Improving patient outcomes with inguinal hernioplasty-local anaesthesia versus local anaesthesia and conscious sedation: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Conscious sedation is regularly used in ambulatory surgery to improve patient outcomes, in particular patient satisfaction. We hypothesized that the addition of conscious sedation would provide greater patient satisfaction with inguinal hernioplasty compared to local anesthesia alone.

Methods: This trial was a single-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial where patients undergoing inguinal hernioplasty using local anaesthesia were randomized to receive local anaesthesia alone versus local anaesthesia and conscious sedation.

Local Anesthesia Versus Local Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation for Inguinal Hernioplasty: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Conscious sedation is regularly used in ambulatory surgery to improve patient outcomes, in particular patient satisfaction. Reports suggest that the addition of conscious sedation to local anesthesia for inguinal hernioplasty is safe and effective in improving patient satisfaction. No previous randomized controlled trial has assessed the benefit of conscious sedation in this regard.

Indications for Red Cell Transfusion in the Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Objective: To determine current red cell transfusion practices, transfusion indications and their relationship to patient outcome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

Method: An observational study was conducted over seven months in the two ICUs at the UHWI, on all patients over 16 years who had been admitted for more than 24 hours. Patient demographics, indication(s) for transfusion, haemoglobin level at the time of transfusion, details of ICU admission and patient outcome were recorded.

Physicians' Knowledge of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines and Current Certification Status at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica.

Objective: To determine physicians' knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Jamaica, and their current certification status in basic life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), paediatric advanced life support (PALS) and advanced trauma life support (ATLS).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A 23-item self-administered questionnaire was used to assess physicians practising at the UHWI, from the Departments of Anaesthesia, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Accident and Emergency, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Oncology.

[The incidence of emergence delirium and risk factors following sevoflurane use in pediatric patients for day case surgery, Kingston, Jamaica].

Background And Objectives: Emergence delirium is a distressing complication of the use of sevoflurane for general anesthesia. This study sought to determine the incidence of emergence delirium and risk factors in patients at a specialist pediatric hospital in Kingston, Jamaica.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study including pediatric patients aged 3-10 years, ASA I and II, undergoing general anesthesia with sevoflurane for elective day-case procedures.