Severe Thrombocytopenia in an Immune Thrombocytopenic Parturient Non-responder to Medical Line of Treatment: Anaesthetic Management for Splenectomy Combined with Caesarean Section

We report anaesthesia management of a parturient with severe thrombocytopenia secondary to immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Her platelet count remained around 3 × 10⁹/l in spite of optimum medical therapy and hence was posted for splenectomy combined with caesarean section. Anaesthesia implications of severe thrombocytopenia comprises risk of central nervous system bleeding, perioperative haemorrhage causing placental hypoperfusion and foetal hypoxia, risk of trauma to compromised airway and risk of epidural haematoma. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the risk factors associated, different management strategies and also to review the literature in an attempt to ameliorate the anaesthesiologist in perioperative management of these cases.     

Clinical Predictors of Fulminant Colitis in Patients with Clostridium difficile Infection

Background/Aim:

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) can affect up to 8% of hospitalized patients. Twenty-five percent CDI patients may develop C. difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) and 1–3% may progress to fulminant C. difficile colitis (FCDC). Once developed, FCDC has higher rates of complications and mortality.

Patients and Methods:

A 10-year retrospective review of FCDC patients who underwent colectomy was performed and compared with randomly selected age- and sex-matched non-fulminant CDAD patients at our institution. FCDC (n=18) and CDAD (n=49) groups were defined clinically, radiologically, and pathologically. Univariate analysis was performed using Chi-square and Student''s t test followed by multivariate logistic regression to compute independent predictors.

Results:

FCDC patients were significantly older (77 ± 13 years), presented with triad of abdominal pain (89%), diarrhea (72%), and distention (39%); 28% had prior CDI and had greater hemodynamic instability. In contrast, CDAD patients were comparatively younger (65 ± 20 years), presented with only 1 or 2 of these 3 symptoms and only 5% had prior CDI. No significant difference was noted between the 2 groups in terms of comorbid conditions, use of antibiotics, or proton pump inhibitor. Leukocytosis was significantly higher in FCDC patients (18.6 ± 15.8/mm³ vs 10.7 ± 5.2/mm³; P=0.04) and further increased until the point of surgery. Use of antiperistaltic medications was higher in FCDC than CDAD group (56% vs 22%; P=0.01).

Conclusions:

Our data suggest several clinical and laboratory features in CDI patients, which may be indicative of FCDC. These include old age (>70 years), prior CDI, clinical triad of increasing abdominal pain, distention and diarrhea, profound leukocytosis (>18,000/mm³), hemodynamic instability, and use of antiperistaltic medications.     

Results of non-vascularised fibular grafting in gap non-union of long bones in paediatric age group

BackgroundBone defect has always been a challenge to treat for the orthopaedic surgeon. Fibular grafting is a popular method for bridging the gap in bone defects created by tumour excision, trauma or bone loss as sequelae to infection. Fibula is a popular substitute for this method because of its easy accessibility and minimal donor site morbidity. The present study is aimed at finding the results in paediatric population.Material and methods20 patients with bone defect (19 as a result of chronic osteomyelitis and one as a result of excision of a tumour) were included in the current study. The age of the patients ranged from one year to 12 years. The fibular graft was applied after freshening of bone end and fixed with K wire or plating and cancellous bone graft was also applied at both ends. The limb was immobilized in plaster till union of fibula at both ends.ResultsThe average gap was 8 cm (range 6–12 cm). Out of the twenty cases nine involved the humerus, seven in the tibia, two in radius and one each in femur and ulna. Union was achieved at both ends in 80% of the patients after the first surgery. Three out of six patients with K wire as fixation device failed and one out of fourteen patients with plate as fixation device ended in non-union. Union was achieved in these patients after revision surgery. One patient had stress fracture at distal end of the plate after weight bearing. Union occurred in this patient after plaster immobilization. Range of motion at distal and proximal joint was comparable to normal side. Superficial infection was seen in two patients and they responded to antibiotics.ConclusionNon-vascularised fibular grafting is a good option for bone defects in paediatric population provide adequate fixation and immobilization has been done.Level of evidenceLevel IV (Therapeutic).     

Managing scaphoid fractures. How we do it?

The scaphoid is the common carpal bone to be fractured. Proper clinical and radiological evaluation is required to establish it's diagnosis. The management of acute fractures includes conservative treatment with cast in minimally displaced to open reduction and internal fixation in case of displaced ones. The established nonunion requires open reduction, bone grafting and internal fixation.     

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study to compare the efficacy of lidocaine + metoclopramide and lidocaine + ketamine combinations in preventing pain on propofol injection

Purpose

Propofol injection is known to cause distressing pain, and various methods have been used to decrease this pain. We investigated the efficacy of the lidocaine + metoclopramide and lidocaine + ketamine combinations on modulating propofol injection pain.

Methods

Ninety ASA I/II patients aged 20–60 years were randomly assigned to three groups to receive lidocaine 20 mg (group L), lidocaine 20 mg + metoclopramide 10 mg (group LM), or lidocaine 20 mg + ketamine 5 mg (group LK), respectively, with venous occlusion for 1 min using a forearm tourniquet. Propofol 0.5 mg/kg was subsequently administered into a dorsal hand vein, and pain was assessed during its injection using a verbal rating score. The results were analyzed statistically with analysis of variance, the chi-square test, and the Wilcoxon rank sum test, where appropriate. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results

The incidence of pain was rated to be significantly less in patients in groups LM (40 %) and LK (6.7 %) than in those in group L (83.3 %) (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The pain score [median (range)] was also significantly less in patients in groups LM [0 (0–3)] and LK [0 (0–2)] than in those in group L [2 (0–3)] (p = 0.001 for both groups).

Conclusion

The lidocaine–ketamine combination is most effective for decreasing the pain on propofol injection.