A comparative study of intrathecal nonopioid adjuvants to hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia

Background: Intrathecal drugs when used as adjuvant to spinal anaesthesia produce substantial anti-nociception and potentiate analgesia of bupivacaine. This study was planned to evaluate the effects of intrathecal non opioid drugs-clonidine, midazolam, neostigmine and magnesium sulphate on duration of analgesia, characteristics of SA and hemodynamic stability when added to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia.Methods: In this randomized, prospective, double blind study, 100 ASA physical status I and II adults patients posted for elective lower abdominal surgery were divided into 4 groups (n=25). Group BN received preservative free neostigmine 25µg, group BMG received Mgso4 50mg, group BC received clonidine 30µg and BM received midazolam 2mg with 15mg hyperbaric bupivacaine. Duration of postoperative analgesia, effect on onset and duration of sensory and motor block, incidence of side effects was noted. Continuous variables were compared using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).Results: The duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly prolonged in BM group 391.64 (132.98) minutes, followed by BN group 308.76 (127.40), BC group 296.60 (52.77) and BMG group 252.2 (86.76). The numbers of analgesic doses in 24 hours were significantly less in BM group. One patient required additional analgesia in BM group as against 40%, 36% and 64% in BN, BC, BMG group respectively. The duration of sensory block was significantly prolonged in group BM followed by group BC and BN.Conclusions: Intrathecal midazolam provides superior analgesia without clinically relevant side effects. The onset of analgesia was rapid and duration prolonged with intrathecal midazolam followed by neostigmine and clonidine

Long term cardiorespiratory outcome in children with chronic lung disease of prematurity

The findings of this thesis suggest that children with CLD continue to have airway abnormalities including reversible airway obstruction, air trapping and impaired gas transfer compare to term and preterm controls at 8-12 years of age. Although they had similar exercise capacity to preterm and term control groups, this was at the expense of using greater proportion of their ventilatory reserve. At school age, they do not have evidence of myocardial dysfunction or subclinical pulmonary arterial hypertension.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Outbreak of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase Producing Klebsiella Species Causing Neonatal Sepsis at Patan Hospital in Nepal

Introductions: Klebsiella sepsis is the most important nosocomial infection in neonates. The objectives of this study were to review an outbreak in a neonatal unit caused by Klebsiella species, to identify the source of the infections, and to identify infection control measures for eradication and prevention of these infections.Methods: The case notes and investigation reports of all sepsis cases admitted in neonatal units of Patan hospital from July to December 2011 caused by Klebsiella species were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic profile, risk factors along with clinical features and management of sepsis were reviewed.Results: Twenty three out of 37 neonatal blood cultures grew Klebsiella species. Thirty one were K. pneumoniae and six K. oxytoca. Seventeen of the 31 (55%) K. pneumoniae isolates were multidrug resistant and extended spectrum beta lactamase producers. Eighteen of 23 (78%) neonates with Klebsiella sepsis died. After extensive cleaning methods and identifying an intermittently leaking roof in one of the nurseries below a vescicovaginal fistula room of gynecological ward above, the infection outbreak was finally controlled.Conclusions: Infections with extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Klebsiella spp. are a threat in neonatal units because of limited treatment options for these multidrug resistant organisms. Identification of the source and control of the outbreak can be a challenge.Keywords: extended spectrum beta lacatamase, Klebsiella, multi drug resistant, neonate

Prevalence of hepatitis B in pregnant women and management of babies born to Hepatitis B positive mother: A criterion based clinical audit

Introductions: This study aims at identifying the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women and adherence to the management of the newborns of these women as per the international guidelines. Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted at Patan Hospital from January 1, 2008 to December 30, 2014. Prevalence of HBsAg in pregnant women and management of babies born to these women, immunization status, breast feeding status and follow up advise for the babies were studied.  These data were analyzed to see whether we were following international guidelines for preventing mother to child transmission of hepatitis B infection. Results: There were total of 58,917 deliveries and 59,438 births during the seven year study period. Total 148 cases of pregnant ladies with HBsAg positive status were recorded. Prevalence of HBsAg positive case was 1 in every 398 (0.25%) deliveries. Fifty four babies (87%) received hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) within 12 hours of birth. Eight babies (22%) failed to receive HBV and HBIG within 12hours of birth. Mother’s HBsAg positive status was not the reason for formula feeding in any of the babies. Follow up HBsAg status was not advised in any of the babies. Conclusions: At Patan hospital, we seem to be following most of the guidelines in the management of HBV infection, except for checking the HBsAg status of the babies at 9-18 months of age.Keywords: chronic liver disease, HBsAg positive, hepatitis B vaccine, Hepatitis B immunoglobulin, mother to child transferÂ

Long term cardiorespiratory outcome in children with chronic lung disease of prematurity

The findings of this thesis suggest that children with CLD continue to have airway abnormalities including reversible airway obstruction, air trapping and impaired gas transfer compare to term and preterm controls at 8-12 years of age. Although they had similar exercise capacity to preterm and term control groups, this was at the expense of using greater proportion of their ventilatory reserve. At school age, they do not have evidence of myocardial dysfunction or subclinical pulmonary arterial hypertension

