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Background The clinical utility of adjuvants with local anesthesia produces an excellent nerve block with prolonged duration and faster onset. Brachial plexus block is widely used nowadays in patients undergoing upper limb surgery There are several approaches to achieve brachial plexus block such as interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and axillary. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of dexamethasone to dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to bupivacaine in patients undergoing ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus (USG-ICBP) block. Methods A randomized, prospective, double-blind study was undertaken on the patients posted for upper limb surgeries under ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block. Sixty patients with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classes I and II were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A received 25 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine and 1.5 mL (6 mg) of dexamethasone, and group B received 25 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.75 mL (75 mcg) of dexmedetomidine along with 0.75 mL of 0.9% normal saline (NS). Student's t test or Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results The onset of sensory block was significantly faster in the patients in group B as compared to the patients in group A. In terms of the duration of the block, sensory and motor blocks were maintained for a significantly longer duration in the group A patients as compared to those in group B. Moreover, the duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly longer-lasting in the group A patients. In terms of adverse effects, procedure-related complications such as the failure of the block and inadequate block were comparable across the groups. However, drug-related adverse effects were significantly more common in group B. Conclusion As compared to 75 mcg of dexmedetomidine, the addition of 6 mg of dexamethasone as adjuvant to 25 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine resulted in significantly longer-lasting sensory and motor blocks, postoperative analgesia, and a delayed time for first rescue analgesia without increasing undue adverse effects. Dexmedetomidine use is associated with more sedation as compared to dexamethasone., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Iyengar et al.)

Background: Prediction of outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients using chest computed tomography severity score (CTSS) may enable more effective clinical management and early, timely ICU admission. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the predictive accuracy of the CTSS for disease severity and mortality in severe COVID-19 subjects., Methods: The electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched to find eligible studies that investigated the impact of CTSS on disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients between 7 January 2020 and 15 June 2021. Two independent authors looked into the risk of bias using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool., Results: Seventeen studies involving 2788 patients reported the predictive value of CTSS for disease severity. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and summary area under the curve (sAUC) of CTSS were 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.90, I 2  =83), 0.86 (95% CI 0.76-0.92, I 2  =96) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.89-0.94), respectively. Six studies involving 1403 patients reported the predictive values of CTSS for COVID-19 mortality. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and sAUC of CTSS were 0.77 (95% CI 0.69-0.83, I 2  = 41), 0.79 (95% CI 0.72-0.85, I 2  = 88), and 0.84 (95% CI 0.81-0.87), respectively., Discussion: Early prediction of prognosis is needed to deliver the better care to patients and stratify them as soon as possible. Because different CTSS thresholds have been reported in various studies, clinicians are still determining whether CTSS thresholds should be used to define disease severity and predict prognosis., Conclusion: Early prediction of prognosis is needed to deliver optimal care and timely stratification of patients.  CTSS has strong discriminating power for the prediction of disease severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

A lipase/amylase (L/A) ratio of more than three may be a tool for differentiating alcoholic pancreatitis from non-alcoholic pancreatitis. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify published studies. A thorough data search of various databases was conducted using keywords. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 survey. Data were extracted under the following headings: country, sample size, baseline characteristics, specificity, and sensitivity of the L/A ratio. Studies were analyzed using a bivariate random-effects model, and the sensitivity and specificity of the L/A ratio were pooled separately. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were plotted using the hierarchical method. A total of nine studies with 1,825 patients were identified for inclusion. SROC showed estimates of the area under the curve to be 0.75 (confidence interval (CI) = 0.71-0.79). Forest plots for sensitivity and specificity showed pooled estimates of sensitivity to be 74% (95% CI = 62-83%) while that of specificity was 63% (95% CI = 47-77%). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was estimated to be 5 (95% CI = 3-9), the pooled positive likelihood ratio was estimated at 2.0, and the pooled negative likelihood ratio was estimated to be 0.41. We concluded that an L/A ratio of more than 3 has moderate accuracy for the diagnosis of alcoholic pancreatitis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Ekka et al.)

Background Previously many studies have found the use of anti-epileptic drugs such as pregabalin, carbamazepine, and gabapentin in pain management. In addition, levetiracetam (LEV), an effective anti-epileptic drug, has shown analgesic effects in animal models. We aimed to evaluate the effect of oral LEV as pre-emptive analgesia in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia and postoperative fentanyl requirements. Material and methods Forty-two patients of the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade I and II of either gender posted for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery were included in this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Patients were divided into two equal groups of 21 each to receive either tablet LEV 500 mg or a matching placebo tablet, given 1 hour before surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale (0-100 mm), where 0 meant no pain and 100, worst pain. In addition, patients received IV fentanyl as rescue analgesia during the first 24 hours of the postoperative period. Results Nineteen patients in the LEV group and 20 in the placebo group completed the study. Patients in the LEV group had significantly lower pain scores at all time intervals except 0 hours and reduced fentanyl consumption postoperatively in the first 24 hours (p<0.05). Side effects were comparable in both groups. Conclusion A single, preoperative dose of oral LEV 500 mg significantly decreases post-surgical pain and fentanyl demand as rescue analgesia in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Singh et al.)

