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Biomedical subjects

A K Sethi

Publications and source records attributed to A K Sethi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Laryngotracheal hypoplasia--a rare cause of difficult intubation.

Generalized hypoplasia of the larynx and trachea is a very rare condition with only one case reported in the literature. A pregnant woman presented for an emergency laparotomy under general anaesthesia. Endotracheal intubation with conventional sizes of tracheal tubes failed, despite a Cormack and Lehane grade I laryngoscopic view. Subsequent investigations demonstrated generalized hypoplasia of the larynx and trachea. In this report, successful anaesthetic management of this case is discussed along with other possible options.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Randomised trial of intravenous infusion of ephedrine or mephentermine for management of hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section.

This study compared the effects of intravenous infusions of ephedrine and mephentermine for maintenance of maternal arterial pressure and neonatal outcome in pregnant women receiving subarachnoid block for lower segment Caesarean section. Sixty patients who developed hypotension following subarachnoid block for Caesarean section were randomly divided into two groups of 30 each to receive an intravenous infusion of ephedrine or mephentermine. Hypotension was defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure of > or = 20% from the baseline value or an absolute value of <100 mmHg, whichever was higher. The vasopressor infusion was titrated to maintain systolic blood pressure between 'hypotension' and baseline values. Baseline haemodynamic parameters, haemodynamic changes subsequent to the start of vasopressor infusion, duration of hypotension and amount of vasopressor required were statistically similar for both groups. Neonatal APGAR scores and acid-base profiles were also comparable. To conclude, mephentermine can be used as safely and effectively as ephedrine for the management of hypotension during spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing elective Caesarean section.

Adrenergic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Rate-dependent left bundle branch block during anaesthesia.

Rate-dependent left bundle branch block during general anaesthesia is rare. Its occurrence makes electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial ischaemia or infarction difficult. It can also be confused with a slow rate ventricular tachycardia. We present a case of rate-dependent left bundle branch block in a patient with no previous history of ischaemic heart disease. Carotid sinus massage resulted in a decrease in heart rate and reversion to normal sinus rhythm.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2004

Effect of diclofenac pretreatment on pain during propofol injection.

In a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 120 ASA 1 or 2 patients were allocated to receive diclofenac or normal saline as pretreatment to assess their effect on incidence and severity of pain during propofol injection. Diclofenac in two different doses, i.e. 25 mg and 15 mg, was tried for this purpose. The overall incidence of pain did not significantly differ among the groups, but the incidence of moderate to severe pain following propofol injection was significantly less in patients who received diclofenac 25 mg (P = 0.0017) or 15 mg (P = 0.0363) than in those who received saline. However, the diclofenac itself was associated with mild pain in some patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Psychological care in trauma patients.

The clinician manages trauma patients in the emergency room, operation theatre, intensive care unit and trauma ward with an endeavour to provide best possible treatment for physical injuries. At the same time, it is equally important to give adequate attention to behavioural and psychological aspects associated with the event. Knowledge of the predisposing factors and their management helps the clinician to prevent or manage these psychological problems. Various causes of psychological disturbances in trauma patients have been highlighted. These include pain, the sudden and unexpected nature of events and the procedures and interventions necessary to resuscitate and stabilise the patient. The ICU and trauma ward environment, sleep and sensory deprivation, impact of injury on CNS, medications and associated pre-morbid conditions are also significant factors. Specific problems that concern the traumatised patients are helplessness, humiliation, threat to body image and mental symptoms. The patients react to these stressors by various defence mechanisms like conservation withdrawal, denial, regression, anger, anxiety and depression. Some of them develop delirium or even more severe problems like acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Physical, pharmacological or psychological interventions can be performed to prevent or minimise these problems in trauma patients. These include adequate pain relief, prevention of sensory and sleep deprivation, providing familiar surroundings, careful explanations and reassurance to the patient, psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment whenever required.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

Filters in anaesthesia and intensive care.

The use of various types of filters in anaesthesia and intensive care seems ubiquitous, yet authentication of the practice is scarce and controversies abound. This review examines evidence for the practice of using filters with blood and blood product transfusion (standard blood filter, microfilter, leucocyte depletion filter), infusion of fluids, breathing systems, epidural catheters, and at less common sites such as with Entonox inhalation in non-intubated patients, forced air convection warmers, and air-conditioning systems. For most filters, the literature failed to support routine usage, despite this seemingly being popular and innocuous. The controversies, as well as guidelines if available, for each type of filter, are discussed. The review aims to rationalize the place of various filters in the anaesthesia and intensive care environment.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2002

Comparison of isoprenaline with adrenaline as components of epidural test dose solutions for halothane anaesthetized children.

