Treatment of chronic pain is an essential service. Due to lockdown, travel restrictions, social and physical distancing requirements or fear that health care facilities may be infected; patients may avoid visiting health care facilities in person. It is also imperative to decrease the risk of exposure of the health care workers (HCWs) to severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS CoV2) and to ease the overtly burdened health care system. But any disruption in pain practice will have alarming consequences for individuals, society, and whole of health care system and providers. In the current scenario of COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine is emerging as a key technology for efficient communication and sustainable solution to provide essential health care services and should be considered for chronic pain patients (CPPs). Recently, Board of Governors in supersession of Medical Council of India along with National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released “Telemedicine Practice Guidelines” enabling registered medical practitioners to provide healthcare using telemedicine. This article describes the challenges in CPPs during COVID-19 pandemic and the use of telemedicine as the rescue management vehicle for CPPs in current scenario.

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Background and Aim: Intrathecal and intravenous dexmedetomidine has been used as adjuvant in subarachnoid block [SAB]. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of intravenous vs intrathecal dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to intrathecal bupivacaine. Methods: Ninety patients, aged 20–60 years belonging to American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II, scheduled for below knee orthopaedic surgeries under SAB were enrolled. In group I (n = 45) patients received intravenous dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg in 100 mL 0.9% normal saline [NS] intravenous over a period of 15 minutes given 20 minutes before SAB. Subarachnoid block was given with intrathecal (IT) 0.5% bupivacaine (H) 12.5 mg (2.5 mL) with 0.3 mL of NS. Patients in group II (n = 45) received 100 mL of 0.9% NS over a period of 15 minutes given 20 minutes before subarachnoid block. SAB was given with intrathecal 0.5% heavy bupivacaine 12.5 mg with 3 μg of dexmedetomidine (0.3 mL). The primary outcome was duration of analgesia and rescue analgesic requirement, whereas secondary outcome included pain scores. Results: The duration of analgesia was prolonged in group II (median [IQR]: 5 (6–7.5) h than in group I (median[IQR]: 4[2–4.5] h, P = 0.000). Median dose of rescue analgesics over period of 24 hours was less in group II as compared to group I (median [IQR]:150 (75–150) mg vs 195 (150–225) mg, P = 0.000). VAS score was lower in group II till 12 h in the postoperative period (P = 0.00). Conclusion: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine is more efficacious as compared to intravenous dexmedetomidine, due to favourable outcomes in terms of increased duration of postoperative analgesia and reduced rescue analgesic requirement.

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Background and Aims: Height and weight-based formulae are used for calculation of dose of medications for caudal analgesia but these have not been compared. We compared spinal column height-based Spiegel and weight-based Takasaki and Armitage formulae for achieving maximum height of sensory neuraxial block after caudal epidural analgesia in paediatric patients. Methods: In this double-blind randomised study, children aged between 1 and 6 years and planned for infra-umbilical surgery were randomly allocated to receive caudal epidural block (targeting T₁₀level block) with 0.25% bupivacaine, using a volume calculated by modified Spiegel formula (group I), Takasaki formula (group II), and Armitage formula (group III). The Institute ethics committee reviewed and approved the study protocol. The primary endpoint of the study was the difference in the number of spinal segments blocked as assessed by pinprick method. The secondary endpoint was the difference in volume of 0.25% bupivacaine used among the groups. The groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results: Seventy-five patients (25 in each group) completed the study as per protocol. The mean number of spinal segments blocked was significantly different among groups (P < 0.001) with patients in group I (13.8 ± 0.83) showing significantly lower number of spinal segments blocked as compared to that in group II (15.8 ± 1.06; P < 0.001), and group III (16.8 ± 1.28; P < 0.001). The mean volume of 0.25% bupivacaine used in group I was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than that in group II and group III. Conclusion: Dose calculation in caudal epidural analgesia as per spinal column height-based modified Spiegel formula was more precise than bodyweight-based Takasaki and Armitage formulae.

