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Background and Aims: The role of preoperative pharmacological prophylaxis in preventing aspiration pneumonitis under general anesthesia (GA) in patients at low risk of aspiration pneumonitis is still under debate. We addressed the need for routine pharmacological aspiration prophylaxis in at-risk population by assessing the change in gastric volume using ultrasound with and without pharmacological acid aspiration prophylaxis. Material and Methods: A single-center, randomized double-blinded trial, with 200 adult patients scheduled for elective surgical procedures under GA, were randomized into a prophylaxis group, in which the patients received oral famotidine and metoclopramide, and a no prophylaxis group, in which the patients did not receive any prophylaxis. Gastric volume derived from preinduction measurement of gastric antral volume by ultrasound, postinduction gastric pH, and incidences of aspiration pneumonitis were compared. Bland–Altman plot was used to determine the level of agreement between measured gastric volume and ultrasonography based on calculated gastric volume. Results: The gastric antral cross-sectional area (CSA) and volume in the no prophylaxis group (3.12 cm2 and 20.11 ml, respectively) were comparable to the prophylaxis group (2.56 cm2 and 19.67 ml, respectively) (P-values 0.97 and 0.63, respectively). Although there was a statistically significant decrease in gastric pH in the no prophylaxis group (P-value 0.01), it was not clinically significant to increase the risk of aspiration pneumonitis based on Roberts and Shirley criteria (P-value 0.39). Conclusion: In an adequately fasted low-risk population, the amount of residual gastric volume was similar and below the aspiration threshold, regardless of the aspiration prophylaxis status.

IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to amide local anesthetics (LAs) are very rare events in anesthesia practice. When such a reaction occurs, anesthesiologists are often left with numerous confounding causes of adverse e after LA administration. Most times, such reactions result from systemic toxicity or non-hypersensitivity reactions. In the event of a true allergy to LA molecules, subsequent administration of the same drug can lead to life-threatening complications. Herewith, we report the successful diagnosis of LA allergy in a parturient who had a history of anaphylaxis following the administration of subarachnoid block with an unknown drug elsewhere. She presented to our institute for her second cesarean section. Skin prick testing was done after a dermatology consultation, which revealed a positive response to lignocaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine (preservative-free). She was taken up for elective cesarean section under general anesthesia with complete avoidance of LAs. Postoperative analgesia was instituted with intravenous patient-controlled fentanyl administration. The procedure and recovery were uneventful and both mother and baby were discharged without any issues.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of levobupivacaine (L) alone and its combination with clonidine (C) or dexmedetomidine (D) in wound infiltration technique for abdominal surgeries. Materials and Methods: After ethical committee approval, a double-blind randomized controlled study was conducted on 90 patients (power of study 80%), physical status American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I and II, aged 18–60 years scheduled for abdominal surgeries over 1 year duration. A standard general anesthetic technique was used. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups, by computer-generated random number table. Patients received wound infiltration during wound closure. Group L received 29 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine plus 1 ml 0.9% normal saline, Group LC received 29 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine with 1 ml (3 mcg/kg) clonidine, and Group LD received 29 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine with 1 ml (2 mcg/kg) dexmedetomidine. Postoperative rescue analgesia was provided with injection tramadol. Statistical analysis for duration of analgesia was determined by one-way analysis of variance and side effects by Chi-square test. Results: The total duration of analgesia in LD group was 23.4 h, when compared to LC group 20.9 h and L group 11.65 h (P = 0.0001) with excellent to good quality of analgesia in adjuvant group (P < 0.001) and incidence of minimal side effects such as sedation, nausea, and vomiting. Conclusion: Clonidine and dexmedetomidine were the effective adjuvants to levobupivacaine for single shot wound infiltration analgesic technique; however, dexmedetomidine was found to be superior to clonidine.