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ObjectiveDocumenting the implementation of a public health programme as per its design is critical to interpretation of results from survey-led outcome and impact evaluation activities, the authors describe the scale-up and coverage of large-scale HIV-prevention services provided to female sex workers (FSWs) and high-risk men who have sex with men (HR-MSM) during the first 5 years of the Avahan programme in India.MethodsImplementing NGO partner-generated denominator estimates from 70 districts were used to estimate the programme's intended coverage. Routine programme-monitoring data until December 2008 were used to describe the service and commodity availability, service utilisation to generate internal estimates of coverage. Coverage was validated in few districts using data from a cross-sectional survey.ResultsIn December 2008, the estimated denominators for intended services were about 217 000 FSWs and 80 000 HR-MSM. By January 2007, 79% of eventual total clinics and 75% drop-in centres were established, and 83% of eventual peer educators were active. By month 48, sufficient condoms to cover all estimated FSW commercial sex acts were distributed free. By month 60, 75% of the estimated denominator intended to be covered was met monthly. 86% of FSWs and 67% of HR-MSM ever contacted had used sexually transmitted infections services at least once. Cross-sectional survey generated coverage results suggest that programme-monitoring data provide a proxy to coverage of services.ConclusionAvahan's monitoring data show that Avahan achieved infrastructure scale by year 3 and high contact coverage through peers and with commodities by year 5 of implementation as per the design.

Background:Spinal anaesthesia is the most common approach which is used for lower limb surgery. Dexmedetomidine is the recent drug which acts on α2-adrenergic receptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord to produce analgesic effects.Aim:Efficacy and safety of intrathecal dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine.Setting and Design:Randomised double blind trial.Methods:Sixty patients were randomly allocated to receive intrathecally either 3 ml of 0.75% isobaric ropivacaine + 0.5 ml normal saline (Group R) or 3 ml of 0.75% isobaric ropivacaine + 5 μg dexmedetomidine in 0.5 ml of normal saline (Group D).Results:The mean time of sensory regression to S2 was 468.3±36.78 minutes in group D and 239.33±16.8 minutes in group R. Duration of analgesia (time to requirement of first rescue analgesic) was significantly prolonged in group D (478.4±20.9 minutes) as compared to group R (241.67±21.67 minutes). The maximum visual analogue scale score for pain was less in group D (4.4±1.4) as compared to group R (6.8±2.2).Conclusion:The addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine intrathecally produces a prolongation in the duration of the motor and sensory block.

Background:Various adjuvants have been used with local anesthetics in spinal anesthesia to avoid intraoperative visceral and somatic pain and to provide prolonged postoperative analgesia. Dexmedetomidine, the new highly selective α2-agonist drug, is now being used as a neuraxial adjuvant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the onset and duration of sensory and motor block, hemodynamic effect, postoperative analgesia, and adverse effects of dexmedetomidine or fentanyl given intrathecally with hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine.Materials and Methods:Sixty patients classified in American Society of Anesthesiologists classes I and II scheduled for lower abdominal surgeries were studied. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 12.5 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 5 μg dexmedetomidine (group D, n = 30) or 12.5 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 25 μg fentanyl (group F, n = 30) intrathecal.Results:Patients in dexmedetomidine group (D) had a significantly longer sensory and motor block time than patients in fentanyl group (F). The mean time of sensory regression to S1 was 476±23 min in group D and 187±12 min in group F (P<0.001). The regression time of motor block to reach modified Bromage 0 was 421±21 min in group D and 149±18 min in group F (P<0.001).Conclusions:Intrathecal dexmedetomidine is associated with prolonged motor and sensory block, hemodynamic stability, and reduced demand for rescue analgesics in 24 h as compared to fentanyl.

Background:The low-dose ropivacaine provides differential spinal block to reduce adverse hemodynamic effects in elderly patients. Addition of intrathecal fentanyl with ropivacaine may enhance analgesia and early postoperative mobility. The present study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of intrathecal ropivacaine alone and in combination with fentanyl in transurethral resection operation.Methods:Sixty male patients aged >50 years of ASA I-III scheduled for elective transurethral resection were included in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study and they were divided in two groups of 30 each. Group A (n = 30) received intrathecal injection of ropivacaine 2 ml (0.75%) and Group B (n = 30) ropivacaine 1.8 ml (0.75%) with fentanyl 10 μg. The characteristics of onset and regression of sensory and motor blockade, hemodynamic stability, and side effects were observed. Student's t test (for parametric data) and Mann-Whitney U test (for non-parametric data) were used for statistical analyses.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups for patient demographic data, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, side effects, and satisfaction to patients and surgeon. The highest level of sensory block was at T10 in group A and T9 in group B (P = 0.001). Duration of motor block was longer in group B being 210.51 ± 61.25 min than in group A being 286.25 ± 55.65 min (P < 0.001).Conclusion:The addition of fentanyl to ropivacaine may offer the advantage of shorter duration of complete motor block, hemodynamic stability, and without any increase in the frequency of major side effects.

Prevention of SSIs requires a multipronged approach with particular emphasis on optimising preoperative issues, adhering religiously to strict protocols during the intraoperative period and addressing and optimising metabolic and nutritional status in postoperative period.

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Post-operative pain after any type of surgery can have very detrimental effects and if appropriate analgesia is not provided, it can effect respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, and endo-crinological systems as well as have chronic effects like delayed recovery and chronic pain. 1 Most commonly used drugs for postoperative analgesia are NSAIDs worldwide. They can be used orally, intravenously (i.v.), intramuscularly (i.m.) and as transdermal patches. Transdermal delivery drug system avoids the pain associated with i.v. and i.m. routes and is an option for patients who don't tolerate the oral drug especially in postoperative period. Also topical NSAIDs have a reduced risk of upper gastrointestinal complications such as gastric and peptic ulcers, and dyspepsia because of low systemic concentrations. 2 In this study we had compared transdermal diclofenac patch with ketoprofen patch for postoperative analgesia. The primary end point is VAS score and total requirement of rescue analgesic first 24 hours of surgery. The secondary end points are time to rescue analgesic and adverse effects like nausea and vomiting. METHODS The study was conducted in a tertiary care centre with the approval of ethical committee of the institution. A written and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Patients included for the study were all ASA physical ABSTRACT Background: Transdermal patch is a very simple and painless method for providing postoperative analgesia. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of transdermal patch of ketoprofen in comparison to diclofenac patch for postoperative analgesia. It is a randomized single blind study. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly allocated to receive either ketoprofen or diclofenac patch at the end of surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Statistical analyses used, data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 15.0. Results: In diclofenac group the post-operative VAS was 2.4±0.72 and in ketoprofen group, post-operative VAS was 1.4±0.3 which was significantly low when compared to group D (p<0.05 value). 11 patients in group D and 3 patients in group K required rescue analgesia (Inj. tramadol) in the first 24 hours which was statically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: Both ketoprofen and diclofenac transdermal patch are effective for postoperative analgesia but less number of patients required rescue analgesic in ketoprofen group.