Paediatric Pain Assessment and Perioperative Pain Management: A Survey of Practice in Teaching Hospitals in the Two Provinces of Pakistan.

Objective: To map the practice of paediatric perioperative pain assessment and management among consultant anaesthetists working in teaching institutions in the two provinces of Pakistan.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anaesthesiology, Teaching institutions of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, from January to October 2022.

Protocol development and feasibility of the PEACH in Asia study: A pilot study on PEri-anesthetic morbidity in CHildren in Asia.

Background: Comprehensive data on pediatric anesthesia outcomes, particularly severe critical events (SCEs), are scarce in Asia. This highlights the need for standardized research to assess anesthesia safety and quality in the diverse settings.

Aims: The PEACH in Asia pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a standardized protocol for investigating SCEs in anesthesia practices across Asia, evaluate the data acquisition processes, and determine the sample size for a main study.

A Survey of Current Practices and Adherence to Coronavirus Disease Airway Management Guidelines Among Frontline Healthcare Professionals in a Resource-Limited Country.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought anaesthesiologists, intensive care and emergency physicians to the forefront due to their airway management skills. The aim of survey was to determine current practice trends in COVID-19 airway management among frontline healthcare professionals of Pakistan and their adherence to standard principles proposed by most consensus guidelines.

Methods: An online questionnaire was designed based on consensus guidelines from international societies.

A retrospective analysis of peri-operative medication errors from a low-middle income country.

Identifying medication errors is one method of improving patient safety. Peri operative anesthetic management of patient includes polypharmacy and the steps followed prior to drug administration. Our objective was to identify, extract and analyze the medication errors (MEs) reported in our critical incident reporting system (CIRS) database over the last 15 years (2004-2018) and to review measures taken for improvement based on the reported errors.

Adverse Respiratory Events After Removal of Laryngeal Mask Airway in Deep Anesthesia Versus Awake State in Children: A Randomized Trial.

Background The advent of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has reduced respiratory events in comparison to the conventional endotracheal tubes. Any manipulation under a light plane of anesthesia predisposes to increased airway sensitivity followed by adverse events. The reduced airway sensitivity in the deeply anesthetized state makes LMA removal feasible.

Association Between Low Back Pain and Body Mass Index in Pakistani Population: Analysis of the Software Bank Data.

Background: Obesity is a growing public health concern and is one of the leading causes of human suffering and disability worldwide. The number of overweight and obese people is dramatically increasing, and local data showed that low back pain (LBP) is more common in people with obesity, prolonged sitting jobs, psychological disorders, and lack of exercise.

Methods: This study was conducted in a cohort of 300 adult patients of either gender who visited a pain management clinic with LBP.

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks in high-risk patients, requiring lower limb (Above and below knee) amputation.

A case series of five high-risk patients with lower limb ischemia, sepsis, altered coagulation, and multi-organ dysfunction requiring emergent or urgent lower limb amputation is presented. Use of peripheral nerve blocks for below and above knee amputations is quite uncommon which provides better hemodynamic stability and pain management, especially in the very sick patients. The surgeries were successfully carried out under ultrasound-guided combined femoral and sciatic nerve blocks.

Pediatric critical incidents reported over 15 years at a tertiary care teaching hospital of a developing country.

Background And Aims: The role of critical incident (CI) reporting is well established in improving patient safety but only a limited number of available reports relate to pediatric incidents. Our aim was to analyze the reported CIs specific to pediatric patients in our database and to reevaluate the value of this program in addressing issues in pediatric anesthesia practice.

Material And Methods: Incidents related to pediatric population from neonatal period till the age of 12 years were selected.

Factors associated with choice of delivery with or without epidural analgesia among laboring women: a cross-sectional survey at a tertiary care hospital of a developing country.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors responsible for epidural analgesia (EA) refusal among parturient patients.

Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study of six months, we included all consenting postpartum patients having a non-operative delivery in the obstetric unit of our hospital. Data were collected on a predesigned questionnaire and included information such as parity, education, reasons for delivering with or without EA, source of information and patient satisfaction.

Anaesthetic consideration in a cannabis addict.

This case report describes the anaesthetic management of a patient addicted to Bhang(cannabis) for 20 years. Cannabis use has implication in the anaesthetic management of a patient because of its effects on the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and central nervous system and its interaction with anaesthetic drugs.

Prevalence of low back pain experienced after delivery with and without epidural analgesia: A non-randomised prospective direct and telephonic survey.

Background And Aims: The most frequent concern of patients receiving epidural analgesia for labour pain relief is post-partum back pain. This survey was designed to assess the prevalence of post-partum backache with and without epidural analgesia among post-partum women.

Methods: The study was conducted at a university teaching hospital and women presenting to labour room for labour and delivery formed the target population.

Standards for labelling and storage of anaesthetic medications--an audit.

Objective: To check compliance of anaesthetist to current policies set for the use of medication within operation room and for induction room floor stock.

Methods: The initial audit was conducted from 1st October to 31st November 2006 and reaudit after dissemination and sharing of results within the department repeated in July-August 2007. In each audit four operating rooms were visited twice a week.

Arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide difference in neurosurgical patients undergoing craniotomy: a review of practice.

Objective: To see if PETCO2 reflects PaCO2 with acceptable accuracy.

Methods: In this audit the.anaesthetic chart of fifty consecutive patients, age 12 years and above undergoing craniotomy for intracranial pathology, were reviewed.

Intraoperative analgesia for day-care surgery: practice trends.

Our objective was to determine the trends of providing intraoperative analgesia for day-care surgery among the various anaesthesiologists at our university hospital. All patients having surgical procedures under general anaesthesia in the Surgical Day Care Unit (SDC) of the Hospital were included. The study was done over two months and 142 patients were enrolled during the study period.

Effect of pre-operative coagulation testing on intra-operative transfusion requirements in surgical patients.

Objective: To assess the value of pre-operative coagulation testing in elective surgical patients, to estimate the frequency of abnormality and the outcome in relation to transfusion.

Design: Observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: The study was performed at the Aga Khan University Hospital in main operating room over a period of six months from March to September 1999.