Local anesthetics are used very often in medicine and dentistry. They have few adverse effects, but the increased use of these drugs has resulted in a higher incidence of local and systemic anesthetic toxicity (LAST). From the initial symptoms to the deleterious effects on cardiac and the central nervous system, LAST is an important consequence of which we should be aware. LAST is known since the introduction and use of local anesthetics; it was originally associated with seizures and respiratory failure. However, in the 1970s, side effects on the heart were also identified, as the fatal cardiac toxicity associated with bupivacaine was discovered in healthy patients. Prevention and safe administration of regional anesthesia remains primary factors in the avoidance of the toxicity of these drugs. When a patient has LAST, treatment should be started immediately to reduce seizures. If there is cardiac arrest, follow ACLS guidelines. Intravenous lipids improve cardiac conduction, contractility and coronary perfusion by removing liposoluble local anesthetic from cardiac tissue.

Background: Management of postoperative pain is one of the most challenging and gratifying domains of anaesthesia. Search for an ideal adjuvant for post operative epidural analgesia still continues. Methods: A total of 75 healthy patients of both sexes in age group 50-80 years belonging to ASA status I and II posted for elective hip surgeries were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups of 25 each-Group B, Group BF and Group BC All the patients in the three groups received 3.5 ml Bupivacaine heavy (0.5%) intrathecally before surgery, followed by epidural bolus postoperatively, at 'two segment sensory regression' in following manner: initial bolus made to 10 ml with each group given-7 ml of 0.125% Bupivacaine and 3 ml distilled water with adjuvant as 50 µg Fentanyl in group BF and 100 µg Clonidine in group BC. Top up of 7 ml was given to each group with 5 ml of 0.125% Bupivacaine and 2 ml distilled water with adjuvant as 50 μg Fentanyl in group BF and 75 μg Clonidine in group BC. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the demographic profile. VAS scores were found to be better in Group BF and BC at most of the times and these scores were significantly lower than Group B. Rescue analgesia was required in 12% patients in Group B while none of the patients in Group BF or Group BC required rescue analgesia. Nausea, vomiting and pruritus were observed in 52% of the patients in Group BF and in none of the patients in Group BC and Group B.Degree of sedation was significantly more in Group BC when compared with Group BF and Group B. Conclusion: Combination of Bupivacaine-Clonidine was found to be a better option than Bupivacaine-Fentanyl for postoperative epidural analgesia in hip surgery patients. J o u rn al of A n e s th es ia & C li n ic a l Resea rc h

Context:Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation lead to strong sympathetic response which may precipitate arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia and cerebrovascular accidents in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease.Aims:This study was aimed to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine and esmolol on hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia.Settings and Design:This was a prospective, randomized controlled double-blinded study.Materials and Methods:A total of ninety patients were selected and randomized into three groups of thirty patients each: Group C received infusion of 20 mL 0.9% normal saline (NS) over 10 min, Group D received infusion of dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg diluted in 20 mL NS over 10 min, and Group E received infusion of esmolol 1.5 mg/kg diluted in 20 mL NS over 10 min. Three minutes after the completion of infusion, patients were induced with general anesthesia. Baseline parameters such as heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and rate pressure product (RPP) were recorded before administration of study drugs and at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 min after intubation.Statistical Analysis Used:One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among the groups and unpaired t-test was used for comparison within the groups along with Tukey's test for post test analysis.Results:Mean HR, SBP, DBP, MAP, and RPP values remained significantly lower in Group D than that of Group C and Group E at all time intervals up to 10 min after intubation.Conclusions:Both dexmedetomidine and esmolol suppressed the hemodynamic response to intubation when compared to control group, but dexmedetomidine is more effective than esmolol in maintaining hemodynamic stability following laryngoscopy and intubation.

Background and Aims:Dexamethasone has a powerful anti-inflammatory action with significant analgesic benefits. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of dexamethasone administered through intravenous (IV) and caudal route on post-operative analgesia in paediatric inguinal herniotomy patients.Methods:One hundred and five paediatric patients undergoing inguinal herniotomy were included and divided into three groups. Each patient received a single caudal dose of ropivacaine 0.15%, 1.5 mL/kg combined with either corresponding volume of normal saline (Group 1) or caudal dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg (Group 2) or IV dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg (Group 3). Baseline, intra- and post-operative haemodynamic parameters, pain scores, time to rescue analgesia, total analgesic consumption and adverse effects were evaluated for 24 h after surgery. Unpaired Student's t-test and analysis of variance were applied for quantitative data and Chi-square test for qualitative data. Time to first analgesic administration was analysed by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test.Results:Duration of analgesia was significantly longer (P < 0.001), and total consumption of analgesics was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in Group II and III compared to Group I. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was higher in Group I (31.4%) compared to Group II and III (8.6%).Conclusions:Addition of dexamethasone both caudally or intravenously as an adjuvant to caudal 0.15% ropivacaine significantly reduced the intensity of post-operative pain and prolonged the duration of post-operative analgesia with the significant advantage of caudal over IV route.