A randomized double-blind study to evaluate asurgeon-based technique to reduce post-operative pain in minimal gynecological surgery

Background: The study aims to evaluate whether instillation of levo-bupivacaine intraperitoneally decreases post-operative pain after laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries, using VAS pain Scale. Methods: Randomized placebo controlled double blinded study conducted at tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. 90 ASA I & II women scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries. 20 ml 0.5% levo-bupivacaine diluted with 40ml normal saline (total 60ml) intraperitoneally at the end of surgery before closure of ports along with port site infiltration of levo-bupivacaine (3-5 ml) in intervention group and 60 ml normal saline intraperitoneally in control group. Results: Mean pain scores were significantly lower (p<0.01) in the intervention group when compared to the control group for initial 4 hours of the study after that mean pain score was lower in intervention group than control group but it was statistically not significant. The requirement of rescue analgesia was also significantly lesser in intervention group compared to control group. Conclusions: Levo-bupivacaine is an easy, cheap and non-invasive method which provides good analgesia in the immediate postoperative period after laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, without adverse effects, especially in the early postoperative period. This improves patients experience and should be made an integral part of all minimal gynaecological endoscopic surgery

Knowledge & Awareness about COVID-19 and the Practice of Respiratory Hygiene and Other Preventive Measures among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistan

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has emerged and it is rapidly spreading throughout the world and subsequently causing great damage to the global economy and health-care. Patients with diabetes or other comorbidities are at a greater risk of developing severe illness. Knowledge and awareness are key elements to stimulate practice of preventive measures. The present study evaluated the level of knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 among individuals with diabetes and their compliance with the preventive measures against it. A total of 242 individuals who were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and were 18 years or older participated in the study. The data was collected using an interview based questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) version 24. The mean age ± SD of the study population was 50.78 ± 11.24 years. In this study, 215 (88.8%) participants were aware that COVID-19 is caused by a virus and the disease is spread through droplets after sneezing or touching and shaking hands with an infected person (78.5%). However, only half the study populace regularly monitored their glucose level and complied with the “sick day rules” that is applicable during this pandemic. The present study indicates that despite the adequate knowledge and awareness about the coronavirus disease, the study participants were non-compliant with the practice of preventive and precautionary measures against the pandemic