Comparison of conventional needle holding technique and pen holding method of needle holding for real-time ultrasound-guided internal jugular venous cannulation - A randomised parallel-group study.

Background and Aims: Ultrasound-guided central venous (CV) cannulation is the standard of care for inserting CV catheter in the right internal jugular vein (RIJV). However, mechanical complications can still occur. The primary objective of this study was to compare the incidence of posterior vessel wall puncture (PVWP) using conventional needle holding technique with pen holding method of needle holding technique for IJV cannulation. Secondary objectives were comparison of other mechanical complications, access time and ease of the procedure. Methods: This prospective, randomised parallel-group study included 90 patients. Patients requiring ultrasound-guided RIJV cannulation under general anaesthesia were randomised into two groups P (n = 45) and C (n = 45). In group C, the RIJV was cannulated using the conventional needle holding technique. In group P, the pen holding method of needle holding technique was used. Incidence of PVWP, complications (arterial puncture, haematoma) number of attempts for successful cannulation, time to insertion of guidewire and performer's ease were compared. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 24.0). A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In our study, there was no significant difference in incidence of PVWP and complications between the two groups. Number of attempts and time for successful guidewire insertion were comparable. Ease of the procedure was scored a median of 10 in both the groups. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the incidence of PVWP between the two techniques in this study, necessitating further evaluation of this novel technique.

Comparison of erector spinae plane block and local anaesthetic infiltration of the incision site for postoperative analgesia in percutaneous nephrolithotomy - A randomised parallel-group study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been found effective in providing postoperative analgesia following a myriad of surgeries. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasonography (USG) guided erector spinae plane block to provide postoperative analgesia following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). METHODS: This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomised parallel-group study conducted in patients undergoing PCNL. Patients in Group C (n = 33) received subcutaneous infiltration of 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine at the incision site and Group B (n = 33) received USG guided ESPB with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine postoperatively. Numeric rating scale (NRS) scores were assessed at intervals of 30 min, 60 min, then hourly for six h, followed by four-hourly up to 24 h. The primary objective of the study was to compare postoperative pain relief using the NRS score between the two groups. Secondary objectives were to compare the analgesic requirement and to assess the incidence of complications. Normally distributed data were expressed as mean and standard deviation and analysed using Student's t-test. Data following non-normal distribution were expressed as median and interquartile range and analysed using Mann- Whitney U-test. For categorical data, the Chi-square test was used. RESULTS: NRS scores were lower in Group B than Group C. There was significant prolongation in time for first analgesia in Group B (12 h) compared to Group C (30 min). There was a significant reduction in total tramadol consumption at 24 h postoperatively in the ESPB group. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided ESPB is an efficacious analgesic technique with an opioid-sparing effect following PCNL.

Regional anaesthesia practices in India: A nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are no surveys documenting the existing regional anaesthesia (RA) practices in our country. This nationwide survey aims to record the existing RA practices, identify any lacunae that might exist and project the future direction of evolution. METHODS: This online survey consisting of 31 questions was sent to all members of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists and addressed participants' demographic features, central neuraxial block and peripheral nerve block practices, drug selection, RA training and safety measures. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24.0. All categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: A total of 2141 responses were received, with participants distributed across the country. Forty-two per cent of the respondents reported that more than 60% of surgeries were performed under RA. Most of the participants use 'traditional' test dose for epidural space confirmation. Fifty participants (2.4%) use ultrasound for neuraxial space identification. Twenty per cent of the participants use a checklist for monitoring post-operative epidural analgesia. 6.7% have undergone specialised training in RA. Around 3.5% of the respondents have performed a wrong-side block. 31.4% of the respondents store intralipid in the operating room. CONCLUSION: The current survey highlights the prevailing practices, various deficiencies in monitoring and the need for RA training programmes. The data accrued can serve as a baseline for future comparison.

Microcuff Pediatric Endotracheal Tubes: Evaluation of Cuff Sealing Pressure, Fiber-optic Assessment of Tube Tip, and Cuff Position by Ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Use of uncuffed tubes causes lots of morbidity, and there is a surge in the use of microcuff pediatric endotracheal tubes. These tubes are not evaluated in the Indian population. AIMS: The study aimed to evaluate the pediatric microcuff endotracheal tubes in terms of cuff sealing pressure, fiber-optic assessment of tube tip, and cuff position to assess postextubation airway morbidity. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Study design involves follow-up analytical study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four children in the age group of 2-12 years were studied. Patients with leak pressure >20 cm H2O were exchanged with smaller size tube and excluded. Cuff pressure, fiber-optic assessment of tube tip to carina distance in neutral and flexion, ultrasound assessment of cuff position, and postextubation airway morbidity were assessed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Parameters expressed as the median with the interquartile range. Nonparametric data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: The tracheal leak pressure was <20 cm H2O (median 14.5 cm H2O) in 30 children. Tube exchange was required in four patients. A complete seal was achieved in 30 patients with cuff pressures ranging from 6 to 8.25 cm of H2O (median 8 cm of H2O). The median caudal displacement is 0.8 cm (0.47-1.22 cm) with flexion. There was no airway-related morbidity in any of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The microcuff pediatric endotracheal tubes when used according to the age-based formula had a higher tube exchange rate in our study population. However, in children in whom the tube size was appropriate, the tubes provided good sealing without increasing airway morbidity. Further studies with a larger sample size might be required to confirm the findings.