Longitudinal evaluation of myocardial function in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Aim Preterm births and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) are associated with pulmonary vascular disease and altered myocardial function. We serially assessed up to 1 year of age the effects of RDS on global and regional myocardial function of preterm infants, compared to preterm and term controls using conventional echocardiography parameters, tissue Doppler velocities and deformation analysis. Methods and results A total of 120 infants (30 preterm [PT] with RDS, 30 PT controls without RDS, and 60 term controls) underwent conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography within 72 hours of birth, at corrected term age for the preterm infants, at 1 month corrected, and at 1 year corrected age. At birth, compared to preterm and term controls, the PT‐RDS group had decreased right ventricular (RV) long‐axis function, systolic velocity, peak systolic strain, shorter pulmonary arterial acceleration time (PAAT), and lower ratio of PAAT to RV ejection time (PAAT:RVET). Preterm infants had left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction at birth (lower early diastolic myocardial velocity, mitral E velocity, and mitral E:A ratio), and reduced long‐axis systolic velocities and shortening. Differences between groups disappeared by 1 month corrected age, except PAAT:RVET which remained lower in the PT‐RDS group. At 1 year, RV function was normal in PT‐RDS apart from systolic strain rate, and LV function was normal apart from lower stroke volume and shortening, relative to body weight. Conclusion PT‐RDS had lower left and right ventricular systolic and diastolic function at birth which improved over time, suggesting postnatal maturation of cardiac function and resolution of lung disease

Cardiac structure and function in adolescent Sherpa; effect of habitual altitude and developmental stage

The purpose of this study was to examine ventricular structure and function in Sherpa adolescents to determine whether age-specific differences in oxygen saturation (S

Outbreaks of Serratia marcescens and Serratia rubidaea bacteremia in a central Kathmandu hospital following the 2015 earthquakes.

BACKGROUND: Human infections with Serratia spp. are generally limited to Serratia marcescens and the Serratia liquefaciens complex. There is little data regarding the infections caused by the remaining Serratia spp., as they are seldom isolated from clinical specimens. METHODS: In this health care setting in Kathmandu, Nepal routine blood culture is performed on all febrile patients with a temperature >38°C or when there is clinical suspicion of bacteremia. During 2015 we atypically isolated and identified several Serratia spp. We extracted clinical data from these cases and performed whole genome sequencing on all isolates using a MiSeq system (Ilumina, San Diego, CA, USA). RESULTS: Between June and November 2015, we identified eight patients with suspected bacteremia that produced a positive blood culture for Serratia spp., six Serratia rubidaea and five Serratia marcescens. The S. rubidaea were isolated from three neonates and were concentrated in the neonatal intensive care unit between June and July 2015. All patients were severely ill and one patient died. Whole genome sequencing confirmed that six Nepalese S. rubidaea sequences were identical and indicative of a single-source outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: Despite extensive screening we were unable to identify the source of the outbreak, but the inferred timeline suggested that these atypical infections were associated with the aftermath of two massive earthquakes. We speculate that deficits in hygienic behavior, combined with a lack of standard infection control, in the post-earthquake emergency situation contributed to these unusual Serratia spp. outbreaks

Bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility of neonatal sepsis in neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Nepal

Abstract Background Neonatal sepsis, one of the leading causes of mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of developing countries like Nepal, is often not extensively studied. In order to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with neonatal sepsis, neonatologists should have a keen knowledge of the existing bacteriological flora and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. In this study, we aim to determine the bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of culture positive neonatal sepsis in the NICU of a tertiary teaching hospital in Nepal. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of all blood culture positive sepsis cases among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Patan Hospital, Nepal between April 15, 2014 and April 15, 2017. All neonates with a clinical suspicion of sepsis with a positive blood culture were identified. Patient demographics, clinical details, maternal risk factors, and laboratory data including bacteriological profiles and antimicrobial susceptibilities were recorded and analyzed. Results Of the 336 neonates admitted in the NICU, 69 (20.5%) had culture-positive sepsis. The majority were early-onset sepsis (n = 54, 78.3%) and were among the preterm babies (n = 47, 68.1%). Most bacterial isolates were gram-negative, predominantly the Klebsiella species (n = 23, 33.3%). Klebsiella showed high resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as; Cefotaxime (90.5%), Gentamicin (75%), Ciprofloxacin (76.2%), Ofloxacin (72.2%) and Chloramphenicol (65%). However, they showed good susceptibility to Carbapenems (100%), Colistin (88.8%) and Tigecycline (81.8%). Among cultures with gram-positive species, Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CONS) (n = 14, 20.3%) predominated. CONS showed high resistance to Oxacillin (80%), Cefotaxime (66.7%) and Meropenem (80%) but good susceptibility (100%) to Vancomycin and Linezolid. Prevalence of multidrug-resistant strain was 73.9%. Conclusions Klebsiella species and CONS were the most common causes of neonatal sepsis in our study. A significant proportion of the isolates were multidrug resistant strains, which pose a great threat to neonatal survival, and thereby, warrant modification of existing empirical therapy. Implementation of effective preventive strategies to combat the emergence of antibiotic resistance is urgently needed. We recommend a combination of Piperacillin-Tazobactam and Ofloxacin as the first line therapy and combination of Vancomycin and Meropenem as the second line empirical therapy in our NICU

A rare case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a patient with recurrent metastatic breast carcinoma

The hematological malignancy is a well-known complication following breast carcinoma (BC), but the type of malignancy that occurs and treatment regimens followed are still under evaluation. The literature mostly describes therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome associated with BC. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is extremely rare following BC and is mostly described in patients treated with radiotherapy. Herein, we present a rare case of CLL detected at the time of recurrence in a 61-year-old female patient with a previous history of BC solely treated with surgery. She presented simultaneously with metastatic recurrent carcinoma and CLL