BLUNT TRAUMA INTERCOSTAL LUNG HERNIATION AND DELAYED EXTRA PLEURAL HEMATOMA.

Blunt chest trauma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in traumatized emergency patients. We report the case of a 74-year-old man who suffered a glenohumeral joint dislocation, trans trochanteric femur fracture, multiple rib fractures, diaphragmatic rupture with chest herniation of the spleen and stomach associated with herniation of the lung through an anterior chest wall defect after blunt trauma. Although immediate surgical repair was performed, he developed a delayed complication of multiple rib fracture in the form of large extrapleural hematoma that had to be surgically removed. Due to massive pulmonary contusion and prolonged pulmonary collapse, we used surfactant to facilitate alveolar opening after evacuation of the hematoma.

Antibiotic-induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis - A Case Report.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is severe cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction characterized by necrosis of the epidermis and detachment of the epidermis and dermis that usually occurs as an idiosyncratic reaction to certain drugs. We report the case of a patient admitted to our Intensive Care Unit after an above-the-knee amputation who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis, possibly resulting from antibiotics therapy. Therapy included a combination of intravenous immunoglobulin with gentle early debridement of necrotic skin areas followed by wound coverage with a synthetic cover (Aquacel Ag®). This case report suggests that intensive wound management together with intravenous immunoglobulin might be beneficial in the treatment of patients with TEN.

Preemptive use of diclofenac in combination with ketamine in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: To examine the combined preemptive effects of low-dose ketamine, diclofenac, and their combination on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: A total of 80 consecutive patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II, were recruited to the study. Patients were randomized to one of the following groups: group 1 received 100-mL isotonic saline intravenously (i.v.) 20 minutes before the induction of anesthesia and 5-mL isotonic saline i.v. before skin incision as a placebo; group 2 received 100-mL isotonic saline i.v. 20 minutes before the induction of anesthesia and 0.15-mg/kg ketamine diluted in 5-mL isotonic saline i.v. before skin incision; group 3 received diclofenac 1 mg/kg diluted in 100-mL isotonic saline i.v. 20 minutes before the induction of anesthesia and 5-mL isotonic saline i.v. before skin incision; and group 4 received a combination of the same diclofenac sodium and ketamine doses at the same time. Abdominal and shoulder pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale and verbal rating scale during 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Patients receiving diclofenac had a significantly lower pain score between 2 and 6 hours after surgery compared with patients receiving placebo. One hour after surgery, patients receiving a combination of diclofenac and ketamine had a significantly lower pain score compared with patients receiving placebo and ketamine alone. Patients from all the 4 study groups required postoperative analgesic; however, the time to diclofenac sodium request was longer in patients receiving a combination of diclofenac and ketamine compared with patients receiving placebo (p<0.001), ketamine (p<0.001), or diclofenac (p=0.03) alone. CONCLUSIONS: The preemptive administration of a combination of low-dose ketamine plus diclofenac sodium improved postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, whereas ketamine at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg did not elicit a preemptive analgesic effect.

The effect of spinal versus general anesthesia on postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery.

The optimal anesthetic technique for peripheral vascular surgery remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of spinal versus general anesthesia on postoperative pain, analgesic requirements and postoperative comfort in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery. A total of 40 patients scheduled for peripheral vascular surgery were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 patients each to receive general anesthesia (GA) or spinal anesthesia (SA). In GA group, anesthesia was induced using thiopental and fentanyl. Vecuronium was used for muscle relaxation. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane and nitrous oxide. In the SA group, hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine was injected into the subarachnoid space. Postoperative pain was assessed for 24 hours by a visual analog scale during three assessment periods: 0-4, 4-12 and 12-24 h as well as analgesic requirements. Patients were also asked to assess their postoperative state as satisfactory or unsatisfactory with regard to the pain, side effects and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was significantly lower in the group SA compared with group GA. This effect was mainly due to the lower pain score during the first study period. The patients received general anesthesia also reported a significantly higher rate of unsatisfactory postoperative comfort than those receiving spinal anesthesia. We conclude that spinal anesthesia is superior to general anesthesia when considering patients' satisfaction, side effects and early postoperative analgesic management.

Post-intubation long-segment tracheal stenosis of the posterior wall: a case report and review of the literature.

Tracheal stenosis, a well-known complication of endotracheal intubation and artificial ventilation, is most likely to occur in critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Although a rare complication, and despite technological improvements and better patient care in intensive care units, tracheal stenosis still constitutes a serious clinical problem which can also develop after a short period of mechanical ventilation. In this article, we present a very rare case report of a patient who developed a long-segment tracheal stenosis localized at the posterior wall after a relatively short period of endotracheal intubation with a high-volume, low-pressure cuffed endotracheal tube, and a review of the literature.

[Acute rhabdomyolysis: a case report and literature review]. / Akutna rabdomioliza, prikaz bolesnika i pregled literature.

