Lumbar erector spinae plane block obtunding knee and ankle reflexes.

The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has recently been described as an effective analgesic strategy for various surgeries at ventral and dorsal parts of body. The block has been utilized for postoperative pain relief in hip surgeries. Cadaveric and clinical studies performed at the lumbar level depict a dorsal spread and minimal ventral spread in the lumbar plexus.

Impact of COVID-19 on cancer care in India: a cohort study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health-care systems, leading to concerns about its subsequent impact on non-COVID disease conditions. The diagnosis and management of cancer is time sensitive and is likely to be substantially affected by these disruptions. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care in India.

Oncological outcomes of total glossectomy procedure for advanced tongue cancer: a single-centre experience.

Surgeons treating advanced carcinoma of the tongue with total glossectomy face many conflicts in view of the morbidity and poor functional and survival outcomes following surgery. It is pertinent to study the patients undergoing total tongue compartment resection as a separate cohort to analyse their outcomes. This study investigated the oncological outcomes of 150 patients with advanced tongue squamous cell carcinoma who underwent total glossectomy.

Prompt Detection of Intravascular Migration of Cervical Epidural Catheter in Superior Vena Cava Avoids Impending Disaster!

The intravascular migration of a multihole epidural catheter can have catastrophic consequences. The consequences can be even more exaggerated if the catheter is placed at the cervical or high thoracic region. We suggest a cautious approach before injection of a bolus of local anaesthetic.

Efficacy of xenon anesthesia in preventing postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac and major non-cardiac surgeries in elderly patients: a topical review.

Elderly patients undergoing major cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries have a high propensity (up to 40-60%) of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction, which are caused by patient's factors, type of surgery, intraoperative and postoperative factors. All these pose a challenge to the clinicians. The noble gas xenon does not undergo metabolism or any kind of biotransformation in the body owing to its inert nature.

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Cervical Cancer Patients by Comparative Transcriptome Analysis.

Cervical cancer is one of the most malignant reproductive diseases seen in women worldwide. The identification of dysregulated genes in clinical samples of cervical cancer may pave the way for development of better prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. To identify the dysregulated genes (DEGs), we have retrospectively collected 10 biopsies, seven from cervical cancer patients and three from normal subjects who underwent a hysterectomy.

Fluorescence-guided cancer surgery-A new paradigm.

Fluorescence-guided surgery is an emerging and promising operative adjunct to assist the surgeon in various aspects of oncosurgery, ranging from assessing perfusion, identification, and characterization of tumors and peritoneal metastases, mapping of lymph nodes/leaks, and assistance for fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS). This study aims to provide an overview of principles, currently available dyes, platforms, and surgical applications and summarizes the available literature on the utility of FGS with a focus on abdomino-thoracic malignancies.

Influence of neoadjuvant therapy on outcomes in patients with resectable carcinoma of esophagus and gastro-esophageal junction from a tertiary cancer care center in India.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery to upfront surgery (surgery alone) in patients with resectable carcinoma of the esophagus (esophageal cancer [EC]), and gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) in a limited resource setting.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed to identify patients (from January 2010 through December 2016) who underwent surgery for EC and GEJ cancers.

Results: A total of 454 patients were included and categorized into the following groups: nCT (n = 65), nCRT (n = 152) and upfront surgery (n = 237).

Pre-Treatment Myocardial FDG Uptake Predicts Response to Immunosuppression in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Objectives: This study identified predictors of clinical (CR) and echocardiographic response (ER) following immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS).

Background: IST has been the cornerstone of treatment for patients with CS and active myocardial inflammation. However, there are little data to explain the variable response to IST in CS.

Bilateral high thoracic continuous erector spinae plane blocks for postoperative analgesia in a posterior cervical fusion.

Posterior decompression and instrumentation of the cervical spine are associated with severe postoperative pain due to extensive soft tissue and muscle dissection during the surgery. In this case series, we describe bilateral continuous cervical erector spinae plane block (CESPB) placed at T1-2 through the thoracic erector spinae plane. A series of 4 patients underwent posterior cervical decompression and stabilization for various surgical indications.

FISH for EWSR1 in Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors: Experience from a tertiary care cancer center.

Background: : Molecular confirmation of histologic diagnosis has become mandatory for the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT).

Aim: To validate the diagnosis made by morphology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for EWSR1 rearrangement on formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues. Settings and design: A retrospective and prospective observational study.

Does subepineural injection damage the nerve integrity? A technical report from four amputated limbs.

Local anesthetic (LA) injection outside the sheath in epineural or paraneural connective tissue is considered safe practice among regional anesthesiologists. There is limited evidence as to whether neurological complications occur if LA is injected inside the sheath (subepineural - intraneural). We performed ultrasound guided injections at the level of undivided sciatic nerve in four amputated lower limbs.

Plasmablastic Lymphoma: A Clinicopathological Study from a Tertiary Care Cancer Center in South India.

 Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare aggressive B cell lymphoma that is commonly encountered in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this case series, we describe the clinicopathological features of cases of PBL seen at a tertiary care center in South India.  Medical records of patients diagnosed with PBL between January 2009 and November 2017 were reviewed.

Incidental radiation dose to internal mammary lymph nodal area in carcinoma breast patients treated with forward planning intensity-modulated radiation therapy technique: A single-institute dosimetric study.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in Indian females. The irradiation of internal mammary lymph nodal area (IMLN) is recommended by latest guidelines and literature, even in patients with N1 nodal disease, but it is not routinely done in many institutes due to the risk of late lung and heart toxicities. The incidence of isolated IMLN recurrence <1%.