Assessment of stress response due to C-Mac D-blade guided videolaryngoscopic endotracheal intubation and docking of da Vinci surgical robot using perfusion index in patients undergoing transoral robotic oncosurgery.

Clinical utility of perfusion index (PI) has entered a new realm as a non-invasive, quantitative index of stress response to endotracheal intubation. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) involves F-K retractor aided docking of the surgical robot producing haemodynamic and stress responses akin to laryngoscopy. We compared the stress response to videolaryngoscopy with that due to docking of da Vinci surgical robot using PI, heart rate and mean arterial pressure evaluated at specific time points post-laryngoscopy and post-docking. Twenty-six adult patients, scheduled for TORS under general endotracheal anaesthesia were included in this prospective, observational, single-centric cohort study. Statistical analysis included paired samples t-test, dotted box-whisker plots, trendlines and correlograms for comparative analysis of two stressors, laryngoscopy and docking. Baseline PI was 4.14. PI values increased post-midazolam (4.23), 1 min (5.69) and 3 min (6.25) post anaesthetic-induction, plummeted at laryngoscopy (3.24), remained low at 1 min (3.68), 3 min (4.69) thereafter, and were highest at 10 min (6.17) post-laryngoscopy and predocking (6.84). Docking witnessed a fall in PI (4.1), which remained low at 1 min (4.02), 3 min (4.31) and 10 min (4.79) post-docking. PI was significantly higher at laryngoscopy compared with PI at docking (p = 0.0044). At 1 min and 3 min post-laryngoscopy and post-docking, respectively, the differences in PI were statistically insignificant. PI at 10 min post-laryngoscopy was significantly lower than PI at 10 min post-docking (p < 0.0001). As non-invasively quantified by PI, videolaryngoscopic stress response is more intense but shorter-lived versus that due to docking. PI displays a negative correlation with haemodynamic variables. PI at laryngoscopy is a good predictor of PI at docking, enabling pre-emptive measures (fentanyl bolus; deepening of volatile anaesthesia from MAC-maintenance to MAC-intubation) anticipating the docking-induced stress response.Trial registration http://ctri.nic.in ; Identifier: CTRI/2019/11/022091.

Comparison of hemodynamic effects of intravenous etomidate versus propofol during induction and intubation using entropy guided hypnosis levels.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to compare the hemodynamic responses during induction and intubation between propofol and etomidate using entropy guided hypnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty ASA I & II patients in the age group 20-60 yrs, scheduled for modified radical mastectomy were randomly allocated in two groups based on induction agent Etomidate or Propofol. Both groups received intravenous midazolam 0.03 mg kg(-1) and fentanyl 2 µg kg(-1) as premedication. After induction with the desired agent titrated to entropy 40, vecuronium 0.1 mg kg(-1) was administered for neuromuscular blockade. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures, response entropy [RE] and state entropy [SE] were recorded at baseline, induction and upto three minutes post intubation. Data was subject to statistical analysis SPSS (version 12.0) the paired and the unpaired Student's T-tests for equality of means. RESULTS: Etomidate provided hemodynamic stability without the requirement of any rescue drug in 96.6% patients whereas rescue drug ephedrine was required in 36.6% patients in propofol group. Reduced induction doses 0.15mg kg(-1) for etomidate and 0.98 mg kg(-1) for propofol, sufficed to give an adequate anaesthetic depth based on entropy. CONCLUSION: Etomidate provides more hemodynamic stability than propofol during induction and intubation. Reduced induction doses of etomidate and propofol titrated to entropy translated into increased hemodynamic stability for both drugs and sufficed to give an adequate anaesthetic depth.

Choosing the correct-sized adult double-lumen tube: Quest for the holy grail.

