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Background: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia (TEA) has many benefits over general anaesthesia in major abdominal surgeries including avoidance of endotracheal intubation. Aims: To evaluate the feasibility of TEA for major abdominal surgeries in the private hospital setting. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study of all major abdominal surgeries performed under TEA in two private hospitals in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria over a two-year period. All thoracic epidural anaesthesia was performed under aseptic conditions at the T 8/9 , T 9/10 , or T 10/11 interspinous space using a size 18G Tuohy epidural needle and catheter inserted as appropriate. A test dose of 3 ml of 1% lidocaine with adrenaline was used in all patients, after which a loading dose of 10-15 ml of 2% lidocaine with adrenaline was injected at 5 ml every 5 minutes till a block height of approximately T 4-L 1 was obtained. Anaesthesia was maintained with 5 ml of 2% lidocaine with adrenaline every 45 minutes till the end of surgery. The operative condition was assessed on the basis of sedation and analgesic requirement, as well as response to mesenteric traction. The pulse rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored throughout the procedure and recorded. Data were obtained from the patients' folders and operation register. Information obtained included: age, gender, ASA status, diagnosis and type of surgery performed. Data analysis was performed using SPSS®, version 16. Results: Twelve patients underwent major abdominal surgeries under TEA. The mean age (range) was 49.58 (20-78) years, with a male to female ratio of 1:1.4. TEA was adequate in 10 (83.3%) patients, while two (16.7%) patients developed total spinal anaesthesia and were successfully resuscitated and their surgeries completed under general endotracheal anaesthesia. Conclusion: TEA for major abdominal surgeries is feasible. However, careful patient selection, a meticulous approach and preparation for resuscitation is required to prevent and manage complications.

are not without job-related hazards. It is, thus, necessary to apply safety rules and regulations. Their training is usually apprenticed based, lasting between 1 and 3 years. Most the auto mechanic shops are owned by a single individual, and they are generally not careful about protective devices. The few owned by big companies are located in Federal Capital and other commercial cities in Nigeria. In Uyo, the state capital of Akwa-Ibom, the local authority has carved out a section of the town called "Mechanic Village," where most of the technicians come together along with the auto spare parts dealers to practice their trade. This arrangement makes it very convenient for their customers to access the services of different specialty of auto mechanic technicians and auto spare parts dealers. Adopting health promotional measures at workplace is an important step toward ensuring a healthy work environment, especially in developing countries where such measures are commonly not well considered. [1] The use of protective eye Background: Job-related injuries are common among artisans in developing countries. In Uyo, Nigeria, data on ocular injuries at workplace are not available to guide regulatory government agencies. Objective: To determine the awareness level and protective eye devices use profile among workers in the Uyo Mechanic Village. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among artisans in a state-owned mechanics' village in 2013. Result: Of the 109 subjects, 107 (98.2%) were men and two (1.8%) were women with a mean of 37.6 ± 9.2 years, and the age range was 18-62 years. Ninety-five subjects (87.2%) were not wearing any form of eye protection at work, 85 (78%) have never heard about protective eye wear at work, while 91 (83.5%) were not trained for using protective eye wear. Eleven cases (73.3%) had occupation-related ocular injury. Conclusion: Job-related eye injuries are common in our cohorts largely because of ignorance or nonuse of protective eye devices.