In general, studies of students indicate that they have relatively a good level of knowledge about palliative medicine. Regarding awareness of students towards oral care in palliative treatment, the overall percentage of correct answer was 81.55. Almost 88% of students confirm then that dentists are a part of palliative team and 95% of participants believe that oral symptoms are common in palliative patients. The overall awareness of students is high as per the knowledge regarding dental expression and its role in palliative treatment. This study was conducted among 150 undergraduate students only; therefore, one could argue that the findings are not necessarily a generalization of all the undergraduate students�� knowledge and awareness about palliative medicine and dentist role in palliative team.

Another drawback of the study was that the questionnaire used was not validated. None the less, it does serves as a point of reference for future research on this topic. Increased knowledge by all health care professionals and of palliative oral care would go a long way in providing relief, care and support to incurably ill patients and their families. Footnotes Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared.
A 45-year-old female, weighing 60 kg, reported to the gynecological outpatient department with the chief complaint of ��something coming out of the vagina�� for the past 3 months. The patient did not elicit any history of fall or trauma. On clinical and systemic examination, she was diagnosed as a case of 2nd degree uterine prolapse with cystocele and was scheduled for elective vaginal hysterectomy.

During the pre-anesthetic check-up, the patient did not give any past history of systemic medical disease, drug allergy, hospitalization, any previous surgery, and as such, her entire medical record was not of much clinical significance. On clinical examination, a regular pulse rate of 76/min and a blood pressure reading of 130/82 mmHg was recorded. No abnormality was detected in any of the organ system functions. Airway examination revealed an adequate mouth opening with Mallampatti class of I, normal thyromental distance and normal neck movements. The clinical and biochemical profile revealed hemoglobin level of 12.4 g/dl, normal electrocardiograph and chest X-ray, as well as normal values of all the routine investigations.

Local examination of the spine showed no abnormal findings. Consent was taken from the patient, after explaining to her about the regional anesthesia procedure during the check-up. As a part of premedication, she was prescribed ranitidine 150 mg and alprazolam 0.25 mg tablets, at night and in the morning of the surgery, 2 hours prior to the procedure. In the operation theater, a good peripheral venous access was secured and preloading was carried out with 500 ml of lactated Batimastat ringer solution.