Appropriate size selection of double-lumen tubes (DLTs) for one-lung ventilation (OLV) in adults is still a humongous task. Several important factors are to be considered like patient height, gender, tracheal diameter, left main bronchial diameter, and cricoid cartilage transverse diameter. In addition to radiological assessment of the airway diameters, the manufacturing details of the particular DLT being used also play a significant role in size selection. Optimal positioning of the appropriately sized DLT is indispensable to avoid complications like airway trauma, cuff rupture, hypoxemia, and tube displacement. It is imperative to know whether the one-size-fits-all dictum holds for DLT size selection as claimed by certain studies. Further randomized studies are required for crystallizing standard protocols ascertaining the correct DLT size. This systematic review article highlights the various parameters employed for DLT size selection and explores the newer DLTs used for adult OLV.

Supraclavicular block evaluation in oncoorthopedic patients under general anesthesia using perfusion index: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks (SCBPB) are routinely placed prior to anaesthetic induction for post-operative pain relief after prolonged orthopaedic oncosurgery, since patients are required to remain awake for sensorimotor evaluation of block. If the window period after surgery but before anesthesia-reversal is employed for administering SCBPB, it bestows the quadruple advantage of being painless, not augmenting surgical bleed, longer post-operative analgesia and reduced opioid-related side effects. The problem spot is assessing SCBPB-efficacy under general anesthesia. Methods: This prospective, single-centric, observational cohort study included 30 patients undergoing upper limb orthopaedic oncosurgery under general anesthesia. Perfusion index (PI) was assessed using two separate units of Radical-7™ finger pulse co-oximetry devices simultaneously in both the upper limbs and PI ratios calculated. Skin temperature was noted. Results: After successful block, PI values in blocked limb suddenly increased after 5 min, progressively increasing for next 10 min, whereas PI failed to increase further above that attained post anaesthetic-induction in unblocked limb. PI values in the blocked limb were 4.32, 4.49, 4.95, 7.25, 7.71, 7.90, 7.94, 7.89, and 7.93 at 0, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 15 min post block-institution at reversal and 2 min, 5 min post-reversal, respectively. PI ratios at 2, 3, 5, 10, and 15 min post block-administration in the blocked limb, taking PI at local anaesthetic injection as denominator were 1.04, 1.15, 1.67, 1.78, and 1.83, respectively. Correlation between PI and skin temperature in the blocked limb gave a repeated measures correlation coefficient of 0.79. Conclusion: Monitoring trends in PI and PI-ratio in the blocked limb is a quantitative, non-invasive, inexpensive, simple, effective technique to monitor SCBPB-onset in anaesthetised patients.

Cancer in corona times.

Humanity is witnessing an unprecedented tsunami of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Till date, India houses 10,453 confirmed COVID-19 patients with a death toll of 358 nationwide and the number is steadily rising with each passing day. The capital city of Delhi, harbouring 1510 patients, has the dubious distinction of being the second largest hotspot for COVID positive patients in India, second only to the state of Maharashtra. Being immuno-compromised, cancer patients are first more susceptible to catch this virus and secondly may witness a more devastating course. Having cancer is a bigger risk factor for contracting COVID-19 than even old age. "Death due to untreated cancer is a much bigger reality than death due to COVID-19," is one perspective that advocates continuation of cancer therapy in corona times albeit by converting cancer hospitals into virtual corona-free fortresses with several tiers of barriers against corona. The immediate, short and long term implications of the corona pandemic and a nationwide lockdown to curtail it, on cancer patients and their caregivers is discussed at length here tempered with experience from the largest tertiary care oncology setup of Northern India. Rigorous literature review based on Medline, Google scholar, Embase, Cochrane and Scopus database search was utilized.

