This blog is dedicated to the aspiring anesthesia post graduates who are struggling with their final examinations,it is a comprehensive approach to the subject from examination point of view. These notes are prepared from various books like The Millers,Barash and Morgan and also from journals and senior notes which helped me clear my DNB. And this is small effort to put all those years of my hardwork into small compiled format for my fellow colleagues .wishing all of us good luck..
Tuesday, 30 August 2022
Saturday, 27 August 2022
What are the indications of transversus abdominis plane block? With the help of a diagram describe the block?
Indication
- Cholecystectomy
- Appendicectomy
- Nephrectomy
- Renal transplant
- Ventral hernia repair
- Lower section caesarian section
- Hysterectomy
- Inguinal hernia repair
- Bariatric surgery
- Colostomy closure
Technique of the block
Equipment:
Preparation
Monday, 8 August 2022
Preoperative evaluation and anaesthetic management of a 35 year-old female patient with a prosthetic mitral valve scheduled
for MTP with laparoscopic tubal ligation
Preoperative evaluation and anaesthetic management of a 35 year-old female patient with a prosthetic mitral valve scheduled
for MTP with laparoscopic tubal ligation
Preoperative Assessment and optimisation
In patients with mechanical heart valve the anesthetic management addresses the following areas of concern
assessment of cardiac function
- residual pathology
- infective endocarditis
- anticoagulation status
- preparation for reversal of anticoagulation if needful
- neurological evaluation for detection of microthrombi
the labs needed would be ECG,CHEST RADIOGRAPH AND 2D ECHO
CARDIAC CATHETERISATION may provide additional information
the prosthetic valve can br mechanical or bioprosthetic
The prosthetic valve can be heterograft composed of porcine or bovine tissues mounted on metal supports or homografts which are preserved human aortic valves
they last less than the mechanical valve for 10 to 15 years and have less thrombogenic potential so long term anticoagulation is not necessary
- VALVE THROMBOSIS
- SYSTEMIC EMBOLISATION
- STRUCTURAL FAILURE
- HEMOLYSIS
- PARAVALVULAR LEAK
- ENDOCARDITIS
MANAGEMENT OF ANTICOAGULATION
ANTICOAGULATION BEFORE SURGERY
⬇
INCREASED RISK OF VENOUS AND ARTERIAL THROMBOEMBOLISM
⬇ ⬇
MINOR SURGERY. MAJORSURGERY
⬇
CONTINUE ANTICOAGULATION IF MINIMAL BLOOD LOSS
⬇
WARFARIN or clopidogrel or any of the newer anticoagulants are discontinued 1 to 5 DAYS prior to surgery
⬇
REPLACED WITH IV UNFRACTIONATED
HEPARIN OR LMWH
⬇
TILL 1 DAY BEFORE
SURGERY
RESTARTED 1 DAY POST SURGERY IF RISK OF BLEEDING IS REDUCED
ELECTIVE SURGERY IS AVOIDED IN THE FIRST MONTH AFTER AN ACUTE EPISODE OF THROMBOEMBOLISM
ANTICOAGULATION IS IMPORTANT IN PARTURIENTS IN VIEW OF HYPERCOAGULABLE STATE BUT WARFARIN IS AVOIDED AND LMWH IS CONTINUED TILL DELIVERY
DOSE ASPIRIN THERAPY CAN BE GIVEN IN CONJUCTION WITH HEPARIN THERAPY
Saturday, 19 December 2020
What is the role of kidney in acid base balance? What are the anaesthetic considerations in a dialysis patient?
The role of kidney in acid base homeostasis

- Hypervolumia
- Acidemia
- hyperkalemia
- Cardiac : Hypertension is most common
- Pulmonary congestion and edema
- Hematological : Anemia due to insufficiente production of erythropoietin,platelet dysfunction leading to prolonged bleeding and clotting time
- Hypoalbuminemia; due to hemodilution, impaired synthesis and increased loss leading to alterations in drug effect of high protein binding drugs like diazepam, warfarin and phenytoin but anaesthetic drugs are less albumin binding and free fraction of drug increases modulation needful in drug dosage
- Patients weight need to be recorded so dry weight can guide to dialysis
- Last dialysis time as immediately patients are hypovolumic with increased risk of hypotension
- Use of Heparin in dialysis can potentiate blood loss during surgery so titres need to be done and antagonist used if more
- Care of AV fistula
- Fluid therapy should be guarded on intra and post operative periods
Monday, 13 July 2020
Anesthesia for total laryngectomy
PREOPERATIVE ASSESSEMENT
Standard preliminary investigations with stress on Hb levels, anaemia if present should be optimised.Most patients may require grouping and saving of blood but pre-op transfusion is rare.
Comorbid health conditions: 1) Ischaemic Heart Disease is a frequent comorbidity and cardiology opinion has to be sought if unstable angina,recent stenting,decompensated heart failure or severe aortic stenosis.
2) Respiratory Disease Laryngectomy patients are frequent smokers.Thorough evaluation of the respiratory system with associated imaging studies, if laryngeal narrowing is significant then Pulmonary Function Tests are not very reliable If Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Heart Failure are associated then serious consideration to optimise as they fall under high risk category.
Dynamic assessment of the functional status of the cardiopulmonary status of the patient can be evaluated with the estimation of METS score if < 4 then associated with increased risk
Preoperative Optimisation Majority patients are chronic alcoholics and smokers, careful planning and optimisation to proceed 1 to 2 weeks ahead of surgery is warranted.Hospital admission and controlled alcohol withdrawal with NG feeding to improve nutrition.Smoking cessation.
Risk Stratification Discussion about risk and consent to be obtained on individual needs
Planning of airway Management
Airway Assessment
History Taking in detail with emphasis on voice change, dysphagia,breathlessness and stridor . if the patient can lie flat? and if he get"s up in sleep due to breathlessness?
