grade 1 Clavien-Dindo morbidity was documented in four cases. Mean hospital stay was 2.6 days. All patients received radiotherapy on their stipulated schedule. Early cosmetic outcome was good, and long-term outcomes are awaited. CONCLUSION: NDSP-LICAP flap is a workhorse for lateral breast defects. Precise knowledge of perforators and anatomical landmarks can be used for harvesting these flaps, thus avoiding ultrasound Doppler and dedicated training for perforator localization. This technique has short learning curve without the need for any plastic surgery training. The early cosmetic outcomes are good.

Perioperative anaesthetic management in cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): a retrospective analysis in a single tertiary care cancer centre.

Objectives: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We retrospectively analysed the perioperative anesthetic management in patients undergoing HIPEC surgery. Methods: After ethics approval, we reviewed the records of patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC from 2015 until 2020. We noted the peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI), blood loss, anastomoses done, total amount of fluid given, delta temperature and duration of surgery. These were correlated with the need for postoperative ventilation, length of ICU stay, Clavien-Dindo score and 30 day mortality. Results: Of the 180 patients reviewed, the majority were women (85%) with a mean age of 48 years who had ovarian tumors (n=114). The total amount of fluid given was associated with an increased length of ICU stay (p=0.008). Prolonged surgery resulted in increased length of ICU stay (p<0.001), need for postoperative ventilation (p=0.006) and a poor Clavien-Dindo score (p=0.039). A high PCI score correlated with increased ICU stay, 30 day mortality (p<0.001), and the need for postoperative ventilation (0.005). Conclusions: PCI, duration of surgery and blood loss were major predictors of postoperative morbidity. Additionally, the amount of fluid given and delta temperature affected patient outcome and should be individualized to the patient's needs.

Airway management, procedural data, and in-hospital mortality records of patients undergoing surgery for mucormycosis associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

PURPOSE: Although unexpected airway difficulties are reported in patients with mucormycosis, the literature on airway management in patients with mucormycosis associated with Coronavirus disease is sparse. METHODS: In this retrospective case record review of 57 patients who underwent surgery for mucormycosis associated with coronavirus disease, we aimed to evaluate the demographics, airway management, procedural data, and in-hospital mortality records. RESULTS: Forty-one (71.9%) patients had a diagnosis of sino-nasal mucormycosis, fourteen (24.6%) patients had a diagnosis of rhino-orbital mucormycosis, and 2 (3.5%) patients had a diagnosis of palatal mucormycosis. A total of 44 (77.2%) patients had co-morbidities. The most common co-morbidities were diabetes mellitus in 42 (73.6%) patients, followed by hypertension in 21 (36.8%) patients, and acute kidney injury in 14 (28.1%) patients. We used the intubation difficulty scale score to assess intubating conditions. Intubation was easy to slightly difficult in 53 (92.9%) patients. In our study, mortality occurred in 7 (12.3%) patients. The median (range) mortality time was 60 (27-74) days. The median (range) time to hospital discharge was 53.5 (10-85) days. The median [interquartile range] age of discharged versus expired patients was 47.5 [41,57.5] versus 64 [47,70] years (P = 0.04), and median (interquartile range) D-dimer levels in discharged versus expired patients was 364 [213, 638] versus 2448 [408,3301] ng/mL (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing surgery for mucormycosis associated with the coronavirus disease, airway management was easy to slightly difficult in most patients. Perioperative complications can be minimized by taking timely and precautionary measures.

Hypercalcemia due to methadone-induced adrenal insufficiency in a case of oral cancer.

A 31-year-old patient of post-surgical recurrent buccal carcinoma (post-chemo and radiotherapy) on multimodal analgesia with methadone, paracetamol and gabapentin presented to pain clinic with occasional bleeding from tumor area and incidental hypercalcemia. The hypercalcemia was attributed to adrenal insufficiency due to methadone, with no other obvious reasons identified for hypercalcemia or adrenal insufficiency. The patient was managed with the change of opioid, regular aseptic wound dressings and management of hypercalcemia with hydration, calcitonin and steroid therapy. Hypercalcemia in a cancer patient can have multiple other causes like hypercalcemia of malignancy and primary or secondary parathyroid carcinoma. A strong clinical suspicion and appropriate battery of tests may be required to arrive at the diagnosis. Prompt management, including identification and management of the primary pathology along with aggressive hydration with hormonal therapy, may prove to be life-saving.

