Improving trends in global health care have resulted in a steady increase in the geriatric population. However, as the population ages, surgery is being performed more frequently in progressively older patients and those with higher prevalence of comorbidities. A significant percentage of elderly patients experience transient postoperative delirium following surgery or long-term postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Increasing age, educational level, pre-existing mental health, and comorbidities are contributory factors. Comprehensive geriatric assessment provides an objective evaluation on overall medical, social, mental, and functional well-being with scope for preoperative optimization. Preventive strategies for POCD target the surgical and patient-related factors as well as the utilization of the concept of stress-free anesthesia and surgery, that is, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. This includes care bundles and protocols for the perioperative period which improves outcomes in the elderly. Research on biomarkers of neural injury in POCD is gaining momentum. Pharmacologic agents such as acetylcholine esterase inhibitors promise to have a vital role in the management of POCD but exhibit undesired side effects. Interventions to reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation could prove beneficial. Preventive strategies, early recognition, and management of perioperative risk factors seems to be, by far, the best modality to deal with POCD till further progress in therapeutic interventions evolve.

Some open-label studies suggest that risperidone can be useful in the treatment of certain target symptoms in children with autism. We aimed to study whether the use of risperidone in comparison with placebo improved functioning in children with autism with regard to behavior (aggressiveness, hyperactivity, irritability), social and emotional responsiveness, and communication skills. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 40 consecutive children with autism, whose ages ranged from 2 to 9 years, who were receiving either risperidone or placebo given orally at a dose of 1 mg/day for 6 months. Autism symptoms were monitored periodically. The outcome variables were total scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) after 6 months. Of the 40 children enrolled, 39 completed the trial over a period of 18 months; 19 received risperidone, and 20 received placebo. In the risperidone group, 12 of 19 children showed improvement in the total Childhood Autism Rating Scale score and 17 of 19 children in the Children's Global Assessment Scale score compared with 0 of 20 children for the Childhood Autism Rating Scale score and 2 of 20 children for the Children's Global Assessment Scale score in the placebo group (P < .001 and P = .035, respectively). Risperidone also improved social responsiveness and nonverbal communication and reduced the symptoms of hyperactivity and aggression. Risperidone was associated with increased appetite and a mild weight gain, mild sedation in 20%, and transient dyskinesias in three children. Risperidone improved global functioning and social responsiveness while reducing hyperactivity and aggression in children with autism and was well tolerated.

A 12-year-old boy with tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalous, after undergoing revision of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt had persistent impairment of sensorium and episodes of hyponatremia (serum sodium 104 to 125 mmol/l), accompanied by polyuria, signs of poor peripheral, perfusion hypotension and low CVP, and high urinary sodium excretion (114-60 mmol/l). A diagnosis of cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS) was made and was treated with saline replacement and fludrocortisone (10 microg/kg/day). Within next 3 days the sensorium, signs of shock, urine output and serum and urinary sodium returned to normal. The case illustrates that life-threatening hyponatremia in a child with neurological illness could be caused by CSWS, which must be differentiated from Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), as CSWS requires rigorous salt and volume replacement in contrast to fluid restriction in SIADH.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical Apgar score (SAS) in predicting morbidity and 30 day mortality in general surgical procedures and also to compare the predictability of the score in elective and emergency surgeries for outcome thereafter.Methods: 120 patients undergoing general surgical procedures in JSS Hospital, Mysuru from November 2016 to April 2018 were included in the study. Necessary data was collected. Surgical Apgar score was calculated for each patient and analysis done.Results: 75% of the patients included in the study were in the age group of over 40 years. Around 23% of the patients belong to age group>60 years. 18.25% of patients in the age group >60 years had a low Apgar score of <4. Whereas surgical Apgar score 9-10 was highest in the age group <40 years. Diabetes, hypertension, smoking were significantly associated with post-operative complications. 74.25% of the surgeries involved in the study were elective in nature. Amongst the 35 patients with an Apgar score of <4, major complications occurred in 33% and a 30-day mortality rate of 23% was observed. Morbidity was higher in emergency surgeries as compared to elective surgical procedures.Conclusions: Surgical Apgar score is a simple and useful method of predicting the morbidity and the 30 day mortality of patients undergoing general surgical procedures. It is more sensitive in predicting the outcome in emergency cases as compared to the elective cases.

Chronic right lower quadrant pain is a common clinical entity and continues to remain a diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Laparoscopy is changing the view regarding exploration in patients with chronic right lower quadrant pain. Of recent, chronic or recurrent right lower quadrant pain is an entity that has generated much interest, hence this study has been undertaken. To study the role of elective laparoscopic appendicectomy for chronic or recurrent right lower quadrant pain. To study the relationship between clinical improvement and histopathological findings of removed appendix. Forty three cases of chronic right lower quadrant pain, who met the inclusion criteria, were included in the clinical study. Three cases were excluded during initial diagnostic laparoscopy because of ovarian cyst. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was performed in 40 cases. In our study amongst 40 (100 %) patients, 36(90 %) patients were relieved of pain completely. Only 4(10 %) patients continued to have persistent right lower quadrant pain. Duration of follow up was 6 months. Postoperative pain scores favour appendicectomy (p < 0.005). There was no association between postoperative pain scores and histopathology findings. There was no mortality in our study. Persistent or recurrent right lower quadrant pain can be treated successfully by elective laparoscopic appendicectomy in properly selected cases. Laparoscopic appendectomy is a feasible and safe procedure. Histopathology of the removed appendix does not contribute to the diagnosis.