Comparison of unilateral spinal anaesthesia with ultrasound-guided combined sciatic and femoral nerve block in elective arthroscopic knee surgeries.

Background: Arthroscopic knee surgeries are commonly performed orthopaedic procedures, which can be done under unilateral spinal anaesthesia (USA) or ultrasound-guided combined sciatic and femoral nerve block (USFB). However, not many studies have compared both these techniques. Hence this study was undertaken to compare USA and USFB in arthroscopic knee surgeries in terms of time to readiness for discharge (TRD). Methods: Eighty patients were randomised into the USA (n = 40) and USFB groups (n = 40). They were administered either USA or USFB on the affected side. The TRD values were compared. Patients were considered fit for discharge after voiding urine, ambulation and obtaining a visual analogue scale (VAS) score of <3. The maximum time required for any of the three parameters was taken as the TRD for that particular patient. Results: The mean TRD was 595.41 ± 195.69 min in the USA group and 351.86 ± 129.51 min in the USFB group (p < 0.001). The median VAS scores for postoperative pain assessment were lower in the USFB group at 2, 4, 12 and 24 h (p < 0.05). The number of patients requiring rescue analgesia was lower in the USFB group at 6 and 12 h after surgery (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgeries under USFB have an advantage when it comes to TRD as these patients have comparatively better postoperative analgesia, less requirement of rescue analgesia, early voiding of urine and early ambulation.

Factors Affecting Time to Emergence From General Anesthesia Following Clipping of Ruptured Aneurysms: A Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Early emergence from anesthesia is valuable, especially among neurosurgical patients for postoperative neurological evaluation and appropriate interventions. However, the factors affecting the emergence in patients undergoing clipping of ruptured aneurysms have not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study on patients of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage with World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) Grades I to III, undergoing surgical clipping. All relevant preoperative and intraoperative details were collected and analyzed to assess the factors affecting emergence time. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients with a median age of 46 years were included in the study. The number of patients with Fisher Grades I, II, III, and IV was 6, 20, 25, and 16, respectively. The median time to emergence was 17 minutes (interquartile range 10-240 minutes). On univariate analysis, the factors that were found to have a significant relationship with time to emergence were preoperative Glasgow Coma Score (GCS; P = 0.02), WFNS grade (P = 0.005, temporary clipping time (P = 0.03), and the temperature at the end of surgery (P < 0.001) In the multivariate analysis using generalized linear model, preinduction GCS (P < 0.001), patient's temperature at the end of surgery (P < 0.001), and temporary clipping time (P = 0.01) had a significant impact on the emergence time, independent of age, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, Fisher grade, duration of anesthesia and of each other, with GCS and temperature having the maximum impact. ROC curve for temperature had a cutoff value at 35.3°C with an 83% probability of awakening beyond 15 minutes if the temperature decreased below 35.3°C. CONCLUSION: The preinduction GCS, the temperature of patients at the end of surgery, and the duration of temporary clipping have a significant independent impact on the time to emergence from neurosurgical anesthesia, in the order of the strength of the association.

Intravenous versus inhalational anesthesia trial for outcome following intracranial aneurysm surgery: A prospective randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: For maintenance of anesthesia for intracranial aneurysmal neck clipping, both intravenous and inhalational anesthetics are in vogue. We aimed to evaluate the superiority of one agent over the other for long-term neurological outcomes in these patients. METHODS: This prospective assessor-blind randomized study was conducted in 106 patients of 18-65 years of age with World Federation of Neurosurgeons Grade I-II of subarachnoid hemorrhage. After written informed consent, the patients were randomized into - intravenous group (Propofol) and inhalational group (Desflurane). The primary outcome was to study neurological outcome using Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at 3 months following discharge while secondary outcomes included intraoperative brain condition, intraoperative hemodynamics, duration of hospital stay, Modified Rankin Score (MRS) at discharge, MRS, and Barthel's index at 3 months following discharge and estimation of perioperative biomarkers of brain injury. RESULTS: The GOS at 3 months was 5 (5.00-5.00) in the propofol group and 5 (4.00-5.00) in the desflurane group (P = 0.24). Both the anesthetics were similar in terms of intraoperative hemodynamics, brain relaxation, duration of hospital stay, MRS at discharge and 3 months, and Barthel Index at 3 months (P > 0.05). The perioperative serum interleukin-6 and S100B were comparable among the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The long-term neurological outcome of good grade aneurysm patients undergoing craniotomy and clipping remains comparable with the use of either propofol or desflurane. The effect of the two anesthetic agents on the various clinical parameters and the biomarkers of brain injury is also similar.

Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter: Correlation With Intra-Ventricular Intracranial Measurements in Predicting Dysfunctional Intracranial Compliance.