Goal-directed fluid therapy using transoesophageal echocardiographic inferior venacaval index in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction undergoing major cytoreductive surgery: A clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aims to trans oesophageal echo cardiographically (TOE) measure inferior venacava diameter (IVCD) during inspiration and expiration in poor left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) patients undergoing cytoreductive oncosurgery, to ascertain if any correlation exists between, caval index (DeltaIVCD), and stroke volume variation (SVV), and to compare DeltaIVCD-guided versus SVV-guided fluid therapy. METHODS: In this prospective, parallel group, interventional study, seventy American Society of Anesthesiologists-III patients, aged 30-75 years, weighing 40-90 kg, with LVEF ≤40% undergoing cytoreductive surgery were included and randomised to group-D (DeltaIVCD-guided fluid therapy) and group-S (SVV-guided fluid therapy). Patients with oesophageal lesions were excluded. After standard endotracheal anaesthesia, arterial and internal jugular vein catheters were placed. A TOE probe was inserted in the interventional group-D. Quantification of IVCD respiratory variations was done. Heart rate (HR), arterial oxygen saturation (SPO2), mean arterial pressure, end tidal carbondioxide (EtCO2), central venous pressure, SVV, IVCD, and urine output (UO) were recorded every 30 min. Post-operative arterial blood gas analysis, lung-ultrasound, chest-radiograph, and serum creatinine were done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Pearson's correlation coefficient as measure of strength of linear relationship, calculation of regression equation, and unpaired t-test for normally distributed continuous variables were used. RESULTS: A positive correlation between DeltaIVCD and SVV (r = 0.751) was observed. A regression equation was obtained for SVV (SVV = [0.317 × DeltaIVCD] + 5.877). Serum lactate, estimated glomerular filtration rate, HR, and UO were within normal limits in group-D. There was no pulmonary oedema. CONCLUSION: DeltaIVCD-guided intravenous fluid therapy is valuable in low LVEF patients where tight fluid control is essential and any fluid overload may precipitate cardiac failure.

Perioperative anaesthetic concerns in transgender patients: Indian perspective.

Medical care of transgender patients is not only legally bound but also ethically required. Globally, 0.5%-0.9% of the adult population exhibits a gender different from their birth sex, but there is a dearth of transgender-friendly hospitals stemming from ignorance to disdain for this marginalised community. With gradually increasing acceptance of the transgender patients in the society, healthcare professionals must gear up to deal with issues specific and unique to this group of population. These concerns remain important to understand for an optimal perioperative care. The medical concerns transcend international boundaries, whereas legal, social, economic and psychological concerns vary from place to place. There is a need for modification of curriculum and training for healthcare personnel to foster sensitivity and empathy in patient dealing, to allow for an unbiased optimal healthcare. Such patients require a thorough assessment in a comfortable environment considering their specific needs. A plan for perioperative care needs to be done and discussed with the patient and the perioperative care team as well. There is scarce literature with regard to perioperative care in the transgender patients and hence requires more research.

Society of Onco-Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care consensus guidelines for perioperative management of patients for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC).

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) for primary peritoneal malignancies or peritoneal spread of malignant neoplasm is being done at many centres worldwide. Perioperative management is challenging with varied haemodynamic and temperature instabilities, and the literature is scarce in many aspects of its perioperative management. There is a need to have coalition of the existing evidence and experts' consensus opinion for better perioperative management. The purpose of this consensus practice guideline is to provide consensus for best practice pattern based on the best available evidence by the expert committee of the Society of Onco-Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care comprising perioperative physicians for better perioperative management of patients of CRS-HIPEC.

Robotic hysterectomy in Trendelenburg position in a severely anaemic JKa alloimmunised patient with impending high-output cardiac failure: An anaesthetic challenge.

Kidd blood group alloimmunisation, though extremely rare, may produce considerable morbidity, and even mortality. Severe anaemia and impending high-output cardiac failure requiring blood transfusion should be weighed against the risk of severe transfusion reactions even with fully cross-matched blood. Kidd antibodies are a common cause of delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) since they have a tendency remain undetectable in plasma. A low -grade DHTR (second hit) was grossly amplified by a second DHTR (third hit) superimposed on it in our patient leading to severe haemolysis with serum bilirubin reaching 68 mg%. Indirect antiglobulin test (indirect Coombs reaction) should ideally be performed in all patients (scheduled for major surgery requiring blood transfusion) who have experienced a previous pregnancy or blood transfusion. Non-invasive continuous haemoglobin monitoring and non-invasive cardiac output monitoring can prove invaluable tools in management.

