Anaphylactoid Reactions Following Red Blood Cell Transfusion in a Patient with Previously Undiagnosed Immunoglobulin A Deficiency: Case Report.

A 73-year-old, 104 kg female patient was hospitalised for debulking and low anterior colon resection operations. Anaphylactoid symptoms developed when administering erythrocyte suspension and fresh frozen plasma. Through the immediate haematology department consultation, it was found that the patient might possibly have immunoglobulin A deficiency. Immunoglobulin A level was found to be very low in the patient's blood sample, which was sent intraoperatively to verify the diagnosis. This case report discusses a sudden anaphylactic reaction that occurred as a result of a blood transfusion in a previously undiagnosed immunoglobulin A deficiency.

Combined liver transplantation and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation (LT) is the most effective treatment modality in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). With the increased prevalence of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), coupled with a steady increase in the age of transplant population, liver transplant candidates are at increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Improvements in anesthesia, surgical experiences, and increased effectiveness of drugs have facilitated concurrent surgical interventions in transplantation, allowing for orthotopic LT to be performed in elderly patients with a high incidence of coexisting diseases, especially those of the cardiovascular system. In this study, we present two cases of combined off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and living donor liver transplantation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old male patient with ESLD due to chronic hepatitis C infection and multi-vessel CAD, and a 65-year-old female patient with NAFLD cirrhosis and multi-vessel CAD were referred to our institution for an LT evaluation. We performed combined living donor LT and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in both patients. Both the first and second patients were alive with good liver and cardiac function at the 25 and 15 months after surgery, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and living donor LT are an alternative treatment for patients with severe CAD and ESLD. We consider that combined coronary artery bypass graft surgery and LT can be safely performed by experienced anesthesia and surgical teams in selected patients.

Evaluation of emergency operations and anesthesia procedures used in surgical emergencies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The number of people actively participating in society has decreased following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as a result of the measures taken to reduce the risk of transmission, such as interruption to education, social isolation, and curfews. Accordingly, change in the etiology of emergency surgery and characteristics of patients may be expected. The current study aimed to compare emergency surgery between the COVID-19 pre-pandemic and pandemic periods and to present the data and emergency anesthesia management of patients with suspected COVID-19. METHODS: Patients who underwent emergency surgery in our hospital between January 22 and April 29, 2020, were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: Those operated before March 11, 2020 (Group 1) and those operated from this date April 29, 2020 (Group 2). The data of the two groups were compared. Routine emergency anesthesia and surgical approach were applied to all patients in Group 1 and those without suspected COVID-19 in Group 2. Patients with suspected COVID-19 in Group 2 were treated with an algorithm created in accordance with the guidelines of official institutions and scientific associations. RESULTS: Age, gender, chronic medical diseases, ASA classification, Mallampati score, surgical department, surgical procedures, surgical etiology, duration of surgery, and length of hospital stay were similar in both groups. The number of patients undergoing general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia was 198 (82.5%) and 42 (17.5%) for Group 1 while it was 161 (73.9%) and 57 (26.1%), respectively, for Group 2 (p=0.025). CONCLUSION: The clinical data and surgical features of emergency patients during the pandemic were similar to those before the pandemic; however, the rate of spinal anesthesia was higher in the former. Personal protective equipment standards should be followed to prevent cross-infection among the anesthesiology team during anesthesia procedures for emergency operations. We consider that necessary emergency interventions can be safely performed and COVID-19 nosocomial infection can be prevented in the operating room by following the Ministry of Health recommendations and guidelines that are updated regularly.