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Background and Aims: Postoperative pain following laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is significant and no suitable analgesic technique is described. Opioid analgesia in standard doses is often suboptimal and associated with numerous adverse effects. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been evaluated in various laparoscopic procedures. Intrathecal morphine (ITM) has been seen to provide long-lasting analgesia of superior quality in laparoscopic colorectal procedures. Methods: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of single-dose ITM 5 μg/kg for LDN. After ethics approval, 60 adult patients scheduled for LDN were randomised to receive intravenous fentanyl, ultrasound-guided TAP block or ITM for postoperative analgesia. Postoperative 24-h patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) fentanyl consumption, visual analogue scale (VAS) score and intraoperative fentanyl and muscle relaxant requirements were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate statistical tests by using Stata 11.1 software. Results: Haemodynamic stability at pneumoperitoneum and in the post anaesthesia care unit was significantly better in patients receiving ITM. Intraoperative rescue fentanyl requirement (P = 0.01) and postoperative fentanyl requirement until 24 h (P = 0.000) were significantly lower in the morphine group. Postoperative VAS at rest and on movement was significantly lower in the morphine group at all points of assessment (P = 0.000). Conclusion: ITM 5 μg/kg provides better intraoperative and postoperative analgesia and reduces postoperative PCA fentanyl requirement in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy compared to TAP block or intravenous fentanyl.

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Background: Emergency laparotomies present a challenge in pain management given sick patients, odd timings and poor outcomes. Current recommendations favour multimodal opioid-sparing analgesia following elective laparotomies. No recommendation exists for emergency surgeries. Methodology: After approval and registration of the trial, adult patients posted for emergency laparotomy in the hospital (tertiary centre for cancer care) starting August 2015, for 6 months, were included in this prospective study. Patients' details including indication for emergency surgery, preoperative haemodynamic parameters, baseline coagulation status were captured. Patients were followed for pain scores, satisfaction with pain management and outcome. The number of anaesthesiologists present and their experience concerning regional techniques were noted. Results: Intestinal obstruction was the commonest cause of emergency laparotomy. Most patients belonged to the ASA IE/IIE class (91%). Intraoperatively, opioids were the mainstay of pain management with an epidural catheter inserted in only 9% of cases even though most cases were conducted by anaesthesiologists confident/expert in thoracic epidural insertion. There was no correlation of choice of pain management technique with the time of surgery (P = 0.22), ASA grading (P = 0.28), predicted mortality by p-Possum scores (P = 0.24). Pain at movement was moderate-severe in more than 50% of patients within the first 24 h. The regional group had better satisfaction when compared to opioid and non-opioid based management. (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Regional techniques for pain management in emergency laparotomies are less preferred, therefore, opioids are the mainstay. Lack of experience is essentially not the primary reason for regional techniques not gaining popularity. Pain management in this group needs a thorough re-evaluation.

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Background and Aims: Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Increased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is observed in regions where school CPR training has been mandatory and led to reduced mortality by OHCA. We would like to explore the feasibility of teaching compression only life support (COLS) CPR to Indian school children through the following objectives determining their understanding of theoretical knowledge after a training session in the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists' (ISA) COLS protocol and reviewing the information recall three months later. Methods: The participants of this quasi-experimental study were 132 school children, aged 12 to 15. The children were all below the age of 18 and consent was obtained vicariously through the principals of the schools and assent from the students in the form of willingness to answer the multiple-choice questionnaires. The study sample comprised of participants who responded to both questionnaires, immediately post-training session and three months later. Their responses were compiled in Excel and analysed using the paired t-test and R programming language. Results: None of the children had any previous knowledge on COLS. A one-hour session in COLS proved sufficient to increase the baseline knowledge with a mean post-training score by 82%. On comparing the two scores obtained, a statistically significant attrition rate was observed (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The children exhibited good understanding of COLS after a single training session. This makes us believe that more periodic revision, probably by inclusion of COLS in school curricula could be a satisfactory solution towards lowering the attrition in knowledge recall.

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Due to the rising caesarean section (CS) rate, there has been an increase in placenta percreta (PP) cases. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) use has been successful in obstetric surgery for PP. In our institution, it has been introduced for prophylactic and therapeutic management in patients with PP. In our environment, the risks, benefits, and associated cost of REBOA use needed to be determined. In this case series, we report on five patients with PP where REBOA or aortic cross clamp were used and examine the associated outcomes.

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Gitelman syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive salt-losing disorder of renal tubules, which results in hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. Associated hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia are also seen. Gitelman syndrome is a variant of renal Bartter's syndrome. Anaesthetic management of these obstetric patients is challenging and requires a careful multidisciplinary approach. Close monitoring of potassium and magnesium levels and their supplementation is required to avoid complications to mother and baby.

