KARACHI, Dec 5: Healthcare experts at a “Continued Medical Education (CME)” programme stressed for adopting advanced anaesthesiology methods to ensure safer and effective surgical processes. The annual CME was organized by the Liaquat National Hospital (LNH), Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, for residents and consultants on Sunday at the LNH Convention Centre Auditorium.

They said that the importance of anaesthesia could not be denied as it was among the most important components of treatment, making surgery safer for the patient and much easier for the surgeon.

Renowned speakers from the LNH and other hospitals participated in the programme providing the audience an opportunity to update their knowledge and learn the recent management trends in treating patients.

Dr Ghulam Murtaza, senior LNH registrar welcomed the speakers and the audience. Prof S. Tipu Sultan, chairman of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care and Pain Management, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital Karachi, spoke on the modified approach for management of moderate or severe bornchospasm in a ward setting as compared to the pre-operative settings.

He discussed in detail, the identification of potential hyper-reactive airway, its patho-physiology and the pharmacological approach along with diagnosis, signs, symptoms, and the management protocol of this anaesthetic nightmare.

The focus of the paper read by Dr Qamarul Huda, associate professor and clinical director ICU, Department of Anaesthesia, Aga Khan University, Karachi, was on the anaesthesia consultation guidelines for performing emergency and urgent operations requiring anaesthesia. Currently there are no such guidelines in the country.

The LNH consultant anaesthetist, Dr Sabahat Tariq’s, presentation was on anaesthesia for pregnant patients undergoing non-obstetric surgery.

Special concerns for anaesthetic plan in such a situation like alteration in maternal physiology, possible teratogenic effects of anaesthetic agents, maintenance of uterine perfusion and prevention and treatment of preterm labour, and reassuring mothers about the extremely low or non-existent risk of teratogenecity of anaesthetic agents were important components of her presentation.

She said that a pregnant patient undergoing surgery must be approached with caution and respect but not with fear. All efforts should be made to minimize adverse perturbations of the fetal environment, Dr Tariq added.

Dr Nadeem Naqvi, LNH consultant anaesthetist, spoke on supra-clavicular brachial plexus block, a simple safe and effective alternative anaesthesia technique for upper extremity surgery.

This technique has been found to decrease morbidity and mortality when compared with general anaesthesia.

Dr Nighat Abbas, in charge of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, LNH concluded the programme hoping that this annual CME will keep continuing in the coming years to stay a tradition in the history of anaesthesiology.

She thanked the speakers, LNH administration and the guests who contributed collectively to make the event successful.

It may be recalled that this CME programme is conducted every year to keep up with the advancements in this field and to impart advanced medical education since modern anaesthesiology is evolving very fast with new medications, equipment and monitoring facilities.—PPI