Evaluation of the learning curve of pediatric kidney transplantation anesthesia

Background/aim: Pediatric kidney transplantation (PKT) anesthesia brings some different challenges than adult kidney transplantation (KT) anesthesia and there are still no studies analyzing the role of experience on PKT outcomes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anesthesia learning curve in pediatric kidney transplants performed in our institution and the effect of increasing experience on renal transplantation-related data. Materials and methods: Patients age ≤ 18 years who underwent KT were included in the study, while patients age >18 years were excluded. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the date of transplant, as the first 10 patients in Group 1, the second 10 patients in Group 2, and the final 11 in Group 3. Groups were compared according to recorded data. Results: Thirty-one patients were included in the study. Age, sex, and body mass index were matched between the 3 groups. The mean durations of dialysis were 75.0 ± 63.0, 22.4 ± 27.9, and 5.7 ± 4.5 months for Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively (p = 0.009). Blood loss, duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation, and length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) were comparable between the groups. The duration of anesthesia gradually shortened from Group 1 to Group 3 but there was no significant difference between the groups. The mean number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion was 0.9 ± 0.7 unit in group 1. It decreased to a mean of 0.6 ± 0.7 unit for group 2, and afterward significant decrease occurred down to 0 for group 3 (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that considering the decrease in preoperative dialysis duration and operative RBC transfusion, 20 patients may be enough for anesthesia competency. Transplantation anesthesia experience before PKT, anesthesia technique, and patient characteristics may differ between institutions. Therefore, further prospective studies with established learning curve goals, larger patient volumes, and more variables are needed to validate our results.

Liver Transplantation in a Child with Kartagener Syndrome: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Kartagener syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder consisting of the triad of situs inversus, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis. Although there are previous reports regarding the anaesthetic considerations in KS, none have included liver transplantation. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old boy with a diagnosis of KS underwent liver transplantation due to extrahepatic biliary atresia. Previous diagnostic imaging confirmed situs inversus and the absence of an inferior vena cava. The patient's peak airway pressure intermittently increased intraoperatively from 15 to 30 cm H2O due to increased pulmonary secretions, which required frequent suctioning of the endotracheal tube. Intraoperative volume resuscitation included 200 mL of 5% albumin, 5 units of erythrocyte suspension and 3 units of fresh frozen plasma. Intermittently, a norepinephrine infusion was required to maintain the MAP. Coagulation function was monitoring using the thromboelastogram to guide the use of blood products including fresh frozen plasma. At the end of the surgery, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. He was discharged from the intensive care unit on postoperative day 5, and from the hospital on postoperative day 28. He continues to do well with normal liver function 23 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Despite the risk of pulmonary related to airway secretions and exacerbation of hemodynamic instability related to anatomical variations in the inferior vena cava anatomy, KS patients can be safely anesthetized with careful planning and attention of the disease process, even for complex surgical procedures such as liver transplantation.

A comparison of the effects of hyperbaric and isobaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia on hemodynamics and heart rate variability.

AIM: To compare the effects of hyperbaric and isobaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia on hemodynamics and heart rate variability (HRV) in nonobstetric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group I (n = 30) received 15 mg (3 mL) of hyperbaric bupivacaine and Group II (n = 30) received 15 mg (3 mL) of isobaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded before and after spinal anesthesia over 30 min. Analyses of HRV were performed on the day of surgery, after volume loading, and 20 min after spinal injection. Low frequency (LF) values, high frequency (HF) values, and LF/HF ratios were recorded. The incidences of hypotension and alterations of HRV parameters in both groups were investigated. RESULTS: The incidence ofhypotension was 26.6% and 23.3% in Groups I and II, respectively. There were no significant differences in the LF and HF values and LF/HF ratios between groups. In Group I, LF/HF ratios were significantly lower and HF values were significantly higher at 20 min after spinal anesthesia, in comparison to the baseline value (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric bupivacaine caused a significantly greater decrease in LF/HF ratios and a significantly greater increase in HF values.

Acute isoniazid intoxication: an uncommon cause of convulsion, coma and acidosis.

Despite the widespread use, suicidal ingestion of isoniazid is a rare condition in Turkey. We reported a case of acute isoniazid intoxication associated with alcohol intake presenting with convulsion, coma and metabolic acidosis. The patient was treated successfully with intravenous pyridoxine administration. Early recognation and appropriate treatment in the intensive care unit is very important to prevent mortality in patients with acute isoniazid toxicity.