The Effect of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Shape on Post-extubation Sore Throat in Critically Ill Patients in a Rural Tertiary Care Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Patients admitted to the critical care unit often require extended periods of mechanical ventilation. After extubation, patients often report discomfort in their throats, coughing, and hoarseness of voice. These symptoms have been linked to the shape of the cuff on the endotracheal tube and are described in terms of the surface area of the cuff in contact with the trachea. METHODS: During this pilot study, 160 adults receiving intensive primary care were randomly assigned to one of two groups (Gathering A or Gathering B; 80 patients each). Intubated patients were separated into two groups: Group C consisted of those who wore a looser, barrel-shaped sleeve, and Group T consisted of those who wore a more restrictive sleeve. The severity of post-extubation side effects was assessed, including sore throat, dry voice, and hack, and the occurrence of these symptoms was also documented. RESULT: Neither the number of intubation attempts nor the experience level of the residents who performed them differed significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05). A smaller percentage of patients in Gathering T experienced sore throats in the first, 12th, and 24th hours after extubation compared to patients in Group C at these same time points (p = 0.05). With time passing, fewer people in Group C and Group T experienced hoarseness of voice after extubation. There is a declining trend in the incidence of cough post-extubation in Group T, as compared to an initial increase in the trend for cough post-extubation with a gradual decline as time progressed in Group C. CONCLUSION: There is an overall decrease in the incidence of post-extubation emergence phenomena with tapered shape cuffed endotracheal tubes when compared with conventional cylindrical type cuffed endotracheal tubes.

Assessment of Job Satisfaction and Quality of Life among Practicing Indian Anesthesiologists.

INTRODUCTION: Anesthesiologists are exposed to extreme level of stress from beginning of career. With evolution of super-specialty branches, level of stress faced has also raised. Prolonged working hours, poor hospital facilities and dependencies on surgeon are main contributing factors. Stress and unsatisfactory remuneration may lead to decrease in job satisfaction. One should have a good quality of life, but high level of stress may itself compromise quality of life. This study aims at assessment of stress, quality of life spent, job satisfaction, and health issues. AIM: The aim is to study stress level, job satisfaction, and quality of life of practicing Indian anesthesiologists. SETTING AND DESIGN: This was an online survey, descriptive study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An online survey consisting of 21 questions was sent to Indian anesthesiologists by E-mail using SurveyMonkey platform. The responses were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 1219 anesthesiologists, 81% were satisfied being anesthesiologist, but 58% are unsatisfied with remuneration. More than one role was played by 47.7% of anesthesiologists. Nearly 83% of anesthesiologists agreed that the stress is highest among anesthesiologist compared to other medical professionals. Stress does reduce with the presence of another anesthesiologist while managing cases. Most anesthesiologists practiced various stress reduction methods of which spending time with the family was most popular method. CONCLUSION: This study divulges working pattern, job satisfaction, level of stress faced, methods to alleviate stress, and quality of life of anesthesiologists in India. A balanced family and professional life with proper utilization of leisure will reduce the stress.

Anesthesiologist in cardiac catheterization laboratory; the roles and goals!! A postgraduate educational review [corrected].

It is not uncommon to see in developing and underdeveloped countries, where the anesthesiologist who is untrained in cardiac specialty takes care of cardiac catheterization centers. The service in cardiac catheterization laboratories (CCL) in developed countries and some of the developing countries is mainly provided by the cardiac anesthesiologists. The scenario is not same in some part of developing countries or in underdeveloped countries which are mainly due to increase in number of CCL (catheterization laboratory) when compared to the number of cardiac anesthesiologists working outside the operation theater. It is also important for training the postgraduate in this field as to make them capable and competitive in managing such cases during emergency situation as it may save the life of a patient. Many a times, CCL is built as per the need of cardiologist ignoring the basic needs of cardiac anesthesiologist. It is important to note that anesthesiologist should be competent enough to provide complete, integrated anesthetic care outside the operation theater with available resources. It is challenging for the anesthesiologist to provide sedation or general anesthesia in such critical area where he/she will be dealing with life-threatening situations. In the modern era, the interventional techniques are advancing and treating complex heart diseases is more often. Days are not far where the CCL procedures may reduce the requirement of major surgeries. A careful and dedicated approach by the anesthesiologist with thorough knowledge and skills decreases morbidity and mortality rate. This article helps both cardiac and noncardiac anesthesiologists to improve their knowledge and to approach the patient systematically.