Background: The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is quite high after laparoscopic surgeries. This study endeavors to compare the efficacy of the combination of palonosetron and dexamethasone with that of either drug alone in the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries., Methods: This randomized, parallel-group trial was done on ninety adults of American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I and II patients aged 18-60 years undergoing laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of thirty patients each. Group P ( n = 30) received palonosetron 0.075 mg intravenously (iv), Group D ( n = 30) received dexamethasone 8 mg iv and Group P + D ( n = 30) received palonosetron 0.075 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg iv. The primary outcome was incidence of PONV in 24 h, and the secondary outcome was a number of rescue antiemetics required. To compare the proportions in the groups, unpaired t -test, Mann-Whitney U -test, Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test was applied., Results: We found that the overall incidence of PONV was 46.7% in Group P, 50% in Group D, and 43.3% in Group P + D during the first 24 h. Rescue antiemetic was required in 27% of the patients in Group P and Group D compared to 23% of the patients in Group P + D and twice in 3% of the patients in Group P, 7% of the patients in Group D, and none in Group P + D which were not significant., Conclusions: The combination therapy of palonosetron plus dexamethasone did not significantly reduce the incidence of PONV when compared with either drug alone., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science.)

Background: Emergency authorization and approval were given for the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines. The efficacy reported after phase III trials were 70.4% and 78% for Covishield and Covaxin, respectively.In this study, we aim to analyze the risk factors, which were associated with mortality in critically ill COVID-19-vaccinated patients admitted into intensive care unit (ICU)., Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from April 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 across five centers in India. Patients who had received either one or two doses of any of the COVID vaccines and developed COVID-19 were included. The ICU mortality was a primary outcome., Results: A total of 174 patients with COVID-19 illness were included in the study. The mean age was 57 years standard deviation (SD 15). Acute physiology, age and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were 14 (8-24.5) and 6 (4-8), respectively. Multiple variable logistic regression showed patients who have received a single dose [odds ratio (OR): 2.89, confidence interval (CI): 1.18, 7.08], neutrophil:lymphocyte (NL) ratio (OR: 1.07, CI: 1.02,1.11), and SOFA score (OR: 1.18, CI: 1.03,1.36) were associated with higher mortality., Conclusion: The mortality in the vaccinated patients admitted to the ICU was 43.68% due to COVID illness. The mortality was lower in patients who had received two doses., How to Cite This Article: Havaldar AA, Prakash J, Kumar S, Sheshala K, Chennabasappa A, Thomas RR et al . Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19-vaccinated Patients Admitted to ICU: A Multicenter Cohort Study from India (PostCoVac Study-COVID Group). Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(11):1184-1191., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2022; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.)

Background We aim to determine the diagnostic accuracy of both serum and urinary human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Methods Electronic databases and search engines such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched systematically by two independent reviewers to retrieve articles published from inception to June 11, 2022. The diagnostic accuracy of serum and urinary HE4 was computed using the random-effects model in terms of pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). To explain any source of possible heterogeneity, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tools recommended by the Cochrane Library. Result and conclusion This meta-analysis included a total of 38 studies of serum HE4 involving 14,745 subjects and five studies for urinary HE4 involving 649 subjects. We observed acceptable pooled sensitivity, specificity, summary receiver operating characteristics (SROC), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) at 0.79 (95% CI: 0.75-0.82), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.87-0.95), 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.91), and 43 (95% CI: 25-72), respectively, for serum HE4 for discriminating ovarian cancer. For urine HE4, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, SROC, and DOR were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.64-0.90), 0.93 (95% CI: 0.83-0.98), 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91-0.95), and 55 (95% CI: 15-198), respectively. Therefore, HE4 is a promising biomarker with a high degree of specificity and acceptable sensitivity for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Registration number This meta-analysis was performed after the registration of the protocol in the PROSPERO database with registration number CRD42022324947., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Nalini et al.)