Cardiac output monitoring: A comparative prospective observational study of the conventional cardiac output monitor Vigileo™ and the new smartphone-based application Capstesia™.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Capstesia is a software designed for smartphones (AndroidTM/iOSTM) to estimate the cardiac output and other haemodynamic variables from the waveform obtained from an invasive arterial cannula. The technology has been validated by studies in simulated environmental conditions. We compared the cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume variation (SVV) obtained by conventional cardiac output monitor VigileoTM with CO and pulse pressure variation (PPV) extracted from CapstesiaTM, under clinical conditions, intraoperatively. METHODS: In a Samsung smartphone in which the Capstesia software had been downloaded, the application was opened and a snapshot of the arterial waveform from the monitor screen of anaesthesia workstation was taken. The application instantaneously calculates the CO and PPV after inputting the heart rate and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure variables. These values were then compared with readings from the VigileoTM monitor. Data was collected from 53 patients and analysed. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty data pairs of CO and an equal number of SVV and PPV pairs were analysed. Cardiac index by Capstesia (CIcap) was found to have a positive correlation with cardiac index by Vigileo (CIvig) using the intraclass correlation for raters, the strength of correlation being 0.757. Upper and lower 95% confidence limits were 1.43 l/min/m2 and - 1.14 l/min/m2 (Bland Altman's plot). A positive correlation was found between SVV and PPV using the Pearson's correlation (r = 0.732). CONCLUSION: CapstesiaTM is a reliable and feasible alternative to VigileoTM for intraoperative CO monitoring in oncosurgical patients.

Anesthesia for minimally invasive chest wall reconstructive surgeries: Our experience and review of literature.

Minimal access procedures have revolutionized the field of surgery and opened newer challenges for the anesthesiologists. Pectus carinatum or pigeon chest is an uncommon chest wall deformity characterized by a protruding breast bone (sternum) and ribs caused by an overgrowth of the costal cartilages. It can cause a multitude of problems, including severe pain from an intercostal neuropathy, respiratory dysfunction, and psychologic issues from the cosmetic disfigurement. Pulmonary function indices, namely, forced expiratory volume over 1 s, forced vital capacity, vital capacity, and total lung capacity are markedly compromised in pectus excavatum. Earlier, open surgical correction in the form of the Ravitch procedure was followed. Currently, in the era of minimally invasive surgery, Nuss technique (pectus bar procedure) is a promising step in chest wall reconstructive surgery for pectus excavatum. Reverse Nuss is a corrective, minimally invasive surgery for pectus carinatum chest deformity. A tailor-made anesthetic technique for this new procedure has been described here based on the authors' personal experience and thorough review of literature based on Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases search.

Anaesthesia for robotic thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer and review of literature.

Robotic thyroidectomy (RT) is a new gasless, scarless technique which utilises the da Vinci™ surgical robot to excise thyroid tumours. Anaesthetic management must be modified according to the patient position and robotic surgery equipment. Anaesthesiologists need to be geared up to face the new challenges posed by advancements in surgical techniques in order to maintain patient safety. Another vital aspect of this surgery is documenting possible recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, for which a C-Mac D-Blade™ video laryngoscope serves as a valuable tool. Post-operative pain management in RT also merits special attention.

