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Pierre Robin syndrome (PRS) neonates are one of the most difficult cases to intubate even for an experienced paediatric anaesthesiologist. We describe a case of a PRS-related anatomical anomaly that hindered attempts to manage the airway and the final approach that made it possible to insert an endotracheal tube (ETT). We describe the novel use of a video ureteroscope (Olympus URF-V2) as an airway endoscope. A 7-day-old, 2-kg boy was referred to our tertiary care hospital with diagnosed PRS. He was planned for correction of the mandible with mandibular distraction osteogenesis under general anaesthesia. Fibreoptic scope (Olympus, Japan) revealed the epiglottis lying on the posterior pharynx, which could not be manoeuvred. Due to repeated attempts, the patient developed laryngospasm, and his pulse arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was reduced to 70%. Following jaw thrust and slight pulling of the tongue with Magill’s Forceps, a 150-cm long and 0.035-inch diameter atraumatic, Roadrunner® hydrophilic polyurethane-coated guidewire was introduced through the working channel of the video ureteroscope into the trachea under the vision (and a 3.5-mm ID ETT was railroaded over it and a definitive airway was established). A flexible fibreoptic ureteroscope may be useful in the management of a difficult airway and may become an important tool in the armoury of an anaesthesiologist. At our institute, which is a tertiary care centre, we are now training and utilising video-ureteroscope as an airway endoscope. To our knowledge, there is no documentary evidence of the use of a video ureteroscope for difficult airway management of a neonate.

Background: The maintenance of hemodynamic stability is of pivotal importance in aneurysm surgeries. While administering anesthesia in these patients, the fluctuations in blood pressure may directly affect transmural pressure, thereby precipitating rupture of aneurysm and various other associated complications. We aimed to compare the effects of ketofol with propofol alone when used as an induction and maintenance anesthetic agent during surgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms. Materials and Methods: Forty adult, good-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients posted for aneurysm neck clipping were included in the study. The patients were randomized into two groups. One group received a combination of ketamine and propofol (1:5 ratio) and the other group received propofol for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Intraoperative hemodynamic stability, intraventricular pressure, and quality of brain relaxation were studied in both the groups. Results: The patients were comparable with respect to demographic profile, Hunt and Hess grade, world federation of neurological surgeons (WFNS) grade, Fisher grade, duration of anesthesia, duration of surgery, optic nerve sheath diameter, and baseline hemoglobin. Intraoperative hemodynamics were better maintained in the ketofol group during induction, with only 15% of patients having >20% fall in mean arterial pressure (from baseline) intraoperatively, compared to 45% of patients receiving propofol alone (P = 0.038). The mean intraventricular pressure values in both the groups were in the normal range and the quality of brain relaxation was similar, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Ketofol combination (1:5) as compared to propofol alone provides better hemodynamic stability on induction as well as maintenance anesthesia without causing an increase in intracranial pressure. Effect of ketofol on cerebral oxygenation and quality of emergence need to be evaluated further by larger multicentric, randomized control trials.

Background: Haemodynamic stability is the major goal of anaesthesia during intracranial aneurysm clipping . In the present study, we compared the effects of ketofol with propofol alone, used as an induction and maintenance agent during surgical clipping of intracranial aneurysm. Material and methods - Forty patients aged 18 to 75 years, posted for aneurysm neck clipping following aneurysmal Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were included in the study. The patients were randomized into two groups. One group received combination of ketamine and propofol (1:5 ratio) (Group KP) and the other propofol (Group P) for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Results - Combination of Ketamine and propofol ( in the ratio of 1:5) which was used in this study provided for better maintenance of Mean Arterial Pressure(MAP) during induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Conclusion – Ketofol compared to propofol alone provides better hemodynamic stability on induction as well as during maintenance of anaesthesia in intracranial aneurysmal clipping surgery without increasing intracranial pressure.

Background: In most instances rapid emergence from general anesthesia after intracranial neurosurgery is desirable. The most compelling reason for this is the need for the patient to cooperate with a postoperative neurological examination intended to screen for such potential intracranial disaster as hematoma formation, herniation, and cerebrovascular accidents. Anesthetic techniques were adopted to achieve rapid emergence. In this respect, inhaled anesthetic agents have an important role in influencing the recovery time after anesthesia and surgery. The aim of this study is to compare isoflurane and sevoflurane as regard to speed of recovery from anesthesia and recovery of post-operative cognitive function in Indian populationMethods: The study was carried out as randomized control, blinded study of patients undergoing neurosurgery in tertiary care hospital. Sample sizes of 60 patients were studied. They were divided into two groups. Results: Sevoflurane shows faster emergence, extubation, motor control (in form of hand squeeze) and orientation time as compared to isoflurane. Though clinically the time difference for the various variables studied was 0.8 to 2.7 min only, statistically the results were significant and supported the basis for this difference as the difference in blood gas solubility coefficient between sevoflurane and isofluraneConclusions: Sevoflurane is recommended for use for faster extubation, emergence and post-operative neurological examination. The observation shows good brain relaxation with the use of both volatile anesthetic agents

Background: The number of breast cancer surgeries in India are increasing in the recent years. Lifestyle changes and increased awareness are the two important factors contributing to the same. Newer methods of anaesthetic management are also being practised for overall benefit of the patient. Recent advances in the regional anaesthesia techniques especially under the guidance of ultrasonography, dramatically changed not only the operative outcomes but also the post-operative stay in the hospital. The present study was aimed to bring out differences between two popular options of opioid sparing regional anaesthesia techniques for post-operative analgesia for patients who had undergone modified radical mastectomy (MRM) for carcinoma breast at our centre.Methods: A total of 88 patients of ASA II and III grading were enrolled in the study who had received either of erector spinae plane block (ESB) or thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB). Post-op numerical rating scale for pain and analgesic requirements were compared between the two groups. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded for comparing the influence of the blocks on hemodynamics.Results: The demographic profile was similar between the 2 groups. The study showed that TPVB have a higher efficacy of analgesia when compared with that of ESB. However, there is no significant differences in the intra-op and post-op hemodynamics.Conclusions: In view of a higher safety profile of ESB, administration of the same may still be preferred over the TPVB especially in those with less experienced hands in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy.