Background:Acute poisoning is a common health-care problem requiring admission in the intensive care unit (ICU) in the developing countries. The study was conducted to assess the epidemiological parameters of acute poisoning and factors affecting clinical course and outcome of the patients in ICU in the eastern part of Nepal.Methodology:This was a prospective observational study conducted at ICU of tertiary care hospital in the eastern part of Nepal for the duration of 2 years. All the acute poisoning cases admitted in the ICU were studied for epidemiological profiles, poisoning characteristics, and various clinical factors affecting the outcome of the patients.Results:Eighty-five patients with acute poisoning were included in the study. Suicidal attempt leading to acute poisoning was seen in majority of the young population. Majority of the poisoning was due to the organophosphorous compounds (43.5%). Patients with organophosphorous poisoning had a significantly longer duration of ICU stay (P = 0.020). The survival of the patients was significantly affected by age, duration of presentation to the hospital, Glasgow Coma Scale, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, need for mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU stay, hepatic failure, coagulopathy, and need for vasoactive drugs (P < 0.05). The independent predictors of mortality observed in the study were age, delayed presentation to the hospital, hepatic failure, and need for mechanical ventilation.Conclusion:Organophosphorous poisoning was the most common acute poisoning in young population leading to the ICU admission. Older age, delayed initiation of the resuscitative measures, need for mechanical ventilation, and hepatic failure significantly affected the mortality.

Introduction:The clavicle has dual nerve supply from the brachial plexus and cervical plexus. The interscalene brachial plexus block combined with superior cervical plexus block is frequently used for the clavicle surgery. This study was conducted to compare ineterscalene approach with the supraclavicular approach for brachial plexus block used for clavicle surgery Methodology:This was prospective comparative study conducted for two years in tertiary care hospital. Sixty patients with clavicle fracture with ASA I and II were randomly divided into two equal groups; ISBPB (interscalene approach) and SCBPB (supraclavicular approach). Both of these blocks were combined with superior cervical plexus block.  Ultrasound was used to perform all the blocks. Primary outcome for the comparison was block characteristics, which included sensory and motor block onset, duration, and block satisfaction. The secondary variables used for comparison were analgesic properties and complications. Results: Supraclavicular brachial plexus had rapid onset of sensory and motor block and was statistically significant (P<0.05) as compared to interscalene approach. Similarly, SCBPB had significantly longer duration of sensory block (P=0.003). The duration of motor block was comparable between the blocks. The intraoperative pain score (VAS), requirement of rescue analgesia with in 24 hours of surgery and complications related with the procedures were comparable between the two groups. Majority of the patients were satisfied with either of the approach for brachial plexus block. Conclusion: Supraclavicular brachial plexus block combined with superior cervical plexus block provided equally effective and adequate anesthesia and analgesia for clavicle surgery with comparable complications as compared to interscalene approach.

Introduction: Knowledge and awareness of sepsis among various health care professionals is essential for prompt diagnosis and appropriate initial resuscitation and management of patient with sepsis. Objective: To assess and compare the knowledge and awareness of sepsis among health care professionals working at Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital. Methodology This was a questionnaire-based survey with comparative study in 200 health care professionals conducted at Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital from July– September, 2019. Questions were designed to assess the knowledge on diagnosis, initial resuscitation and management of sepsis. The knowledge level of the participants was assessed with scoring system as good, average and poor which was finally compared between the various health care professionals. Result Out of 200, only 180 health care professionals were included for statistical analysis. While assessing the knowledge on diagnosis of sepsis, 55.6% consultant doctors, 42.8% medical officers and 21.5% nursing/paramedics answered correctly on an average. Similarly, 51.7 % consultant doctors, 33.7% medical officers and 26.6% nursing/ paramedics gave correct answers while assessing knowledge on initial resuscitation and management. The nursing/paramedics had comparatively lower knowledge level on sepsis than the doctors. Around 31.7%, 51.2% and 17% of health care professionals working in Emergency, ICU and Anesthesiology departments had good, average and poor knowledge on sepsis respectively as compared to 14.2%, 28.5% and 57.1% of participants working in other departments. Conclusion: The nursing/paramedics had lower knowledge level on sepsis as compared to the doctors while health care professionals working in Emergency,ICU and Anesthesiology departments had better knowledge on sepsis as compared to staffs working in other departments.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to carry out the comparative study of variations in blood glucose levels intra operatively in patients undergoing surgical procedures in Spinal Anesthesia and General Anesthesia by capillary blood glucose level.Objective: To compare intra operative blood glucose level in Spinal and General Anesthesia.Methodology: Sixty non diabetic patients (30 in each group) aged between 20 – 60 years belonging to ASA I and ASA II status were enrolled for this prospective comparative study. Capillary blood glucose was measured preoperatively and thereafter at 15 minutes interval after incision in Spinal Anesthesia and after induction of General Anesthesia till one hour of surgery. For statistical analysis paired sample t – test was used for comparing mean of quantitative data. Difference was considered statistically significant if p < 0.05.Results: Blood sugar level was well controlled in patients receiving spinal anesthesia. General anesthesia produced more increase in blood sugar level compared to base line value which was statistically significant (P<0.05). Similarly, Glycaemia was significantly higher in the General anesthesia group (p < 0.05) when compared with Spinal Anesthesia group suggesting poor control of stress response during general anesthesia.Conclusion: Based on capillary blood glucose level, spinal anesthesia proved more effective in suppressing stress response as compared to general anesthesia in elective surgical patients. BJHS 2018;3(2)6: 458-462

Introduction: Central venous catheterization is a routine procedure for long-term infusion therapy and central venous pressure measurement. Sometimes, the catheter tip may be unintentionally placed at the position other than the junction of superior vena cava and right atrium. This is called malposition and can lead to erroneous pressure measurement, increase risk of thrombosis, venous obstruction or other life threatening complications like pneumothorax, cardiac temponade.Objectives: This study aimed to observe the incidence of the malposition and compare the same between ultrasound guided catheterization and blind anatomical landmark technique.Methodology: This study was a prospective comparative study conducted at the intensive care unit of Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital for two-year duration. All the catheterizations were done either with the use of real time ultrasound or blind anatomical landmark technique. The total numbers of central venous catheterization, the total incidences of malposition were observed. Finally the incidences were compared between real time ultrasound guided technique and blind anatomical landmark technique.Results: In two-year duration of the study, a total of 422 central venous cannulations were successfully done. The real time ultrasound was used for 280 cannulations while blind anatomical landmark technique was used for 162 patients. The study observed various malposition in 36 cases (8.5%). The most common malposition was observed for subclavian vein to ipsilateral internal jugular vein (33.3%) followed by subclavian to subclavian vein (27.8%) and internal jugular to ipsilateral subclavian vein (16.7%). In four patients the catheter had a reverse course in the internal jugular vein while the tip was placed in pleural cavity in three cannulations. There was coiling of the catheter inside left subclavian vein in one patient. The malposition was significantly reduced with the use of the real time ultrasound (P< 0.001). However there is no significant difference in the incidence of the various malposition between ultrasound guidance technique and blind anatomical landmark technique when compared individually.Conclusion: The malposition of the central venous catheter tip was common complication with the overall incidence of 8.5%. The most common malposition was subclavian vein to internal jugular vein. The use of real time ultrasound during the catheterization procedure can significantly reduced the risk of malposition.Birat Journal of Health SciencesVol.2/No.3/Issue 4/Sep- Dec 2017, Page: 277-281

Introduction: It is essential that all the medical professionals should have adequate skill for basic life support (BLS) for better outcome of cardiac arrest patients. The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of BLS among the medical doctors, nursing staffs and health care paramedics working in Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar. Methodology: A three-month duration observational questionnaire-based survey was conducted at Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar to assess the knowledge, awareness of basic life support among the medical doctors, nursing staffs and health care paramedics. A total of ten questions were designed to assess the knowledge and awareness regarding BLS skill. Three questions were designed to assess the previous experiences on cardiac arrest situation and BLS training. Similarly, two additional questions were added to assess the self-grading of BLS knowledge which included poor, below average, good and excellent. Result:  It was observed that only 14% participants had previous BLS training. Surprisingly, 76% of the participants had encountered cardiac arrest situation in their clinical practice but they were managing those cases with limited knowledge on BLS. The correct answer to the self-structured questionnaire were ticked by less than 50% of participants and majority of the participants came below average on self-grading of the knowledge and awareness suggesting the need of easy accessibility of BLS training centers in the eastern part of Nepal. Conclusion: This study revealed that the knowledge and awareness of basic life support skills among the various staffs was mostly below average to poor. Significant amount of cost effective BLS trainings must be conducted so as to develop competent staffs by various training centers

Introduction: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a regional anesthesia that involves the infiltration of local anesthetic in between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscle plane. This block provides post-operative analgesia and reduces the requirement of opioids consumption. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of TAP block in providing postoperative analgesia in women undergoing caesarean section. Methodology: This was a hospital based prospective, comparative, cross sectional study conducted in 70 patients from 17th September 2018 to 17th February 2019 undergoing caesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A patients received TAP block with 0.5% Ropivacaine versus Group B patients received injection paracetamol 1gm intravenous every 8 hourly as a standard and routine analgesic. At the end of the surgery, TAP block was performed by anesthesiologist and assessment of postoperative pain using a visual analogue pain score at every 1 hour, 3 hour, 6 hour, 12 hour and 24 hour by trained staffs at postoperative ward. Then, depending upon the severity of the pain injection fentanyl 1mcg/kg intravenous was given as rescue analgesia. Short assessment of patient satisfaction (SAPS) score was also assessed 24 hours postoperatively. Results: Compared to control group, in women who received TAP block, there was statistically significant reduction in pain at 3 hr, 6 hr, 24 hrs. However at 12 hrs there was no significant difference in the pain score. The cumulative fentanyl requirement was also significantly less in the TAP block group at all the time points.  Conclusion: The TAP block provided highly effective postoperative analgesia following caesarean section and reduces the fentanyl requirement in the first 24 hour.

Introduction: Dexmedetomidine and midazolam are frequently used to maintain sedation in mechanically ventilated patient in intensive care unit. The study compared dexmedetomidine and midazolam infusion in mechanically ventilated patient in terms providing effective sedation. Methods: This was one year prospec­tive comparative study conducted in 130 mechanically ventilated patients who were randomly divided in two groups receiving either dexmedetomidine or midazolam infusion for sedation. Sedation level was assessed by Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale with the aim of maintaining target sedation score of 3 to 4. The two drugs were compared in terms of sedation level in first 24 hours, time required to achieve target sedation level, hemody­namic changes and adverse effects including ICU delirium. The outcome was measured in terms of duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stays and ICU mortality. Results: Both dexmedetomidine and midazolam achieved target sedation level in a comparable time duration. The median sedation level for both the drugs was 4 and 3 in initial 4 and 24 hours respectively. Dexmedetomidne produced significant decrease in blood pressure and heart rate (P=0.044 and P=0.007 respectively). Patients treated with dexmedetomidine had less incidence of ICU delirium (odds ratio=2.669, P=0.029).Dexmedetomidine infusion had significantly shorter duration mechanical ventilation (4.10 ± 2.05 vs. 5.15 ± 2.44, P=0.011), early discharge from ICU (6.05 ± 2.02 vs. 7.48 ± 2.42, p=0.001). ICU mortality was comparable between the groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine and midazolam both were equally effective in maintaining sedation in Critically ill patient. Compared to midazolam, dexmedetomidine could be a preferred sedative in ICU in terms of early removal from mechanical ventilation, early discharge from ICU and less incidence of delirium.