A prospective comparative study of outcome between open lichtenstein versus laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia

Background: Laparoscopic hernia repair is technically difficult and has long learning curve than open repair. Moreover, with increased cost of procedure do patient really get benefited in terms of intraoperative time duration, post-operative pain and complications, length of hospital stays, and time taken to return to usual activity needs to be studied.Methods: In this prospective observational study of 100 patients including unilateral, bilateral, direct and indirect inguinal hernia and excluding obstructed and strangulated hernia, 61 patients underwent open repair and 39 patients underwent laparoscopic hernia repair. Pain analysis was done with visual analogue scale. Unpaired student T test and Chi square test used (p<0.05).Results: Baseline characteristics age, sex of the two groups were similar. Mean operative time in laparoscopic group was 105.38±35.13 minutes and in open group was 79.95±31.12 minutes (p<0.001). There was statistically significant difference in mean pain score of laproscopic verses open techniques (p<0.001). Urinary retention was the most common post-operative complication in both groups but was statistically not significant. Mean hospital stay in laparoscopic group was 1.56±0.50 days and in open group was 1.9±0.50 days (p-0.002). Mean time taken to return to usual activity in open repair was 41.10±27.15 days and in laparoscopic group was 16.23±6.37 days (p-0.001).Conclusions: This study showed that in laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia patients have less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays and early return to work. However, the laparoscopic technique had longer operative time duration

Intraperitoneal drain placement and outcomes after elective colorectal surgery: international matched, prospective, cohort study

Despite current guidelines, intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery remains widespread. Drains were not associated with earlier detection of intraperitoneal collections, but were associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of surgical-site infections.Background Many surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains after elective colorectal surgery. However, enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines recommend against their routine use owing to a lack of clear clinical benefit. This study aimed to describe international variation in intraperitoneal drain placement and the safety of this practice. Methods COMPASS (COMPlicAted intra-abdominal collectionS after colorectal Surgery) was a prospective, international, cohort study which enrolled consecutive adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery (February to March 2020). The primary outcome was the rate of intraperitoneal drain placement. Secondary outcomes included: rate and time to diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal collections; rate of surgical site infections (SSIs); time to discharge; and 30-day major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade at least III). After propensity score matching, multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to estimate the independent association of the secondary outcomes with drain placement. Results Overall, 1805 patients from 22 countries were included (798 women, 44.2 per cent; median age 67.0 years). The drain insertion rate was 51.9 per cent (937 patients). After matching, drains were not associated with reduced rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 2.23; P = 0.287) or earlier detection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 0.33 to 2.31; P = 0.780) of collections. Although not associated with worse major postoperative complications (OR 1.09, 0.68 to 1.75; P = 0.709), drains were associated with delayed hospital discharge (HR 0.58, 0.52 to 0.66; P &lt; 0.001) and an increased risk of SSIs (OR 2.47, 1.50 to 4.05; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion Intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery is not associated with earlier detection of postoperative collections, but prolongs hospital stay and increases SSI risk

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

An Ensemble Approach to Enhance Performance of Webpage Classification

Abstract- Automatic web page classification is a complex and slow process. Additionally the application of classification need more accurate and efficient methods, due to increasing demand of web page categorization. Therefore, the proposed work is focuses on the web page classification and clustering schemes and obtaining an enhanced classification technique. In order to obtain efficient text mining techniques various machine learning algorithms are studied and two classification techniques namely Bayesian classification and KNN classification techniques are found for efficient and accurate results. Using both the algorithms a new hybrid technique is developed which is able to perform training on the domain specific data and successfully able to classify the web page according to the available domain knowledge. Keywords- web page classification, categorization, content mining, text analysis. I

A Comparison of Epidural Levobupivacaine 0.75% with Racemic Bupivacaine for Lower Abdominal Surgery