In this randomized controlled trial we studied the haemodynamic effects of intravenous injection of lignocaine 1 mg/kg with either no additive, isoprenaline 0. 05 microg or 0.075 microg/kg, or adrenaline 0.5 microg/kg in children anaesthetized with halothane. An increase of > or = 10 bpm in heart rate or > or = 20% rise in blood pressure was taken as a positive test response. Adrenaline was confirmed to be an unreliable marker with a positive test in only 67% of cases. For both doses of isoprenaline, the heart rate changes produced a positive test in 100% of cases. There was no statistically significant difference between the two doses of isoprenaline in regard to mean maximum increase in heart rate, mean time of beginning, ending or duration of positive test response and mean time to reach peak heart rate. The positive test response began between 10 and 50 seconds and lastedfor an average of 69 +/- 54 seconds with the lower dose of isoprenaline 0.05 microg/kg No advantage could be seen with the higher dose of isoprenaline. Change in blood pressure was not a useful criterion to detect intravascular injection. Recommendations for the use of isoprenaline as a marker of intravascular injection during regional blockade must be deferred until the safety of this agent's effect on neurological tissue is confirmed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Respiratory failure in acute intermittent porphyria.

We report two patients of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) who presented with acute respiratory failure. Only one such previous report could be found. Occasionally, neuropathy may be the presenting feature in AIP which may progress to respiratory embarrassment. The cause of this neuropathy has been hypothesized to be direct neurotoxicity of delta-ALA by interaction with GABA receptor, altered tryptophan metabolism and may be heme depletion in nerve cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Time to initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected injection drug users.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that HIV-infected injection drug users (IDUs) are less likely to receive antiretroviral therapy than non-drug users. We assess factors associated with initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected IDUs. METHODS: A cohort study of IDUs carried out between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 1999 at a community-based study clinic affiliated to the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. The participants were a total of 528 HIV-infected IDUs eligible for HAART based on CD4+ cell count. The main outcome measure was the time from treatment eligibility to first self-reported HAART use, as defined by the International AIDS Society-USA panel (IAS-USA) guidelines. RESULTS: By 30 June 1999, 58.5% of participants had initiated HAART, most of whom switched from mono- or dual-combination therapy to a HAART regimen. Nearly one-third of treatment-eligible IDUs never received antiretroviral therapy. Cox proportional hazards regression showed that initiating HAART was independently associated with not injecting drugs, methadone treatment among men, having health insurance and a regular source of care, lower CD4+ cell count and a history of antiretroviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported initiation of HAART is steadily increasing among IDUs who are eligible for treatment; however, a large proportion continues to use non-HAART regimens and many remain treatment-naive. Although both groups appear to have lower health care access and utilization, IDUs without a history of antiretroviral therapy use would have more treatment options available to them once they become engaged in HIV care.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

What is the effect of riskshaw noise on its driver?

OBJECTIVE: Occupational hearing loss is common in the industrialized world. Road noise is a major contributor to perceived environmental noise. The objective of this study was to assess hearing loss in rickshaw drivers due to rickshaw noise. METHODS: Hearing loss in rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers of Karachi who were 50 years of age or younger was estimated, with a Smith Hearing Screening (SHS) questionnaire that was modified, translated into the national language, Urdu and field tested prior to administration. RESULTS: Interviews for 91 rickshaw drivers and 94 taxi drivers were completed. All subjects were male; mean ages were 34 and 33 years for rickshaw and taxi drivers respectively. None of the rickshaws were fitted with silencers. Rickshaw drivers were about thrice as likely to be screened as hearing impaired by the SHS questionnaire (RR 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.6, 5.0), twice as likely to report tinnitus (RR 2.2, 95% confidence interval, 1.1, 3.3) and two and a half times as likely to have difficulty in following telephonic conversations (RR 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.2, 4.8). CONCLUSION: There is loss of hearing and tinnitus among rickshaw drivers that could be attributed to their trade. Use of silencers by rickshaw drivers could result in less hearing loss among rickshaw drivers and less noise in the environment for the other 11 million residents in the city.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Safe pre-operative fasting times after milk or clear fluid in children. A preliminary study using real-time ultrasound.

Gastric emptying of orange-flavoured glucose (group I), low-fat milk (group II) and breast milk (group III) was evaluated in 45 ASA grade I children of < or = 5 years of age by using real-time ultrasonography and residual gastric volume and pH was then measured. In 15 more children, residual gastric volume and pH was measured after a midnight fast (group IV). Mean (SD) gastric emptying time in group I was 1.53 (0.25) h (range 1.00-1.75), group II 2.32 (0.31) h (range 1.75-2.75) and group III 2.43 (0.27) h (range 2.00-2.75). According to Robert and Shirley's criteria, no children of group I and II were found to be 'at risk' at 2 h and 3 h, respectively, but 13.3% of group III children were labelled as 'at risk' at 3 h. The incidence of 'at risk' children in group IV was 33.3%. It was concluded that 3% fat milk or 17.5% glucose in a volume of 10 ml.kg-1 (maximum volume of 100 ml) can be given in children safely 3 h and 2 h, respectively, before anaesthesia. More real-time studies are required on breast milk to establish guidelines for its potential use as a pre-operative feed 3 h before anaesthesia.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Contractile mechanisms of canine colonic propulsion.