Background Ultrasonographic (USG) measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been proposed as a non-invasive, bedside method to detect raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in various clinical settings. We aimed to correlate the ONSD obtained from ultrasonography with the gold standard, intraventricular ICP, and to find out the cut-off point which predicts ICP accurately at different levels. Methodology A prospective double-blind study was carried out by performing ocular ultrasounds in 30 adult patients with features of intracranial hypertension. The ONSD was measured by USG intraoperatively along with direct intraventricular pressure measurement. The ONSD was compared with the intraventricular ICP and correlations were derived. The optimum cut-off of ONSD to predict ICP > 20 mm Hg, 25 mm Hg, 30 mm Hg, and 35 mm Hg was sought. Results There was a significant correlation of ONSD with ICP (r = 0.532, p = 0.002). An ONSD threshold of 5.5 mm predicted ICP > 20 mm Hg with high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (75%) (area under receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve = 0.904, p=0.01). The optimum ONSD cut-off predicting ICP at values of 25 mm Hg, 30 mm Hg, and 35 mm Hg was 6.3 mm, 6.5 mm, and 6.7 mm, respectively. Conclusion Our study confirms the utility of optic nerve ultrasound in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with known or suspected intracranial hypertension. We recommend an ONSD cut-off of 5.5 mm for predicting ICP > 20 mm Hg.

Comparison of propofol and desflurane for postanaesthetic morbidity in patients undergoing surgery for aneurysmal SAH: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Surgery for aneurysmal clipping after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) poses a unique anaesthetic challenge. However, data on the influence of anaesthetic agents in these patients are lacking. The study aims to evaluate the superiority of propofol over desflurane for postanaesthetic morbidity in patients undergoing surgery following aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: Seventy World Federation of Neurosurgeons Grade I and II patients were randomized into propofol (n = 35) and desflurane groups (n = 35). Anaesthesia was maintained with propofol/fentanyl in propofol group and desflurane/fentanyl in the desflurane group. Jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjVO2) and brain relaxation were assessed intraoperatively. Time to eye opening, response to verbal commands, and extubation were noted from the time of discontinuing the anaesthetic agent. Duration of postoperative hospital stay and modified Rankin score (MRS) at discharge were subsequently compared. RESULTS: Median postoperative hospital stay was 9 (6, 14) days with use of propofol and 9 (7, 12) days in desflurane group (P = 0.671). 18 patients in the propofol group and 14 patients in the desflurane group had good outcome (modified Rankin score 0-1; P = 0.453). Both the anaesthetics were similar in terms of intraoperative haemodynamics, brain relaxation, time to eye opening, response to verbal commands, and extubation time (P > 0.05). Emergence hypertension was more in the desflurane group (P = 0.007). The intraoperative SjVO2 values were significantly higher in the desflurane group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Propofol and desflurane are comparable in terms of postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing aneurysm neck clipping following SAH.

Evaluation of the Effect of Aneurysmal Clipping on Electrocardiography and Echocardiographic Changes in Patients With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic changes that are subsequent to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (a-SAH) are commonly observed with a prevalence varying from 27% to 100% and 13% to 18%, respectively. There are sparse data in the literature about the pattern of ECG and echocardiographic changes in patients with SAH after clipping of the aneurysm. Hence, we observed the effect of aneurysmal clipping on ECG and echocardiographic changes during the first week after surgery, and the impact of these changes on outcome at the end of 1 year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational study was conducted in 100 consecutive patients with a-SAH undergoing clipping of ruptured aneurysm. ECG and echocardiographic changes were recorded preoperatively and every day after surgery until 7 days. Outcome was evaluated using the Glasgow outcome scale at the end of 1 year. RESULTS: Of 100 patients, 75 had ECG changes and 17 had echocardiographic changes preoperatively. The ECG changes observed were QTc prolongation, conduction defects, ST-wave and T-wave abnormalities, tachyarrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias. The echocardiography changes included global hypokinesia and regional wall motion abnormalities. Both echocardiographic and ECG changes showed significant recovery on the first postoperative day. Patients presenting with both echocardiographic and ECG changes were found to require higher ionotropic support to maintain the desired blood pressure, and were associated with poor outcome (Glasgow outcome scale, 1 to 2) at 1 year after surgery. There was no association of ECG and echocardiographic changes with mortality (both in-hospital or at 1 year). CONCLUSIONS: The ECG changes, such as QTc prolongation, bradycardia, conduction abnormality, and echocardiographic changes, recover on postoperative day-1, in most of the cases after clipping. Patients with combined ECG and echocardiographic changes tend to have poor neurological outcome at the end of 1 year.