Background and Aims: Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has spread across the globe. For a country like India with limited resources and a high population, it is worth knowing how these patients were managed. This prospective study was aimed to evaluate the patient characteristics and risk factors associated with mortality., Methods: The study was conducted from 15 June 2020 to 31 December 2020 in four centres across India. Patients above 18 years of age admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were included. Details of oxygen therapy and ventilator characteristics were collected for seven days., Results: Of 667 patients included in the study, the average age was 57 (standard deviation (SD) = 15) years and 70.46% were male. The ICU mortality was 60%. Acute physiology, age and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score was 29.8 (SD = 6.1). Among various significant risk factors, the need for invasive ventilator support on day 1 [odds ratio (OR): 3.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.91-5.08)] and the development of arrhythmia [OR 3.85 CI (1.69,8.77) confidence interval (CI) (1.69, 8.77)] had higher odds of mortality. PF ratio [partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen] was 109.31 (77.79-187.26), maximum positive end-expiratory pressure was 10.29 (3.5) cmH 2 O, driving pressure was 18.22 (6.16) cmH 2 O, static compliance was 24.20 (8.57) ml/cmH 2 O and dynamic compliance was 17.55 (5.18) ml/cmH 2 O on day 1. Proning was used in 67 (22.41%) intubated patients and 44 (11.96%) awake patients., Conclusion: In this cohort of patients, ICU mortality was 60%. The reason for higher mortality could be the severity of illness as suggested by day 1 PF ratio and APACHE II score., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Indian Journal of Anaesthesia.)

Background and Aim:  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of epidural analgesia on relief of labor pain, progress, and outcome of labor in primigravid parturients to those who did not receive any analgesia., Methods: This was a hospital-based, quasi-experimental study conducted on 70 primigravid parturients at term with a single fetus in a cephalic presentation in active labor. Parturients who were willing to receive epidural analgesia formed group S (n=35) and parturients who refused epidural analgesia formed group C (n=35). The primary objective was to compare alleviation of pain measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score. Secondary objectives were to compare the duration of labor, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcome., Results: Pain intensity was significantly lower in group S compared to group C at all measured points of time (p<0.001). There was a quick fall in mean VAS score in group S from 7.94 to 3.86 within 20 min with the bolus dose, it further dropped to 1.03 after 3 h. Further, 88.6% of parturients in groups rated their pain relief as excellent and good satisfaction score. Prolongation of active phase of the first stage of labor (>6 h) was not significant (17.1 % in epidural group versus 5.7% in control group; p=0.259). However, prolongation of the second stage of labor (> 2h) was significant (18.2% in study group versus 0% in control group; p=0.024). The rate of cesarean section, instrumental vaginal delivery, and neonatal outcome was similar in both groups. No adverse effects were observed on maternal vitals, fetal heart rate and Apgar score at 5 min., Conclusion:  Epidural analgesia alleviated labor pain in all primigravid parturients who opted for it, without an increase in cesarean section and instrumental vaginal birth. Improved parturients' satisfaction with associated neonatal safety provides a positive birth experience. There was no effect on duration of active phase of the first stage of labor, but the duration of the second stage of labor was slightly prolonged., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Deepak et al.)

Background and aim A variety of medications have been studied to reduce the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. Dexmedetomidine has been used intravenously in many studies to reduce the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. In high-risk patients, this pressor response can increase morbidity and mortality. As dexmedetomidine has a good bioavailability via the nebulisation route, we formulated this study to evaluate the effect of nebulised dexmedetomidine on the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Methods This is a prospective, randomised controlled trial conducted on 100 patients with the American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I and II. The primary objective of the study was to see if nebulised dexmedetomidine at a dose of 1 microgram/kg could reduce the stress reaction to laryngoscopy and intubation. The secondary objective was to study the dose sparing effect of nebulised dexmedetomidine on the amount of propofol used during induction of general anaesthesia. The study population was randomly divided into two groups: group A (n = 50) included patients nebulised with dexmedetomidine 1 microgram/kg and group B (n = 50) included patients nebulised with 5 ml saline 30 minutes before induction of anaesthesia in a sitting position. Results The demographics were similar in both groups. Following laryngoscopy and intubation, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate showed a significant increase in the control group B as compared to the treatment group A. In group A, there was attenuation in SBP (one minute = 113.2 ± 14.503, P < 0.001; five minutes = 109.86 ± 8.342, P < 0.001; 10 minutes = 114.24 ± 7.797, P = 0.010), DBP (one minute = 73.72 ± 10.986, P = 0.011; five minutes = 71.62 ± 9.934, P = 0.005; 10 minutes = 76.1 ± 8.006, P = 0.009), MAP (one minute = 86.80 ± 11.86, P = 0.001; five minutes = 84.44 ± 8.97, P = 0.006; 10 minutes = 88.72 ± 7.44, P = 0.018), and heart rate (one minute = 83.34 ± 12.325, P = 0.001; five minutes = 81.56 ± 13.33, P = 0.003; 10 minutes = 80.16 ± 14.086, P = 0.013) following laryngoscopy and intubation. Induction dose of propofol was significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group (73 ± 19.509, P < 0.001). Conclusion Nebulised dexmedetomidine effectively blunts the hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation and also has a dose sparing effect on the induction dose of propofol., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Shrivastava et al.)