A pilot randomised clinical trial comparing desflurane anaesthesia vs total intravenous anaesthesia, for changes in haemodynamic, inflammatory and coagulation parameters in patients undergoing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS+HIPEC) cause numerous pathophysiological changes. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two anaesthetic techniques on haemodynamic changes, inflammatory and coagulation parameters during this procedure. METHODS: Twenty-one consenting adults undergoing CRS+HIPEC procedure, were block randomised to receive desflurane (V, n = 9) or TIVA (T, n = 12). After epidural catheter placement and intravenous induction of anaesthesia in both groups with fentanyl, propofol and rocuronium, anaesthesia was maintained with propofol or with desflurane, based on group allocation. Haemodynamic and temperature changes were assessed intra-operatively and variance was analysed. Inflammatory and coagulation markers were measured and compared at five time-points in the peri-operative period. Categorical variables were analysed using Chi square or Fisher exact test. Continuous variables were compared using t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Changes in core body temperature and haemodynamic variables during the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) phase were comparable between the two groups; except mean variance of mean arterial pressure, which was significantly higher (P = 0.0056) in group V (receiving desflurane) (58.98 ± 36.74) than TIVA group (27.51 ± 14.22). Inflammatory markers in both groups were comparable at five defined time points in the peri-operative period. On post-hoc analysis, pairwise comparisons with baseline, between levels of inflammatory markers within each group showed increased post-operative inflammation in group V. Mean prothrombin time was comparable. CONCLUSION: Desflurane group suffered greater mean arterial pressure (MAP) instability during the HIPEC phase. Inflammation in both groups was highest during the first 24 h after surgery. Prolonged inflammation was noted in patients receiving desflurane.

Clinico-demographic profile & hospital outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted at a tertiary care centre in north India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China and rapidly spread globally including India. The characteristic clinical observations and outcomes of this disease (COVID-19) have been reported from different countries. The present study was aimed to describe the clinico-demographic characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of a group of COVID-19 patients in north India. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-centre collection of data regarding epidemiological, demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, management and outcome of COVID-19 patients admitted in a tertiary care facility in north India. Patient outcomes were recorded as death, discharge and still admitted. RESULTS: Data of 144 patients with COVID-19 were recorded and analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 40.1±13.1 yr, with 93.1 per cent males, and included 10 (6.9%) foreign nationals. Domestic travel to or from affected States (77.1%) and close contact with COVID-19 patients in congregations (82.6%) constituted the most commonly documented exposure. Nine (6.3%) patients were smokers, with a median smoking index of 200. Comorbidities were present in 23 (15.9%) patients, of which diabetes mellitus (n=16; 11.1%) was the most common. A significant proportion of patients had no symptoms (n=64; 44.4%); among the symptomatic, cough (34.7%) was the most common symptom followed by fever (17.4%) and nasal symptoms (2.15%). Majority of the patients were managed with supportive treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin given on a case-to-case basis. Only five (3.5%) patients required oxygen supplementation, four (2.8%) patients had severe disease requiring intensive care, one required mechanical ventilation and mortality occurred in two (1.4%) patients. The time to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) negativity was 16-18 days. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: In this single-centre study of 144 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 in north India, the characteristic findings included younger age, high proportion of asymptomatic patients, long time to PCR negativity and low need for intensive care unit care.

Anaesthetic considerations for whole lung lavage for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is an uncommon lung disease characterized by excessive accumulation of pulmonary surfactant that usually requires treatment with whole-lung lavage. A 47-year-old female presented with history of dry cough and breathlessness for past 6months. Chest radiograph demonstrated bilateral alveolar shadows and high resolution computerized tomography thorax showed crazy paving pattern. Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of PAP. Due to worsening hypoxemia and respiratory failure, wholelung lavage was planned and performed. Anaesthetic management involved integrated use of pre-oxygenation, complete lung isolation, one-lung ventilation with optimal positive end-expiratory pressure, vigilant use of positional manoeuvres, and use of recruitment manoeuvres for the lavaged lung. We have discussed valuable strategies for the anaesthetic management of patients undergoing this multifaceted procedure in a case of severe PAP. FUNDING: None declared.

Effect of Palliative Bronchoscopic Interventions on Symptom Burden in Patients with Central Airway Narrowing: A Retrospective Review.

INTRODUCTION: Early integration of palliative interventions in patients with central airway obstruction (CAO) has shown to reduce patients' distress due to breathlessness and achieve better outcomes at lower cost. This retrospective review was performed to determine whether rigid bronchoscopic interventions alleviated the symptom burden and the requirement for continued mechanical ventilation in patients with CAO in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed records of 105 patients with CAO were retrospectively studied. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score for cough and dyspnea before and after the intervention was noted. A need for an escalation or reduction in level of care was also noted. RESULTS: The mean NRS score for dyspnea (n = 84) reduced from 7.5 (4-9) (before procedure) to 2.5 (2-6) after intervention (P < 0.01). The mean NRS score for cough (n = 68) also reduced from 6.5 (4-8) (before procedure) to 4 (3-7) after intervention (P < 0.01). Of these patients, bronchoscopic intervention allowed transfer out of the ICU in 14 patients (42%) and immediate withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in 8 patients (42%). CONCLUSION: There is an instantaneous valuable palliation of symptoms and improved health-care utilization with airway tumor debulking and stenting. Multidisciplinary interventions with emphasis delivery of palliative care provide better care of patients with CAO.