Effectiveness of integrated approach of yoga therapy versus usual care in management on chronic low back pain patients: A randomized controlled pilot study

BACKGROUND

Chronic low back pain is associated with both psychological and functional limitation. Yoga therapy has been shown to improve both the aspects. The present study was planned to evaluate integrated approach of yoga therapy with usaul care.

AIMS

This controlled randomized trial was done to evaluate the clinical and molecular changes resulting from integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) as an adjunct regimen and compared it with usual care for the management of chronic low back pain patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We enrolled 29 adult patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP). Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The control group received the usual care of treatment as per institutional protocol. The yoga group received IAYT as an adjunct to usual care. Primary outcomes were pain intensity assessed by verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) and functional ability assessed by Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI). Secondary outcomes were pain catastrophizing, quality of life, fear of movement related to CLBP, type of pain, levels of β-endorphin and TNF-α, and salivary CGRP. All parameters were measured at baseline, 1 and 3 months.

RESULTS

A Significant decrease in VNRS score at 1 and 3 months was observed in both the groups with the yoga group showing a more significant reduction in pain over time than the control group (p = 0.036). MODI improved significantly only in the yoga group at 1 and 3 months. Intergroup comparison revealed significantly better MODI over time in the yoga group (p < 0.001). DN4, PDQ, PCS, HADS (anxiety), and Euro QOL had a statistically significant improvement at 1 and 3 months in the yoga group compared with the control group. The HADS (depression) had a statistically significant reduction scores in the yoga group at 3 months compared with the control group (p = 0.012). There was a significant reduction in TNF-α values in the yoga group compared with baseline (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

IAYT therapy helped in addressing the psychological components of pain and improved quality of life patients with chronic low back pain compared with usual care.

A Preliminary Feasibility Study on Hemodynamic Changes Following Feyh-Kastenbauer Retractor Insertion During Transoral Robotic Surgeries

 Introduction Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has become increasingly popular for the removal of pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers with the objective to improve functional and aesthetic outcomes. Feyh-Kastenbauer (FK) retractor is one such routinely used retractor during TORS. The setting up of this retractor has been seen to be accompanied by hemodynamic fluctuations. Methodology This prospective observational study was carried out on 30 patients undergoing TORS. All patients were administered general anesthesia using a pre-defined anesthesia protocol. The primary outcome was to compare hemodynamic fluctuations following endotracheal intubation with that after FK retractor insertion. Any requirement of a bolus dose of sevoflurane and fentanyl was recorded in response to hemodynamic fluctuations recorded in secondary outcomes. Results There was no statistically significant increase in mean heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure from baseline to endotracheal intubation and following retractor insertion (p=0.810, p=0.2, p=0.6, p=0.3 respectively). On subgroup analysis, hypertensive patients reported a greater rise in blood pressure following two minutes post FK retractor insertion compared to non-hypertensive patients (p=0.03). Out of 30 patients, five patients required a bolus dose of sevoflurane. Conclusion FK retractor insertion had a comparable hemodynamic response as endotracheal intubation during TORS. Hypertensive patients showed a rise in blood pressure at both endotracheal intubations and at FK retractor insertion.

Utility of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Diagnosing Submassive Pulmonary Thromboembolism in a Trauma Patient and Subsequent Anesthetic Management: Case Report and Literature Review

Point-of-care ultrasonography is defined as ultrasonography brought to the patient's bedside and performed by the provider in real time. The clinician can use these real-time dynamic images immediately (rather than images recorded by a sonographer and interpreted later), allowing findings to be directly correlated with the patient's presenting signs and symptoms. Point-of-care ultrasonography is easily repeatable if the patient's condition changes. Over the past decade, the use of point-of-care ultrasonography has extended to emergency settings and intensive care units. The role of ultrasound in triage patients is not only limited to the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma which includes assessment for hemoperitoneum and hemopericardium, it has also been used to detect the presence of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and intravascular filling status in a trauma patient. However, the use of ultrasonography in detecting pulmonary thromboembolism in trauma has not been commonly reported. We report a patient in whom submassive pulmonary embolism was detected by lung ultrasound and thereafter operated for bilateral open Grade III lower-limb fractures. The surgery was proceeded under bilateral ultrasound-guided femoral sciatic nerve block.

Management of a Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 1 Patient in Pregnancy

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome has rarely been reported during pregnancy. The multiple manifestations of the syndrome along with the normal body changes associated with pregnancy can prove to be difficult to manage. We describe our experience of the diagnosis and management of MEN1 syndrome in a pregnant female.

