Background Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence.Methods ACST-2 is an international multicentre randomised trial of CAS versus CEA among asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis thought to require intervention, interpreted with all other relevant trials. Patients were eligible if they had severe unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and both doctor and patient agreed that a carotid procedure should be undertaken, but they were substantially uncertain which one to choose. Patients were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA and followed up at 1 month and then annually, for a mean 5 years. Procedural events were those within 30 days of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses are provided. Analyses including procedural hazards use tabular methods. Analyses and meta-analyses of non-procedural strokes use Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN21144362.

Maxillary removal allows improved visualization and access to anterior skull base lesions, while reinsertion of the maxillary fragment provides functional preservation and excellent cosmesis with few short- or long-term complications, even when adjuvant radiotherapy is used.

After a stroke, people are left with an increased risk of recurrence. One of the primary methods of prevention is the use of a range of medications, but adherence to these is often low. This article evaluates and summarises three systematic reviews that investigate possible underlying reasons for this and how to overcome these barriers.

Aims and Objectives:To evaluate the efficacy of tramadol or dexamethasone as an adjuvant to levobupivacaine in ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block in terms of onset time of complete sensory and motor blockade, duration of motor blockade, duration of analgesia, and any complication.Settings and Design:This was a randomized controlled trial conducted in the Department of Anesthesiology, a tertiary care hospital.Materials and Methods:Sixty consecutive patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Class I and II who were posted for upper limb surgeries were recruited. Patients were divided into two groups of thirty patients each. Group T (tramadol) received 20 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine with 100 mg tramadol, and Group D (dexamethasone) received 20 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine with 8 mg dexamethasone under ultrasound guidance. Sensory and motor block assessment was done every 2 min until the development of complete sensory and motor block till 45 min. Verbal numerical rating scale score was assessed in postoperative ward at regular intervals. Patients were followed up to check for any residual neurological deficits.Results:There was no statistical difference in demographic data between the two groups. The onset time of sensory and motor blockade shows no significant difference between groups. The mean time duration of motor blockade in Group T was 764.63 min and for Group D was 1150.27 min which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The duration of analgesia in Group D was 1300.83 min and in Group T was 820.47 min which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, pruritis, hypoxemia, and long-term neurological deficits were not reported in any of the patients in either group.Conclusion:Dexamethasone 8 mg as an adjuvant to 0.5% levobupivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus block using ultrasound guidance increases the duration of analgesia in comparison to 100 mg tramadol and provides excellent postoperative pain-free period without any neurological deficits.