The Effectiveness of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine on Perioperative Hemodynamics, Analgesic Requirement, and Side Effects Profile in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery Under General Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: There is an upward surge in the use of laparoscopic surgeries due to various advantages when compared to open surgeries. Major advantages are, due to small incisions which are cosmetically acceptable and most of them are now daycare procedures. Problem of economic burden and hospital bed occupancy has been overcome with laparoscopic surgeries. All these advantages are not free from disadvantages, as hemodynamic changes such as hypertension; tachycardia and other surgical-related complications are commonly observed intraoperatively. Dexmedetomidine is one of the α2 agonist drugs which acts at both supraspinal and spinal level and modulate the transmission of nociceptive signals in the central nervous system. The basic effect of dexmedetomidine on the cardiovascular system is to decrease the heart rate and systemic vascular resistance with additional feature of opioid sparing effect. This drug has become an ideal adjuvant during general anesthesia, especially when stress is expected. Hence, the drug was studied in laparoscopic surgeries. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (a) To study the effect of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamic parameters during perioperative period in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. (b) To study the postoperative sedation score and analgesic requirement. (c) To study the side effect profile of dexmedetomidine. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Randomized double blind controlled trial. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After obtaining the Institutional Ethical Clearance, the study was conducted. Forty patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists Class I and II were enrolled in this randomized study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups; group normal saline (NS) and group dexmedetomidine. Patient received either NS or dexmedetomidine in group NS and group dexmedetomidine, respectively, depending upon the allocation. The infusion rate was adjusted according to; loading dose (1 µg/kg) over 10 min and maintenance dose (0.5 µg/kg/h) and perioperative hemodynamics was recorded. Routine general anesthesia was administered in all the patients with conventional technique without deviating from institutional protocols. Postoperatively, Rasmsay sedation score, time taken for request of first analgesic dose, and side effects if any were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The categorical factors are represented by the number and frequency (%) of cases. The continuous variables are represented by measures of central frequency and standard deviation. The statistical analysis was done by using unpaired t-test and Chi-square. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Significant hemodynamic changes are observed in NS group during laryngoscopy, intubation, during pneumoperitoneum formation, and during extubation. Hemodynamic stress response in dexmedetomidine group was significantly attenuated. Analgesic requirement during postoperative 24 h were much less in dexmedetomidine group when compared to NS group. No significant side effects were noted except for bradycardia; which was observed in two cases of dexmedetomidine group. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine infusion in the dose of 1 µg/kg body weight as bolus over 10 min and 0.5 µg/kg/h intraoperatively as maintenance dose controlled the hemodynamic stress response in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Use of dexmedetomidine extends the pain free period postoperatively and thereby reducing total analgesic requirement. Thus, dexmedetomidine can be utilized as an ideal anesthetic adjuvant during laparoscopic surgeries.

Dexmedetomidine with low-dose ketamine for cataract surgery under peribulbar block in a patient with Huntington's chorea.

Huntington's chorea (HC) is a rare hereditary disorder of the nervous system. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder and is characterized by progressive chorea, dementia, and psychiatric disturbances. There are only a few case reports regarding the anesthetic management of a patient with HC and the best anesthetic technique is yet to be established for those patients which are at higher risk of perioperative complications. We report the anesthetic management of a 64-year-old patient with HC admitted for cataract surgery.

Improved prophylaxis of postoperative nausea vomiting: Palonosetron a novel antiemetic.

Many anti-emetics are used in clinical practice. Palonosetron hydrochloride is one of them. It is a novel, centrally acting antiemetic, and anti-nausea agent. This drug is an antagonist of serotonin receptor subtype 3 (5-HT3). This drug has longer duration of action which makes it useful in the prevention and treatment of acute and delayed onset of nausea and vomiting. This drug was initially used for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. Federal drug agency (FDA) has approved it for prevention and treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting. The literature search for this article was done using Google scholar and Pubmed using the terms "Palonosetron," "longer duration of action," "nausea," "vomiting," and "postoperative".

Anesthetic management of a pregnant patient with pseudo-pancreatic cyst for cysto-gastrostomy.

Non-obstetric diseases during pregnancy are not uncommon. The presence of systemic disease may further insult the pregnancy leading to alteration in the normal function of other system. Hence, it is important to treat the disease depending upon the severity and type of urgency. Several systemic diseases in pregnancy and management have been reported earlier but it is necessary to report a rare pathology, treatment option and its anesthetic management. We report anesthetic management of a rare case of pseudo pancreatic cyst in a pregnant lady operated for cysto-gastrostomy and also highlighting the recent guidelines for non-obstetric surgery in pregnancy.

Anesthetic management of a patient with Holt-Oram syndrome undergoing right radial head excision.

Holt-Oram syndrome also known as heart and hand syndrome, first reported in 1960. It is a rare, inherited, an autosomal dominant disorder with mutation in TBX5. As the name suggests, the feature involves skeletal abnormality mainly involving upper limb, that is, upper-extremity malformations involving radial, thenar, or carpal bones; congenital heart diseases like, atrial-septal defect and ventricular septal defect and conduction problems. This syndrome may also involve other part of skeletal structure. We hereby report a case of a patient who was suffering from this syndrome scheduled for right radial head excision.

Anesthetic management of carotid body tumor excision: A case report and brief review.

Carotid body tumor (CBT) is a rare tumor, which arises at bifurcation of carotid artery from chemoreceptor cells. These cells sense the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide from the blood. Hence, carotid body plays an important role in the control of ventilation during hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis. The tumor arising from these cells is benign and has tendency to turn out malignant. This tumor is found in persons who live at high altitudes. Removal of tumor poses several anesthetic challenges and perioperative morbidity or mortality. We report successful anesthetic management of CBT excision.

Tapentadol hydrochloride: A novel analgesic.

Tapentadol is a novel, centrally acting analgesic with dual mechanism of action, combining mu-opioid receptor agonism with noradrenaline reuptake inhibition in the same molecule. It has an improved side effect profile when compared to opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The dual mechanism of action makes Tapentadol a useful analgesic to treat acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain.