Nauman Ahmad

Traditional Macintoch laryngoscopy is known to cause a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP), tachycardia and hypertension. These changes are not desirable in patients with glaucoma and open globe injury. GlideScope is a video laryngoscope that functions independent of the line of sight, reduces upward lifting forces for glottic exposure and requires less cervical neck movement for intubation, making it less stimulating than Macintosh laryngoscopy. The aim was to assess the variations in IOP and hemodynamic changes after GlideScope assisted intubation. After approval of the local Institutional Research and Ethical Board and informed patient consent, 50 adult American Society of Anesthesiologist I and II patients with normal IOP were enrolled in a prospective, randomized study for ophthalmic surgery requiring tracheal intubation. In all patients, trachea was intubated using either GlideScope or Macintoch laryngoscope. IOP of nonoperated eye, heart rate and blood pressure were measured as baseline, 1 min after induction, 1 min and 5 min after tracheal intubation. IOP was not significantly different between groups before and after anesthetic induction and 5 min after tracheal intubation (P = 0.217, 0.726, and 0.110 respectively). The only significant difference in IOP was at 1 min after intubation (P = 0.041). No significant difference noted between groups in mean arterial pressure (P = 0.899, 0.62, 0.47, 0.82 respectively) and heart rate (P = 0.21, 0.72, 0.07, 0.29, respectively) at all measurements. GlideScope assisted tracheal intubation shown lesser rise in IOP at 1 min after intubation in comparison to Macintoch laryngoscope, suggesting that GlideScope may be preferable to Macintosh laryngoscope.

Various studies have assessed patient satisfaction with topical versus peribulbar anesthesia with conflicting results. Aim of study was to determine satisfaction level in same patient who gets topical anesthesia in one eye and peribulbar block in another eye. We propose that evaluation of various indicators of patient satisfaction will enable better selection of cases for topical anesthesia in the future. Eighty patients scheduled for phacoemulsification were enrolled in prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Each patient scheduled twice for one eye under topical anesthesia and other in peribulbar block. Pain, discomfort and pressure during application of local anesthetic, during phacoemulsification and at 2 hours after procedure were assessed on standard scales. Before discharge patient satisfaction level was checked with Iowa satisfaction with anesthesia scale (ISAS). The Student's t-test was used to determine the significance of IOWA score in both groups. P<0.05 was considered significant. Feeling of pain, pressure and discomfort scores during administration of topical anesthesia were all significantly lower compared to peribulbar anesthesia (P=0.004, 0.000, 0.002, respectively). In contrast, intraoperative scores were significantly higher in the topical anesthesia group compared to peribulbar anesthesia (P=0.022, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). Patient satisfaction measured with ISAS shows that peribulbar anesthesia with P=0.000 is strongly significant. Peribulbar anesthesia provided significantly better patient satisfaction in comparison with topical anesthesia when used for cataract surgery.

To evaluate the quality and efficacy of Peribulbar blockade for superficial extraconal anesthesia with levobupivacaine 0.5% versus bupivacaine 0.5%, both combined with lidocaine 2% for patients undergoing phacoemulsification. In this prospective, double blind study, 150 patients were randomly divided into two groups: group-1 received a Peribulbar block (PB) with a mixture of evobupivacaine 0.5% and lidocaine 2% while group-2 received a PB with a mixture of bupivacaine 0.5% and lidocaine 2%. The block was performed by insertion of a short needle (15 mm) in infra-temporal space just above inferior orbital notch. An initial volume of 6 9 ml of either mixture was injected until total upper eyelid drop. Akinesia score was assessed at 2, 5, and 10 min after the block. The degree of pain was assessed by a verbal rating scale immediately after block, at the end of surgery and 4 h postoperatively. The patients and surgeons were asked to rate their satisfaction level of the quality of block postoperatively. Data were analyzed with the unpaired, two-tailed t-test and the Chi-square test as appropriate. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to the akinesia score (P = 0.2) at 2, 5, and 10 min, the number of supplementary injections (P = 0.84) and initial and total required volume of local anesthetics (P = 0.80 and 0.81, respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding surgeon and patient satisfaction (P = 0.53 and P = 0.74, respectively). Similarly the verbal rating scales assessed at three different occasions were not significantly different between the groups (P > 0.05 all cases). The need for additional intra-operative topical anesthetic was also similar between the groups. (P = 0.69). Superficial extra-conal block with a mixture of levobupivicaine 0.5% and lidocaine 2% or bupivicaine 0.5% and lidocaine 2% provides similar block quality and efficacy.

The successful use of the laryngeal mask airway in children partly depends on the correct selection of size. Most anaesthesiologists rely on the weight-based table which is often difficult to remember. A simple method allowing an adequate choice of the correct size may be highly desirable. To test the hypothesis that the size of the external ear (pinna) of the child may be used as proxy for the required size of laryngeal mask airway. A descriptive study. King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Two hundred and ten paediatric patients aged 6 months to 15 years, of either sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 1-2 and scheduled for routine ophthalmological procedures from 1 March to 31 December 2010. Emergency cases, patients with a full stomach or with a history of any oropharyngeal lesion other than tonsillar hypertrophy were excluded. The size of the external ear was measured with a ruler in vertical and horizontal dimensions in the first 30 patients, and visually evaluated for the remaining patients. For all, the nearest corresponding size of partially inflated laryngeal mask airway was chosen and inserted after induction. The correct placement was assessed using predefined criteria. Insertion and good ventilation was achieved in 196 (93.3%) on first attempt. Fourteen patients (6.7%) required a second attempt and the main reason for failure was an audible leak because of smaller size. Choosing the size of the laryngeal mask airway in children according to the size of the external ear was associated with a success rate of 93% which is comparable with that reported in the literature when the tables are used. This simple method may allow a rapid choice of the correct size of laryngeal mask airway and may eliminate the need to remember different tables or formulae.