Background: Racemic bupivacaine has been widely used as a local anesthetic because of its long duration of action and beneficial ratio of sensory to motor block when used for epidural analgesia. Levobupivacaine, the isolated S(2) isomer of bupivacaine, has been shown to be less cardiotoxic than bupivacaine. The present prospective study was conducted to compare Epidural Levobupivacaine 0.75% with Racemic Bupivacaine for lower abdominal surgery.Materials and Methods: A randomized, double-blind study was carried out on 80 patients. Patients were divided into two groups of 40 patients each. Group A received 20 ml of 0.75% levobupivacaineepidurally, and Group B received 20 ml of 0.75% bupivacaine epidurally and the characteristics of the sensory and motor blockade in both groups were noted.Results: In the present study the mean time to onset of sensory block adequate for surgery (T10) for levobupivacaine group was 13.8mins and for bupivacaine group was 14.3mins. Maximum spread for group A was T7.12dermatome and for group B it was T7.56dermatome Time taken to maximum spread for group A was 25.7mins and for group B it was 26.8mins. The time taken to regression to T10 in group A was 378.5mins and for group B it was 356.3mins. The time taken for complete regression was 551.5mins in group A and 504.7mins in group B. Duration for anesthesia in group A was 368.4mins and group B was 325.5mins. 30 mins time taken to reach bromage scale 0 in Group A (N=9) and Group B(N=6). For bromage scale 1 in group A;n=22 and in group B; n=15 whereas for bromage scale 2 in group A; n=6 and for group B; n=9. For bromage scale 3 in group A; n=3 and for group B; n=10. For max.gradebromage scale 0 in Group A; n=6 and Group B;n=11. For bromage scale 1 in group A;n=15 and in group B; n=5 whereas for bromage scale 2 in group A; n=9 and for group B; n=19. For bromage scale 3 in group A; n=10 and for group B; n=5. In group A hypotension was found in 3 patients, bradycardia in 1 patient and nausea and vomiting in 2 patients whereas in group B hypotension was found in 6 patients, bradycardia in 2 patient and nausea and vomiting in 4 patients.Conclusion: The present study concluded that the sensory and motor block produced by 0.75% levobupivacaine is equivalent to that of 0.75% racemic bupivacaine

Intravenous Low Dose (4 mg) Dexamethasone as an Adjunct to Epidural Labour Analgesia with 0.125% Ropivacaine in Parturients: A Randomised Controlled Study

Introduction: Labour pain is one of the most severe pains, and the mother’s demand is reason enough for the induction of labour analgesia, provided that no contraindications exist. Labour analgesia must be safe for both the mother and the child. Aim: To assess the impact of a low dose (4 mg) of intravenous (IV) dexamethasone used in conjunction with neuraxial labour analgesia with 0.125% Ropivacaine. Materials and Methods: The present study was a doubleblinded randomised controlled study conducted at tertiary care hospital on 80 parturients classified as American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) II. The parturients were over 18 years old, in their third trimester, carrying a single live foetus that was cephalic at 36 weeks of gestation, and whose cervical dilation was greater than 3 cm and who requested epidural analgesia. All parturients were randomly divided into two equal groups. Before receiving epidural analgesia, the dexamethasone group received 4 mg of IV dexamethasone in 50 mL of normal saline. Patients in the control group received only 50 mL of normal saline. After an initial bolus of 0.125% ropivacaine (8 mL given gradually over 5 minutes), all expectant mothers received a continuous background infusion of 0.125% ropivacaine at a rate of 5 mL/h, along with patient-controlled boluses of 5 mL of the same medication given with a lockout interval of 12 minutes using a Patient Controlled Epidural labour Analgesia (PCEA) pump through the epidural route. Yates continuity correction test (Chi-square test), Fisher’s exact test, and Fisher Freeman Halton were used to compare qualitative data. For categorical data, numbers and percentages were used to summarise all continuous variables as mean±SD. Results: Demographics such as age, height, weight, and preprocedure obstetric-related details were comparable in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the average hourly medication intake between the dexamethasone group and the control group (Group D-7.64±0.88 mL/hr and Group C-8.04±1.24 mL/hr, p-value=0.09). Other factors, including pain scores, haemodynamics, administration method, and side effects, did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion: Despite having modest analgesic properties, IV dexamethasone could not significantly reduce the hourly average medication consumption of ropivacaine during epidural labour analgesia