Bedside examination: The patients natural resting position is to be noted.
Airway assessment usual mouth opening, tongue protrusion, mallampati scoring, thyro-mental distance, neck movement is done
Neck Examination For neck masses, any previous radiotherapy, tracheal deviation, previous scars.
Any anticipated difficulty with front of neck access should be noted
Imaging CT and MRI are the mainstay of preoperative imaging, The axial sections can be used to see the narrowing of airways and the coronal sections are used to estimate the length of narrowing.
Nasendoscopy imaging can be done prior to the airway management with the surgical team to note any points of narrowing, rigidity or fragility of tissue, or the presence of tumour which may obscure the laryngoscopic view.
Thorough evaluation is done in view of the following steps
Preoxygenation
Positioning the patient in the most restful position
High Flow Nasal Oxygenation (HFNO) as a means to pre oxygenate and apnoiec ventilation until definitive airway is obtained has been highlighted in the Transnasal Humidified Rapid-insufflation ventilator exchange(THRIVE) study and is widely used. It can provide CPAP. If conventional Nasal prongs are used than can be augmented with face mask (NODESAT) technique
Preinduction
These patients are always induced in OT table in presence of consultant surgeon
A anaesthesia and surgical briefing is done and planA,B,C and D is discussed, prepared and written on white board so all members of the team are prepared.
Awake intubation or conventional induction depends on the ease of attaining a definitive airway
Video-laryngoscopy has been the first line of choice in DAS guidelines for laryngoscopy
Awake Fibre-Optic intubation (AFOI) is the method of choice in supraglottic obstruction as in epiglottis and tongue base obstuction
In patients with critical narrowing of laryngeal inlet the AFOI is of lesser use as because of
- Topicalisation is difficult and there is Copious Secretion
- Sedation has be used very judiciously as maintenance of spontaneous ventilation is needful
- "Cork in the Bottle" analogy as the critical narrowing is completely closed with the introduction of the FOB scope and the airway is lost.
Sunday, 14 June 2020
what are the adjuncts in anaesthesia
Histamine receptor Antagonists
H1Receptor Antagonists
H1 antagonist also have antimuscarinic or antiserotonergic which can be used for a multitude of therapeutic purposes
- suppression of allergic symptoms, cough, nausea and vomiting.
- sedation
- Reduce gastric acid output ad raise gastric pH
- As a premedication to reduce peri operative risk of aspiration pneumonia
- Dosage is at bedtime and again at least 2hr before in the morning of surgery
- Rapid iv injection rarely associated with hypotension and arrhythmia
- Mild dose reduction in signifiant kidney impairment as renal elimination
- Weak inhibitor of Cytochrome P-450 hence no significant drug interaction
- Neutralize the gastric acidity by giving base to react with hydrogen ion to form water
- Unlike H2 blockers have an immediate effect
- Present in 2 forms- Particulate and Non-Particulate
- Non particulate are widely used as less damaging to heart
- Dosage is 0.3M solution of Sodium Citrate 15-30ml orally 30min prior to induction
- Drug interaction by alteration in gastric pH like slowing absorption and elimination of Digoxin,Rantidine whereas phenobarbital elimination s prolonged
- It is cholinomimetic at intestinal smooth muscles and dopamine antagonist in CNS
- It is a antiemetic
- Rapid injection may cause abdominal cramping and hypertensive crisis with pheochromocytoma
- Sedation, nervousness and extra pyramidal signs with dopamine antagonism
- Concurrent usage with phenothiazines can increase extrapyramidal S/E
- Pantoprazole inhibit the secretion of hydrogen ions and reduce gastric volume
- Dosage 40mg 2hr prior to induction
- Interferes with P-450 enzymes and decreases the clearance of diazepam, warfarin and phenytoin
- Repeat doses with caution in severe liver impairment as liver elimination
- Effective antiemetic in post op nausea and vomiting
- Prophylaxix in high incidence of N/V in Laparoscopy Surgery, Neurosurgeries
- Can Slightly prolong QT interval in ECG
- Given either prior to induction or at the end of the surgery
- alternative to opioids in post operative pain management as they do not cause sedation, respiratory depression or N/V
- Inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time cautious use in post op haemorrhage
- Dose reduction in renal impairment
- Contraindicated in patients allergic to aspirin and NSAIDS
- Used as anti hypertensive
- Adjunct to Local anaesthetic agents in Epidural anaesthesia
- As a premedication
- Side effects sedation, bradycardia, dizziness, dry mouth
- Dose reduction in renal impairment
- Alpha agonist with selective activity
- Dose dependent sedation,anxiolysis and some analgesia
- Opioid Sparing role with no significant respiratory depression
- Side effects are bradycardia hypotension
Friday, 22 May 2020
Draw a labelled diagram of larynx. Mention the nerve supply of larynx. Describe Block for awake intubation?
Nerve Supply of Larynx
- Superior Laryngeal Nerve⇨external and internal branches
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve
- Sympathetic nerves
- The Internal Laryngeal Nerve is sensory
- The External Laryngeal Nerve is Motor
- The Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve is mixed
All the intrinsic muscles of the larynx is supplied by the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve except the Cricothyroid which is supplied by the External Laryngeal Nerve
AWAKE INTUBATION
Awake intubation is the mainstay os ASA's difficult airway algorithms
Advantages of Awake over Anesthetised are
- Maintenance of Spontaneous ventilation
- increased size and latency of the pharynx
- relative forward placement of the base of tongue
- posterior placement of larynx
- Patency of the redropalatal space
- awake state offers better sphincter tone of oesophageal sphincters
Patient Refusal
Inability to cooperate
Allergy to local anaesthetics
Procedure of awake intubation