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Background and Aims: Delayed cerebral ischaemia is one of the major contributors to morbidity in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). General anaesthesia (GA) in the presurgical period may have a preconditioning effect. The primary aim was to assess the effect of preoperative exposure to GA during digital subtraction angiography (DSA) on neurological outcome in patients presenting with aSAH. Methods: After Ethical Committee approval, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the data of patients with aSAH treated surgically. Patients, admitted to neurosurgical ICU (June 2014 and December 2017) with a computed tomography (CT) diagnosis of aSAH and underwent DSA, were included. DSA, done with or without exposure to a general anaesthetic, was classified to GA group and LA group, respectively. Propensity score matching was done on the baseline variables. Appropriate statistical methods were applied. Results: Of the 278 patients, 116 (41.7%) patients had received GA during DSA. Propensity matching yielded 114 (57 in each group) matched patients. In a logistic regression model, the odds ratio (OR) for poor outcome at discharge in GA group as compared to LA group was 4.4 (CI: 2.7–7.4), P = 0.001, whereas, in the matched data, the OR for poor outcome at discharge in GA group as compared to LA group was 1.2 (CI: 0.6–2.6), P = 0.57. Conclusion: The presurgical exposure to GA did not offer any neuroprotection and the odds of poor outcome were higher compare to non-exposure to GA group.

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Background and Aims: Previous work shows that transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) has analgesic and sedative effects. However, it is unclear whether TES can affect the sedative effect of propofol or not. This study was designed to assess the effect of TES on median effective plasma concentration (Cp50) of propofol and haemodynamic changes before and after tracheal intubation. Methods: 48 patients belonging to ASA I or II posted for thyroidectomy were randomly allocated into control and TES groups. Up-and-down method was used to determine Cp50 of propofol. The average concentration of propofol in each crossover was calculated and the average concentration of those six values was defined as Cp50 of propofol. Results: Cp50 of propofol was 3.70 ± 0.28 μg/mL and 3.08 ± 0.31 μg/mL in control and TES groups, respectively (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in MAP (90.3 ± 12.4 mmHg vs. 97.0 ± 10.8 mmHg, 94.2 ± 18.7 mmHg vs. 98.3 ± 16.6 mmHg and 84.9 ± 14.1 mmHg vs. 91.6 ± 16.2 mmHg) and HR (78.2 ± 11.3 b/min vs. 75.6 ± 9.5 b/min, 90.9 ± 15.4 b/min vs. 90.4 ± 14.9 b/min and 86.7 ± 13.7 b/min vs. 84.0 ± 15.9 b/min) at T0, T1 and T2 between two groups. In TES group, HR changes at T1 and T2 were significantly higher than those at T0. Conclusion: TES can make an assistant effect on sedation and decrease Cp50 of propofol. But the haemodynamic fluctuations in TES group, especially the HR changes, seem to be more obvious than those in control group.

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Background: The aim was to study perioperative management in head and neck cancer, the commonest cancer in Indian men, after radiation therapy. Radiotherapy (RT) targets the tumour and the neck including the thyroid gland. RT induced physical effects (on the airway) and physiological effects (on the thyroid) impact perioperative care. Patients with RT-induced subclinical and mild clinical hypothyroidism are often asymptomatic. Cancer surgery is time-sensitive. Given that parenteral levothyroxine is not available, is a TSH of 15 acceptable for cancer surgery? Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary cancer centre. The records of elective surgery (72 patients) were scrutinised. Data on thyroid profile, airway, treatment of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism, airway access, recovery and perioperative haemodynamic parameters were retrieved. Correlation of age, sex, RT, chemotherapy with hypothyroidism was done by Chi-square test. The perioperative course was studied. Results: Hypothyroidism (subclinical and clinical) was diagnosed in 39% of patients. All were asymptomatic. There was a significant association between RT and hypothyroidism. In 50% of patients, we encountered a difficult airway. In subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH less than 15), after levothyroxine initiation, the course of anaesthesia, extubation, recovery and postoperative stay was uneventful. Conclusions: Hypothyroidism and difficult airways are a common sequel of RT. Selected cancer patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had a smooth perioperative course.

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