Desflurane for ambulatory anaesthesia: A comparison with sevoflurane for recovery profile and airway responses

Background and Aims: Desflurane and sevoflurane have low blood gas solubility co-efficients, allowing a rapid awakening from anaesthesia. However, desfluraneis pungent and may cause airway irritability. We compared desflurane and sevoflurane with respect to recovery and occurrence of adverse airway responses in spontaneously breathing patients while using the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Methods: Ninety-four adult patients undergoing hysteroscopic procedures were divided into sevoflurane (S) group or desflurane (D) group. Patients were premedicated with midazolam 0.03 mg/kg and fentanyl 1μg/kg. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol 2.0–2.5 mg/kg, followed by insertion of a ProSeal™ LMA. Adverse airway responses such as cough, hiccups, laryngospasm and breathholding were recorded. In the post-operative period: time to awakening, response to verbal commands, orientation, ability to sit with support and the recovery room Aldrete score were recorded. Results: Three patients in group S (6.4%) and six patients (13.3%) in Group D had adverse airway events. The mean time to eye opening (Group S-10.75 ± 7.54 min, Group D-4.94 ± 1.74 min), obeying verbal commands (Group S-13.13 ± 8.75 min, Group D-6.55 ± 1.75 min), orientation (Group S-15.42 ± 8.46 min, Group D-6.23 ± 2.4 min) and to sit with support (Group S-36.09 ± 12.68 min, Group D-14.35 ± 3.75 min) were found to be lesser with desflurane than with sevoflurane (P < 0.001). The mean time to recovery was delayed in Group S-46.00 ± 12.86 min compared to Group D-26.44 ± 5.33 min (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Desflurane has faster awakening properties than sevoflurane without an increase in adverse airway events when used during spontaneous ventilation through a ProSeal™ LMA along with propofol and fentanyl

A study of correlation of serum ferritin with glycated haemoglobin in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients: a case control study

Context: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and it has dreadful complications. It is important to disclose every hidden aspect of the diseases to control it in better way. Aim: To find association of elevated serum ferritin level with Diabetes mellitus (DM type 2) with and its correlation with level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).Material and methods- The study population consisted of 108 individuals, out of them 53 were type 2 diabetic patients (case) and 55 were age and sex matched healthy individuals (control). Comparison of serum ferritin level was done between cases and controls. Correlation of serum ferritin level was seen with duration and severity of diabetes mellitus (DM type 2) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).Results: Serum ferritin level of case group was found significantly higher than the control group and there was significant positive correlation of serum ferritin level with duration and poor control of DM type 2 and HbA1c. Conclusion: There can be a role of ferritin level as an indicator of control of glycaemia as HbA1c and Serum ferritin level can also be used as a marker of insulin resistance and duration of the disease

Correlation of serum S-100 protein level with involvement of territory and size of lesion in acute ischemic stroke

Background: Cerebrovascular accident is the most common and devastating disorders in old age group. The diagnosis of stroke remains a clinical one, with confirmatory evidence obtained through neuroimaging. Neurobiochemical markers have gained special importance in the determination of brain damage resulting from acute stroke. Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum S-100 protein in blood samples from patients with acute ischemic stroke and investigate the relationship of serum S-100 protein level with the involved territory and size of the lesion. Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted among 94 patients of acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Medicine Department within 48 h. Serum sample was collected within 48 h and was sent for measurement of serum S-100 protein level. Patients were classified according to involved territory as anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and more than one territory and correlate it with S-100 protein level. All patients had cranial computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging in the first 48 h. Neurological examination was done with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale in acute stage and Rankin scale at the time of discharge. Results: Serum S-100 protein levels were significantly higher and maximum in multiple territory involvements followed by MCA, PCA, and ACA infarct. Conclusions: As serum S-100 protein level correlates with the involved territory or infarct size, we can predict the involved territory with the level of S-100 protein