Effects of Combined Spinal Epidural Anaesthesia and Spinal Anaesthesia on Peri-Operative Pulmonary Status in Geriatric Patients in Lower Extremity Surgery

Background: Lower extremity surgeries performed in elderly people usually have high prevalence of peri-operative medical problems related to anaesthesia. The overall objective of peri-operative care of geriatric population is to fast recovery from anaesthesia and avoid functional decline. Objective: To compare the peri-operative pulmonary status of combined spinal epidural anaesthesia (CSEA) and spinal anaesthesia (SA) in geriatric patients underwent lower extremity surgeries. Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted at Department of Anaesthesia, Analgesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2016 to June 2018. A total of 70 geriatric cases that underwent lower extremity surgeries were included in this study. Cases were randomly allocated into two groups;35 in Group A (CSEA) and 35 in Group B (SAB). The different outcome variables between the groups like-duration of anaesthesia, respiratory rates (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), end tidal CO2 (EtCO2), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), breath holding test (BHT), peri-operative side effects of anaesthesia and post-operative visual analogue score (VAS) were analyzed and compared by statistical tests. Results: The mean age, weight, BMI of Group A and Group B patients were not significantly different (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in duration of surgery, gender and ASA grade between the groups (p > 0.05). Mean duration of anaesthesia, mean time to achieve target level of sensory block and mean time to achieve complete motor block were significantly higher in Group A (p < 0.001). Mean RR, SpO2, EtCO2, PEFR and BHT of both groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Peri-operative side effects of anaesthesia and post-operative VAS were significantly less in group A patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Combined spinal epidural anaesthesia is effective and safe;produces stable peri-operative pulmonary status with prolonging analgesia and fewer side effects as compared to spinal anaesthesia in geriatric patients.

Effect of General Anaesthesia with Combination of Acupuncture and Enflurane Applied in Radical Operation of Laryngocarcinoma

Objective： To observe the effect of general anaesthesia with combination of acupuncture [ conducted with Han＇s acupoint nerve stimulator （HANS） applied] and enflurane in radical operation of laryngocarcinoma （LC）. Methods： Sixty patients with LC of grade Ⅰ -Ⅱ, classified according to the standard of American Society of Anesthesiologists （ASA）, were assigned by randomizing number table to the control group and the tested group, 30 patients in each group. The control group received anaesthesia with enflurane alone for inducing and maintaining; the tested group was anaesthetized with enflurane like that given to the control group but also received additionally needling stimulation conducted by HANS. The dosage of enflurane used, the minimum effective concentration of enflurane in alveolar air （MACEnf） and the changes of heart rate （HR） as well as blood pressure （BP） in patients at different time points in the operational process were observed. Results： As compared with those in the control group, in the tested group, both the MACEnf and the dosage of enflurane were reduced, with the difference between the two groups significant （ P〈0.01 ）. The changes of HR and BP among different time points in the tested group were slight, and as compared with those in the control group at the corresponding time points, the difference was significant （ P〈 0. 05 or P〈0.01）. Conclusion： General anaesthesia with combination of enflurane and needling conducted by HANS applied in radical operation of LC has definite effect with less complication. Needling could be cooperated with narcotics, and so it could be taken as an auxiliary measure of anaesthesia for radical operation of LC.