Extended duration pulsed radiofrequency for the management of refractory meralgia paresthetica: a series of five cases

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a sensory mononeuropathy, caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) of thigh. Patients refractory to conservative management are treated with various interventional procedures. We report the first use of extended duration (8 minutes) pulsed radiofrequency of the LFCN in a case series of five patients with refractory MP. Four patients had follow up for 1-2 years, and one had 6 months follow up. All patients reported remarkable and long lasting symptom relief and an increase in daily life activities. Three patients came off medications and two patients required minimal doses of neuropathic medications. No complications were observed.

Tramadol sparing effect of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant with lignocaine in preoperative stellate ganglion block for postoperative pain relief following upper limb surgeries

Background

Recent literature has established the role of stellate ganglion block (SGB) for management of acute postoperative pain. The effects of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to lignocaine in a preoperative SGB for postoperative pain relief have not been evaluated so far.

Methods

The following randomised, double-blinded, control trail included 54 patients scheduled for upper limb orthopaedic surgery under general anaesthesia. Preoperative ultrasound-guided (USG) SGB was performed in all patients. Group I (n = 18) received 3.5 mL of a solution (3 mL 2% lignocaine + 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine for SGB) and 15 mL of intravenous (IV) normal saline (NS). Group II (n = 18) received 3.5 mL of a solution (3 mL 2% lignocaine + 0.5 mL NS for SGB) and 15 mL of IV NS. Group III (n = 18) received 3.5 mL of a solution (3 mL 2% lignocaine + 0.5 mL of NS for SGB) and 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine in 15 mL of IV NS. Postoperatively tramadol consumption and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score were recorded up to 48 hours.

Results

The cumulative tramadol consumption at the end of 48 hours (p = 0.01) was significantly reduced in the group I as compared to group II. In group I, postoperative VAS at rest was significantly reduced up to 12 hours postoperatively as compared to group II (p = 0.05). The cumulative tramadol consumption was not reduced significantly in group III compared to group II (p = 0.51).

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to SGB along with lignocaine produced a significant tramadol sparing effect and superior analgesia as compared to IV dexmedetomidine and control group.¹.

Post-operative analgesia using intermittent vs. continuous adductor canal block technique: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Intermittent boluses for neural blockade provide better post-operative analgesia when compared to continuous infusion. However, these techniques of administration have not yet been compared while performing adductor canal block (ACB). We compared intermittent vs. continuous ACB for managing post-operative pain following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The primary endpoint was total morphine consumption for 24 h post-operatively in both the groups. Secondary outcomes included evaluation of pain scores and opioid-related side effects.

METHODS

After ethics board approval, subjects presenting for ACL reconstruction were randomized to receive either continuous ACB (n = 25) with 0.5% ropivacaine infusing at 2.5 ml/h or intermittent boluses (n = 25) of 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine every 6 h. Total morphine consumption 24 h following surgery was recorded in each group.

RESULTS

Fifty subjects completed this study. The mean 24-h total morphine consumption in the intermittent group, [11.36 (6.82) mg], was significantly reduced compared with the continuous group, [23.40 (10.45) mg] (P < 0.001). The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score at rest and on knee flexion was significantly reduced in the intermittent group at 4, 6, 8, and 12 h compared with the continuous group.

CONCLUSION

Intermittent ACB allowed significantly reduced consumption of morphine for 24 h in the post-operative period compared with continuous ACB when identical doses of ropivacaine were used in each group.

To determine block establishment time of supraclavicular brachial plexus block using blunt versus short bevel needle: A prospective randomized trial

Background:

Unintentional intraneural injection under ultrasound guidance (USG) with fine caliber needles and lower success rate with large caliber Tuohy needles in supraclavicular brachial plexus block (SCB) have been reported.

Materials and Methods:

We undertook study to standardize the use of 20-gauge short versus blunt bevel needle for SCB. After approval of Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed consent, patients were randomized using computer-generated random number table to either of the two groups; blunt bevel needle group (n = 30): SCB under USG using 20-gauge Tuohy needle or short bevel needle group (n = 30): SCB under USG using 20-gauge short bevel needle. The primary outcome of the study was time to establishment of sensory and motor block of individual nerves, and secondary outcome was tolerability and any adverse effects.

Results:

The time to establishment of sensory and motor block in individual nerve territory was similar in both the groups. The complete sensory and motor anesthesia was achieved in 78.3% patients and complete sensory and motor anesthesia after supplementary block was achieved in 86.6% patients. Paresthesias during SCB were recorded in 15 patients. Out of these eight patients were of blunt bevel group and seven patients were of short bevel group. None of the patients experienced any neurological adverse effects.

Conclusion:

The establishment of sensory and motor blockade of individual nerves was similar to 20-gauge short and blunt bevel needle under ultrasound guide with no neurological adverse events.