Acute rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome characterized by the lesion of skeletal muscle resulting in subsequent release of intracellular contents into the circulatory system, which can cause potentially lethal complications. These contents include myoglobin, creatine phosphokinase, potassium, aldolase, lactate dehydrogenase and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase. There are numerous causes that can lead to acute rhabdomyolysis and many of patients present with multiple causes. The most common potentially lethal complication of rhabdomyoloysis is acute renal failure. In this article we present a case of a patient that developed clinical signs of acute rhabdomyolysis after consumption of heroin and alcohol. After approximately nine hours of alcohol and heroin induced coma he had acute compartment syndrome of the right arm, and clinical and laboratory signs of acute rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure as a complication of rhabdomyolysis. Acute rhabdomyolysis developed in the patient as the result of acute compartment syndrome, with direct toxic activity of alcohol and diamorphine. During the period of coma, due to lying in particular position over a long period of time, pressure upon the certain part of the body caused muscle compression and capillary occlusion in fascial compartments, which led to ischemia. Upon pressure relief and beginning of tissue recovery, post ischemic compartment syndrome occurred with subsequent rhabdomyolysis. Getting out of coma the patient started to complain of severe pain in the right arm, which clinically worsened on passive stretching of the limb, with the loss of sensation and weakness. Laboratory findings showed high levels of creatine phosphokinase as the most sensitive marker of muscular damage. The peak of creatine phosphokinase level can be predictive for the development of acute renal failure because myoglobin level may return to normal within 6 hours after muscle injury. The peak of creatine phosphokinase (186.080 U/L; normal range 0-177) was recorded at 12 hours of admission. Other pertinent laboratory results such as urea, creatinine, prothrombin time, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were also changed significantly. The peak of potassium level before dialysis was 6.8 mmol/L. Emergency fasciotomy of the anterior and posterior compartment syndrome was performed by a team of physicians after clinical examination. The second look debridement was performed at 48 and 72 hours. The plastic surgical procedure was performed 4 weeks later. On admission the patient also had oliguria with dark brown pigment in his urine. Arterial blood gases revealed metabolic and respiratory acidosis. The patient was hypovolemic and IV rehydratation with crystalloids, sodium bicarbonate and mannitol started immediately upon admission. Despite therapy his urine output decreased. Hemodialysis was initiated at serum potassium level of 6.8 mm/L and continued until his urine output returned to normal in three weeks. The patient was discharged from the hospital after six weeks, with normal urine output, without functional abnormality in his upper right limb. Acute rhabdomyolysis should be considered as a possibility in any patient with prolonged imobilization while in coma as well as in any intoxicated patient. Of course, creatine phosphokinase is the most sensitive indicator of muscle injury and the degree of creatine phosphokinase elevation correlates with the amount of muscle injury and disease severity. Other laboratory findings can help identify common complications of rhabdomyolysis such as acute renal failure, metabolic derangements and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.

[Spontaneous aortocaval fistula]. / Spontana aortokavalna fistula.

Spontaneous aortocaval fistula is a rare complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture. A definitive preoperative diagnosis sometimes is difficult, because ofnonspecific and highly variable clinical symptoms. Classic signs such as low back pain, palpable pulsatile abdominal mass, abdominal bruit and thrill, dyspnea and high-output cardiac failure are present in less than 50% of cases. In this article we report the case of a 68-year-old patient with an aortocaval fistula who was admitted in hospital because of abdominal pain and hematuria.

[Pathophysiologic effects of CO2-pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery]. / Patofizioloski ucinci CO2-pneumoperitoneja u laparoskopskoj kirurgiji.

Today, laparoscopic surgery is one of the most important diagnostic and therapeutic tools in general surgery. This minimally invasive procedure requires pneumoperitoneum for adequate visualization and operative manipulation. Carbon dioxide is the most commonly used gas for creating pneumoperitoneum, because of its high diffusibility and rapid rate of absorption and excretion. Certain specific operations that in the past required long hospitalization and were associated with severe postoperative pain and frequent complications are today performed laparoscopically. This minimally invasive technique potentially offers reduced operative time and morbidity, decreased hospital stay and earlier return to normal activities, less pain and less postoperative ileus compared with the traditional open surgical procedures. Because the postoperative benefits are superior to open surgical procedures, laparoscopy is today also used in many high risk patients in advanced age and pre-existent cardiopulmonary and respiratory diseases. However, insufflations of carbon dioxide into the peritoneum may lead to alteration in the acid-base balance, cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology. Although these changes may be well tolerated in healthy patients, in high risk patients they may increase the rate of perioperative complications. Therefore, it is very important that the anesthesiologist thoroughly understands the pathophysiology of carbon dioxide-pneumoperitoneum and treatment of potential complications. In this article, the acid-base balance, cardiovascular and pulmonary changes associated with laparoscopic surgery, and their potential complications and management are discussed based on our experience and literature data.

Prophylactic antiemetics for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: droperidol, metoclopramide, and droperidol plus metoclopramide.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most significant problems in laparoscopic surgery. The antiemetic effects of metoclopramide and droperidol used alone or in combination for prevention of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) were assessed in this prospective, double blind, placebo controlled randomized study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 140 patients, ASA physical status I or II, were included in the study. Patients were randomized to one of the following groups: 1, placebo; 2, metoclopramide 10 mg after the induction of anesthesia and placebo at 12 h postoperatively; 3, droperidol 1.25 mg after the induction of anesthesia and droperidol 1.25 mg at 12 h postoperatively; and 4, droperidol 1.25 mg plus metoclopramide 10 mg after the induction of anesthesia and droperidol 1.25 mg at 12 h postoperatively. Patients were observed for 24 hours for PONV, pain, need for rescue analgesics, and adverse events. RESULTS: Data were analyzed using the Student's t-test and chi-square test, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. The mean incidence of PONV was 54% with placebo, 42% with metoclopramide, 14% with two doses of droperidol alone, and 11% with a combination of metoclopramide plus droperidol. The patients receiving a combination of metoclopramide and droperidol had a significantly lower rate of PONV than those administered metoclopramide alone (P < 0.05) or placebo (P < 0.001). Those receiving two-dose droperidol alone also had a significantly lower incidence of PONV compared with metoclopramide (P < 0.05) and placebo (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the metoclopramide and placebo groups. Sedation was significantly greater in patients administered droperidol 12 h postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The combination of metoclopramide and droperidol, and two-dose droperidol alone, were found to significantly decrease the incidence of PONV after LC, whereas metoclopramide alone proved inefficient.