Influence of anaesthetic technique on maternal and foetal outcome in category 1 caesarean sections - A prospective single-centre observational study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In category 1 caesarean section (CS), there is limited evidence regarding superior anaesthetic technique. Hence, this study was designed to study the influence of anaesthetic technique on the maternal and foetal outcome. METHODS: Patient characteristics, indication for CS, decision-to-delivery interval (DDI), uterine incision-to-delivery time (UIDT), cord blood pH, Apgar scores and neonatal and maternal outcome were noted. Composite endpoint (Apgar score <7, umbilical cord blood pH <7.2, neonatal intensive care unit admission or death) was created for adverse neonatal outcome. Logistic regression was done to assess the influence of confounding factors on the occurrence of adverse neonatal outcome. RESULTS: Of 123 patients who underwent category 1 cesarean section, 114 patients were included for analysis. The DDI and UIDT were comparable. One and 5-min Apgar scores were significantly lower in the group general anaesthesia (GA) than in the group spinal anaesthesia (SA). The umbilical cord blood pH was comparable (7.21 ± 0.15 vs 7.25 ± 0.11 in groups GA and SA, respectively). Neonatal intensive care admission and maternal outcome were comparable in both the groups. Subgroup analysis of patients with foetal heart rate of less than 100 showed that group GA had significantly lower 1-min Apgar scores and umbilical cord blood pH and significantly more neonatal admission and mortality. Binominal logistic regression showed that group GA (odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence intervals 1.27-6.41) and gestational age were independently associated with adverse neonatal outcome. CONCLUSION: GA for category 1 CS was associated with increased incidence of adverse neonatal outcome.

Competence of Intensivists in Focused Transthoracic Echocardiography in Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: Focused transthoracic echocardiography (fTTE) in critical care can be used to assess patient's volume status, ventricular contractility, right ventricle chamber size, and valvular abnormalities. The objective of the study was to assess the competency of intensivists in performing fTTE in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients after a brief training course by cardiologist using a specific ECHO protocol. METHODS: One hundred and four patients in ICU were recruited for this prospective observational study over a period of 12 months. Intensivists were trained for 60 h (2 h/day for 30 days). Intensivists performed fTTE in 82 ICU patients using a specific ECHO protocol developed in consensus with cardiologists. Each patient was assessed by an intensivist and two blinded cardiologists. At the end of the study period, the competency of intensivists was compared with two cardiologists and analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: There were excellent agreement between intensivists and cardiologists in terms of measuring ejection fraction (ICC estimate was 0.973-0.987), valvular function (ICC estimate for mitral valve was 0.940-0.972; ICC estimate for aortic valve was 0.872-0.940), and ICC estimate for pulmonary hypertension was 0.929-0.967. Good reliability has been found for the assessment of volume status with inferior vena cava diameter (ICC estimate for assessing hypovolemia was 0.790-0.902). CONCLUSION: Intensivists with requisite training in TTE were able to perform focused echocardiography with comparable accuracy to that of cardiologists. Further studies are required to elucidate the therapeutic implications of fTTE performed by the intensivists.

Oral ketamine and dexmedetomidine in adults' burns wound dressing--A randomized double blind cross over study.

Study was designed to compare analgesic efficacy and side effects of oral dexmedetomidine and ketamine in adults for burn wound dressing. Sixty healthy adults with thermal burns with burn area (20-50%) were randomly assigned into 2 groups. In Group K 5mg/kg ketamine and in Group D 4 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine was given orally. Patients crossed over to the other group the following day. Visual analogue score, sedation score, haemodynamic parameters were recorded from 30min after drug administration to 2h after procedure. Patients' preference was also recorded. Mean VAS score was significantly reduced from baseline in both the groups at all time points (P<0.05). Pain relief in Group K (overall mean VAS 2.6±0.6cm) was significantly better when compared to Group D (overall mean VAS 3.8±0.8cm). Patients in group K were significantly more sedated (median 3) when compared to group D (median 2), P<0.05. Delirium and excessive salivation were significant complications observed with ketamine. More patients preferred ketamine (63.3%) than dexmedetomidine (36.7%), P<0.05. Oral ketamine and dexmedetomidine produced significant pain relief during burns wound dressing. Oral ketamine produced significantly better pain relief than dexmedetomidine but was associated with delirium and excessive salivation.