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Abstract Background Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is commonly seen among hospitalized Nepali children. Japanese Encephalitis (JE) accounts for approximately one-quarter of cases. Although poor prognostic features for JE have been identified, and guide management, relatively little is reported on the remaining three-quarters of AES cases. Methods Children with AES (n = 225) were identified through admission records from two hospitals in Kathmandu between 2006 and 2008. Patients without available lumbar puncture results (n = 40) or with bacterial or plasmodium infection (n = 40) were analysed separately. The remaining AES patients with suspected viral aetiology were classified, based on positive IgM antibody in serum or cerebral spinal fluid, as JE (n = 42) or AES of unknown viral aetiology (n = 103); this latter group was sub-classified into Non-JE (n = 44) or JE status unknown (n = 59). Bad outcome was defined as death or neurological sequelae at discharge. Results AES patients of suspected viral aetiology more frequently had a bad outcome than those with bacterial or plasmodium infection (31% versus 13%; P = 0.039). JE patients more frequently had a bad outcome than those with AES of unknown viral aetiology (48% versus 24%; P = 0.01). Bad outcome was independently associated in both JE and suspected viral aetiology groups with a longer duration of fever pre-admission (P = 0.007; P = 0.002 respectively) and greater impairment of consciousness (P = 0.02; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of JE patients presented with a focal neurological deficit compared to patients of unknown viral aetiology (13/40 versus 11/103; P = 0.005). JE patients weighed less (P = 0.03) and exhibited a higher respiratory rate (P = 0.003) compared to Non-JE patients. Conclusions Nepali children with AES of suspected viral aetiology or with JE frequently suffered a bad outcome. Despite no specific treatment, patients who experienced a shorter duration of fever before hospital admission more frequently recovered completely. Prompt referral may allow AES patients to receive potentially life-saving supportive management. Previous studies have indicated supportive management, such as fluid provision, is associated with better outcome in JE. The lower weight and higher respiratory rate among JE patients may reflect multiple clinical complications, including dehydration. The findings suggest a more systematic investigation of the influence of supportive management on outcome in AES is warranted.

Entrapment abdominal neuropathy is not a common diagnosis in our context. Chronic Abdominal wall pain is often mistaken for gastritis, gynecological issue, thoracic spinal radiculopathy, rectus sheath hematoma, abdominal muscle injury or psychiatric disorder. Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome is one of the frequent causes of abdominal wall pain occurring due to trapped thoracic intercostal nerves between abdominal muscles. History and bedside Carnett's sign can elicit the diagnosis. Injection of the local anesthetics with steroids in the junction between the rectus sheath and abdominal muscle under ultrasound guidance can provide sustained pain relief. We should consider Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome as a differential diagnosis while evaluating the abdominal wall pain. Keywords: ACENE; carnett's test; chronic abdominal pain; entrapment neuropathy; hydrodissection.

Background: The postoperative analgesic efficacy of trans-muscular quadratus lumborum block in abdominal surgeries is well established; however, its intraoperative safety and efficacy as an anesthetic is still being explored. This retrospective case review was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of combined quadaratus lumburoum block and low-dose subarachnoid block for anesthesia in complex abdominal operations., Methods: Perioperative data of 29 patients, who underwent abdominal operations during the period of June/2019 to October/2019 under the combined technique, was analyzed. The primary outcome was intra and postoperative pain scores with the conox as qnox and numeric rating scale respectively at different time points. The secondary outcomes were intraoperative sedation scores with conox as qcon and perioperative dosage of fentanyl, changes in mean arterial pressure and the incidence of adverse events., Results: The mean qnox scores at incision, viscera dissection, closure and before transport to the post anesthesia care unit were between 44.66 and 55.79. The mean numeric rating scale scores before bed on the operation day, at 8 am on the first postoperative day, before bed on the first postoperative day and at 8 am on the second postoperative day were between 3.41 and 3.86. The mean qcon scores during the operations were between 61.31 and 65.82 while it was 85.66 following the stoppage of all sedations. The mean total perioperative consumption of fentanyl was 38.7mcg. The proportion of patients having MAP changes of less than 20% from baseline was 85.72%. The incidence of peri-operative adverse events was low., Conclusions: For complex abdominal operations, a combination of ultrasound-guided QLB-TM and low dose spinal anesthesia achieves adequate analgesia and is a safe technique.

Background: Cooled Radiofrequency ablation is a newer technique for management of chronic knee pain in osteoarthritis. The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients with chronic osteoarthritis in terms of pain scores for first six months of cooled radiofrequency ablation using ultrasound guidance., Methods: A cross-sectional study with retrospective review of database was evaluated to analyze the change in the Numerical Rating Scale from baseline scores at 1 day, 1 month and 6 months after the Cooled Radiofrequency ablation of genicular nerves around knee in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis., Results: Median age was 71 years [ 61-73 years (IQR: 25-75)] with more female preponderance. Numerical Rating Scale (Mean ± S.D.) was significantly less at 1 day (1.87 ± 1.22), 1 month (3.03 ± 0.99) and 6 months (3.37 ± 1.098) from baseline values (6.77 ± 1.00). No soreness and numbness were noted., Conclusions: Cooled Radiofrequency using Ultrasound guidance for management of knee pain in chronic osteoarthritis is promising and reduces Numerical Rating Score significantly from baseline at 1 month and 6 months respectively.

Provision of anesthesia services in a deprived area particularly in low income countries is a major challenge all over the globe. Along with issues of manpower, logistics, services, there lies agendas of safety and accuracy while delivering the services. With rise in ultrasound use in regional anesthesia, pain and perioperative care, it is prudent that some of these issues can be addressed with proper training, mentoring and monitoring. The global idea needs to be implemented locally to reach out to huge volume of patients who are inadequately treated for the various painful conditions. A group of regional enthusiasts from Nepal takes the vision and mission in Nepalese context to address the issues. Keywords: Low income country; rural anesthesia; safety; ultrasound guided regional anesthesia.

Combined type III Monteggia fracture dislocation and ipsilateral distal radial epiphyseal fracture is a very rare injury. Because of difficulty in performing the proper clinical evaluation of a child in an acute injury state, one of the components of this combined injury may be missed. We report a ten-year-old male child with this kind of injury where the Monteggia lesion was initially missed at the emergency department. Later we found the combined epiphyseal fracture of distal radius and Monteggia lesion in the ipsilateral side of the same limb which was managed by closed reduction and K-wire fixation. Bony union as well as wrist and elbow motion was complete 3 months after surgical intervention.