We investigated the contractile mechanisms of propulsion in the dog colon. "Propagation index" indicating caudad or orad propagation of contractile states exhibited the strongest correlation with transit during both the fasting and the postprandial states. Other parameters, such as total duration of contractile states and area under contractions, also contributed to transit, but to a lesser degree. All parameters exhibited a stronger correlation with transit during the fasting than during the postprandial state. During the fasting state, the transit rate was faster in the proximal than in the middle colon. The transit rate was linear through the proximal and the middle colon during the postprandial state. In contrast to the phasic contractions and the contractile states, the giant migrating contractions were ultrapropulsive. We conclude that the propagation of contractile states in the colon is a major factor in the slow net distal propulsion of colonic contents. The individual phasic contractions may mainly produce mixing and agitation of colonic contents. Giant migrating contractions rapidly propel colonic contents over long distances.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Subcutaneous infusion of ketamine and morphine for relief of postoperative pain: a double-blind comparative study.

Low dose ketamine by subcutaneous infusion (0.1 mg.kg-1.h-1) was compared in a double-blind fashion with a similar infusion of morphine (0.03 mg.kg-1.h-1) for postoperative analgesia in 60 ASA-I adults after major abdominal surgery. Pain was assessed using visual analogue scales and sedation was graded on a four-point rank drowsiness score. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were also recorded. Pain relief was better with the ketamine infusion than with morphine infusion (P < 0.001). Both tidal and minute volume parameters improved better with ketamine (P < 0.001); patients were more awake and alert as evidenced by the drowsiness score (P < 0.001). Nine out of 30 patients who received morphine required catheterisation for urinary retention (P < 0.05). The study revealed higher analgesic efficacy of a low dose subcutaneous infusion of ketamine with lesser sedation and fewer side effects.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1993

Intracellular levels and extracellular release of lysosomal enzymes from peripheral blood monocytes in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

The intracellular activity and extracellular release (basal and latex-stimulated) of B-glucuronidase (BG) and N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), measured fluorimetrically, were observed to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in blood monocytes (BM) of untreated pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients compared to those of age- and sex-matched controls and Mantoux-positive subjects without any evidence of active disease. After completion of antituberculous therapy, BG and NAG activities declined appreciably (P < 0.05) and their levels became comparable to those in control subjects. The present results suggest the potentiation of the oxygen-independent defense mechanism of BM in pulmonary TB.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1992

Hypothalamo-pituitary axis by magnetic resonance imaging in isolated growth hormone deficiency patients born by normal delivery.

Magnetic resonance imaging was performed using a 1.5 Tesla magnet in 22 children (14 boys and 8 girls) between 5-20 yr of age with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD), born by normal vaginal delivery without any birth asphyxia or trauma. A total of 22 children (10 boys and 12 girls) without short stature and endocrine disease were evaluated as controls. The IGHD group had a height velocity less than 4 cm/yr and delayed bone age. The peak GH levels were less than 10 micrograms/L (mean, 2.4 micrograms/L). The height of the pituitary gland ranged from 3-7.5 mm in controls. An intact stalk was observed in 21 children with IGHD, with nonvisualization in 1. An apparently thin stalk was seen in 6. The posterior lobe identified by the hyperintensity signal, had a mean diameter of 1.84 mm and was located in a normal position in 21 children. An ectopic posterior pituitary hyperintensity was present in 1 patient. The anterior pituitary was hypoplastic in 17 children, with partial empty sella in 13. A total of 5 children had associated brain anomalies, such as Arnold Chiari malformation, craniovertebral malformation with basilar impression, degenerative plaques around posterior horn of lateral ventricle and parietal area, and infarcts in caudate nucleus and putamen. These findings suggest that IGHD was not related to transection or compression of the stalk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Can pulse oximetry be used to measure systolic blood pressure?

This study evaluates the use of pulse oximetry to accurately monitor systolic arterial blood pressure in 100 healthy volunteers. Determination of arterial blood pressure using oximetry was made at the disappearance of visual display upon blood pressure cuff inflation, at the reappearance of visual display upon cuff deflation, and by averaging the two. The blood pressures obtained by pulse oximetry were compared with the arterial blood pressures obtained by Korotokoff sounds and noninvasive blood pressure equipment. Good agreement was obtained when the average of oximetry-based systolic blood pressure estimates at the disappearance and reappearance of the waveform were compared with Korotokoff sound pressures and noninvasive equipment pressures. Thus pulse oximetry can be used to measure systolic arterial blood pressure. This technique is specifically important for patients with Takayasu's syndrome (pulseless disease) where conventional techniques often fail to monitor systolic arterial blood pressure.

Adult↗