Retention of knowledge on blood pressure measurement among medical students within preparation for primary accreditation

Aim. To assess the retained knowledge of sixth year medical students on noninvasive blood pressure (BP) measurement.Material and methods. The study included 148 6th year medical students. According to the curriculum, in the fall semester, students studied the procedure of BP measurement according to checklists developed based on ROSOMED. In the spring semester, as part of the preparation course for accreditation, the retained knowledge of students was assessed. A completed skill was assessed at 1 point, not completed — 0 points. Thus, each student can score a maximum of 50 points. The teacher assessed the manipulations during their performing by filling in the checklist items for each student.Results. None of the students completed the full range of manipulations. The number of completed skills ranged from 15 (30%) to 49 (98%) and averaged 33 points on the checklist (66%). In addition, 74% of students (n=109) completed more than half of the required skills. Almost the only item completed by all students (99%, n=146) was a greeting, which was comparable with self-presentation (92%, n=136) and identification of a patient’s personal data (surname and first names) (80%, n=118). The rest of checklist items was performed in the range from 39% (n=57) for “remeasurement of BP on the other hand” to 87% (n=129) for “finding a radial pulse”. Thus, the average fulfillment rate was 67% (n=99). There were following most common mistakes in BP measurement: 39% of students did not measure a patient’s upper arm diameter and did not select the cuff size; every second student (51%) placed the phonendoscope diaphragm under the cuff; 40% of students reduced the cuff pressure with inadequate rate.Conclusion. The retention of knowledge on measuring BP within six months after a detailed analysis and passing a test remains insufficient, but comparable with foreign studies. The data obtained indicate the need for additional trainings both using simulators and in conditions closer to real ones, including with simulated patients.

Study of Blood-Pressure Measurement Using Noninvasive Methods

The correct diagnosis of high blood pressure is important to avoid cardiovascular diseases. In this work, we propose a low-cost noninvasive blood-pressure measurement unit composed of a photoplethysmograph and an electrocardiograph. It is based on pulse transit time measurement, thus performing nonocclusive measurement. To test the effectiveness of this parameter, a total of five subjects were measured, verifying their effectiveness at all times.

A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED STUDY TO ASSESS WHETHER PROPHYLACTIC ATROPINE ADMINISTRATION ATTENUATES THE NEGATIVE HAEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF INDUCTION OF ANAESTHESIA WITH PROPOFOL AND FENTANYL

INTRODUCTION: To provide optimal surgical conditions safely and to avoid particular complications, balanced general anaesthesia by administering a combination of propofol and fentanyl as analgesics. This type of balanced anaesthesia often induces unwanted bradycardia and hypotension, raising concerns regarding haemodynamic stability and tissue oxygenation. It is possible that atropine could replace the common clinical practice of administering vasoactive medication such as phenylephrine or norepinephrine to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) levels. AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the effect of atropine in suppressing the negative haemodynamic effects of induction agents- propofol and fentanyl in patients receiving general anaesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective randomised interventional study carried out in Department of Anaesthesiology in Kanyakumari Government Medical College from January 2018 to June 2019. Patients were allocated into two groups (25 patients each) by randomization. After preoxygenation Group A: Patient receives Atropine. Patient in Group S: Receives Saline. BMI, Height, weight, Heart rate, Noninvasive blood pressure, Mean arterial pressure were recorded for every minute for 15 minutes. RESULTS: The demographic parameters like age, height, weight and BMI were similar in both groups. Comparing the SBP of both group, at base and 1 minute the difference of SBP was small. After that, the SBP was increasing trend in Atropine subjects and SBP was decreasing trend in saline subjects (P<0.001). Comparing the DBP between the two groups, Base and 1 minutes, the DBP of both groups were not differed signicantly (P>0.05),after that the DBP of Atropine group DBP was increasing trend and the DBP of saline group was decreasing trend (P<0.001). The HR of the both groups were increasing and decreasing accordingly (P<0.001). Comparing the MAP of both groups at base through 15 minutes,MAP of both group at 1minute was not differed signicantly (P>0.05),after that the MAP of Atropine subjects were increasing and Saline subjects were decreasing trend P<0.001). Percentage of fall of parameters (SBP, DBP, HR, and MAP) was more signicant at 5 and 15 mins compared to 10 mins in both th group. This may be due to the intubation response after the 5 minute of induction. All values were signicant with P<0.001. CONCLUSION: Administration of atropine before Propofol and Fentanyl induction during general anaesthesia can signicantly attenuate the fall in Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Mean Arterial Pressure.