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Standard Mcintosh Laryngoscope and the C-Mac D blade Video laryngoscope™ for Double Lumen Tube Insertion for One Lung Ventilation in Onco surgical Patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several devices enabling double-lumen tube (DLT) placement for thoracic surgeries are available, but there are no studies for D-blade video laryngoscope-guided DLT insertion. We compared the CMac D-blade videolaryngoscope™ and the Macintosh laryngoscope for DLT endobronchial intubation using parameters of time and attempts required for intubation, glottic view, incidence of complications and haemodynamic changes. METHODS: Prospective, parallel group, randomised controlled clinical trial where sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II patients aged 18-80 years scheduled for thoracic surgeries entailing DLT placement were randomly allocated in two groups based on the laryngoscopic device used for endobronchial intubation. Data were subjected to statistical analysis SPSS (version 17), the paired and Student's t-test for equality of means. Nominal categorical data between the groups were compared using Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. P ˂ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Time required for intubation was comparable (37.41 ± 18.80 s in Group-M and 32.27 ± 11.13 s in Group-D). Number of attempts and incidence of complications (trauma, DLT cuff rupture, oesophageal intubation) was greater in the Macintosh group, except malpositioning into the wrong bronchus (easily rectified fibre-optic bronchoscopically), which was greater with the D-blade. Greater haemodynamic changes were observed during Macintosh laryngoscopy. CONCLUSION: D-blade videolaryngoscope™ is a useful alternative to the standard Macintosh laryngoscope for routine DLT insertion.

Acoustic puncture assist device versus loss of resistance technique for epidural space identification.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The conventional techniques of epidural space (EDS) identification based on loss of resistance (LOR) have a higher chance of complications, patchy analgesia and epidural failure, which can be minimised by objective confirmation of space before catheter placement. Acoustic puncture assist device (APAD) technique objectively confirms EDS, thus enhancing success, with lesser complications. This study was planned with the objective to evaluate the APAD technique and compare it to LOR technique for EDS identification and its correlation with ultrasound guided EDS depth. METHODS: In this prospective study, the lumbar vertebral spaces were scanned by the ultrasound for measuring depth of the EDS and later correlated with procedural depth measured by either of the technique (APAD or LOR). The data were subjected to descriptive statistics; the concordance correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis with 95% confidence limits. RESULTS: Acoustic dip in pitch and descent in pressure tracing on EDS localisation was observed among the patients of APAD group. Analysis of concordance correlation between the ultrasonography (USG) depth and APAD or LOR depth was significant (r ≥ 0.97 in both groups). Bland-Altman analysis revealed a mean difference of 0.171cm in group APAD and 0.154 cm in group LOR. The 95% limits of agreement for the difference between the two measurements were - 0.569 and 0.226 cm in APAD and - 0.530 to 0.222 cm in LOR group. CONCLUSION: We found APAD to be a precise tool for objective localisation of the EDS, co-relating well with the pre-procedural USG depth of EDS.

Noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring via optic nerve sheath diameter for robotic surgery in steep Trendelenburg position.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to steep Trendelenburg (ST) position causing neurological deterioration, decreased regional cerebral oxygen saturation and postoperative visual loss after robotic urological and gynecological surgeries led us to consider a simple technique of ICP monitoring. Ours is one of the first instances reported of quantitative noninvasive measurement of increase in ICP with ST position by serial measurement of binocular optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in patients undergoing robot assisted urological and gynecological oncosurgery. We tested whether ONSD values rose to above the upper limits of normal and for what length of time they remained elevated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, randomized, interventional, parallel group, active control study conducted on 252 American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II patients. ONSD was measured using 7.5 MHz linear ultrasound probe in supine and Trendelenburg positions. STATISTICS: Student's t-test to compare the inter-group mean ONSD and the repetitive t-test for intra-group analysis. RESULT: Comparison of the mean ONSD values of both groups yielded a 2-tailed significance P <0.01 at all compared time points intra- and post-operatively. In Group-O (open surgery; supine position), the baseline mean bilateral ONSD was 4.36 mm, which did not show any statistically significant change throughout open surgery and postoperative period. On de-docking the robot, 6.2 mm was the mean ONSD value in Group-R (robotic group) while 4.3 mm was the corresponding value in control Group-O. CONCLUSION: ONSD evaluation is a simple, quick, safe, readily available, reliable, cost effective, noninvasive, potential standard of care for screening and monitoring of patients undergoing robotic surgery in ST position.