Anesthesia and surgery in very precarious conditions. Clinical cases.

We performed herniorrhaphy on 21 children (4 of them infants) and 3 adults, in very precarious conditions, in a hospital in a economically depressed area of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Anesthesia technique used in adults was subarachnoid and intravenous and intramuscular ketamine in children. Ketamine is an irreplaceable anesthetic in many parts of the world without resources, where the minimum safety means are not available. Knowing the simple anesthetic techniques, but with less risk, can also be useful in resourceful places, in unexpected situations. Greater solidarity is needed, both from anesthesia societies and from anesthesiologists, to alleviate the great deficiencies in well-trained professionals and means in places without resources.

Corrigendum to "Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Landscape in Lung Cancer: Therapeutical Implications".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2016/9214056.].

Review of difficult airway management in thoracic surgery. / Revisión del manejo de la vía aérea díficil en cirugía torácica.

The management of difficult airway (DA) in thoracic surgery is more difficult due to the need for lung separation or isolation and frequent presence of associated upper and lower airway problems. We performed an article review analysing 818 papers published with clinical evidence indexed in Pubmed that allowed us to develop an algorithm. The best airway management in predicted DA is tracheal intubation and independent bronchial blockers guided by fibroscopy maintaining spontaneous ventilation. For unpredicted DA, the use of videolaryngoscopes is recommended initially, and adequate neuromuscular relaxation (rocuronium/sugammadex), among other maneuvers. In both cases, double lumen tubes should be reserved for when lung separation is absolutely indicated. Finally, extubation should be a time of maximum care and be performed according to the safety measures of the Difficult Arway Society.

Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Landscape in Lung Cancer: Therapeutical Implications.

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease responsible for the most cases of cancer-related deaths. The majority of patients are clinically diagnosed at advanced stages, with a poor survival rate. For this reason, the identification of oncodrivers and novel biomarkers is decisive for the future clinical management of this pathology. The rise of high throughput technologies popularly referred to as "omics" has accelerated the discovery of new biomarkers and drivers for this pathology. Within them, tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs) have proven to be of importance as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive tools and, due to their molecular nature, as therapeutic targets. Along this review, the role of TKRs in the different lung cancer histologies, research on improvement of anti-TKR therapy, and the current approaches to manage anti-TKR resistance will be discussed.

[Cross-sectional survey of anaesthetic practices in Catalonia, Spain]. / Etude transversale de la pratique de l'anesthésie en Catalogne, Espagne.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this is study was to describe the epidemiology of anaesthesia practice in Catalonia, Spain, in 2003. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, cross-sectional survey was carried out on 14 randomly chosen days in 2003. METHODS: A questionnaire on each anaesthetic procedure provided information about patient characteristics, technique, and the intervention for which anaesthesia was needed. The results were extrapolated to the population and expressed as annual rates of anaesthetic procedures per 100 inhabitants were calculated. RESULTS: All 131 identified centres (55.7% private, 44.3% public) participated. Based on the 23,136 completed questionnaires collected in the survey, it was estimated that 603,189 procedures were performed. The annual rate of anaesthesia was nine per 100 inhabitants. Women represented 58% of the population. The median age was 52 years and 39.3% of procedures were performed in patients over the age of 60 years. The percentage of patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3 rating or more was 26.7%. Anaesthesia practice was divided into that associated with surgery (78.4%), obstetrics (11.3%), and other non-surgical procedures (10.4%). Outpatients accounted for 34.3% and emergency patients for 20.3%. Regional anaesthesia was most common (41.4%), with spinal block being the most widely used regional technique. There were an estimated 12.5 anaesthesiologists per 100000 inhabitants. CONCLUSION: Females, older patients, or those with poor physical status make high demands on resources, as do procedures in obstetrics, orthopaedics and ophthalmology. These needs must be planned for in the organization of services and training.

[Survey of anesthetic techniques used in Catalonia: results of the analysis of 23,136 anesthesias (2003 ANESCAT study)]. / Encuesta sobre las técnicas anestésicas utilizadas en Cataluña: resultado del análisis de 23.136 anestesias (estudio ANESCAT 2003).

OBJECTIVE: To examine anesthesia practice in Catalonia in 2003 and to describe the specific characteristics and distribution of the anesthesia techniques used and the patient profiles. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used the data from the ANESCAT epidemiological study that gathered information in questionnaire form on all anesthesias performed in Catalonia on 14 randomly selected days representative of practice in 2003. RESULTS: All 131 hospitals authorized to perform anesthesia participated in the study. We collected 23136 questionnaires, from which we extrapolated to estimate 603189 anesthesias for the year and a rate of 9.0 anesthesias per 100 inhabitants per year. Fifty-eight percent of the patients were women and the mean age was 52 years. The physical status of the patients was as follows: ASA 1 or 2, 73.3%; ASA 3, 213%; ASA 4 or 5, 5.4%. The mean duration of anesthesia was 60 minutes. The most common form of anesthesia was a regional block (41.4%) and spinal block was the one performed most often. General anesthesia was used in 33.5% of the cases, combined anesthesia in 3.5%, and sedation in 21.6%. In descending order, orthopedics/trauma, ophthalmology, general surgery, obstetrics, cataract surgery, vaginal delivery, inguinal hernia repair, and colonoscopy were the procedures for which anesthesia was most commonly administered. CONCLUSIONS: Almost 1 in 10 persons in Catalonia are given anesthesia each year and most of the procedures involve locoregional anesthesia or sedation. These data provide a picture of the current situation of anesthesiology and make it possible to forecast future anesthesia requirements.

[Two cases of early postoperative massive pulmonary thromboembolism after gastric bypass surgery]. / Dos casos de tromboembolismo pulmonar masivo precoz en el postoperatorio de cirugía bariáitrica.

Pulmonary thromboembolism in the early postoperative period is rare. We present 2 cases of massive embolism that occurred soon after gastric bypass surgery. The first patient was a 32-year-old man, a smoker with a body mass index (BMI) of 52 kg/m2, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and venous insufficiency in the lower extremities. Fatal cardiorespiratory arrest occurred 22 hours after surgery. Autopsy confirmed massive pulmonary thromboembolism. The second patient was a 48-year-old woman with a BMI of 40 kg/m2 who had undergone abdominal hysterectomy 2 months earlier. She survived cardiorespiratory arrest occurring 11 hours after surgery. There were no sequelae. The diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. These patients undoubtedly had asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis before the operations. Prevention of pulmonary embolism is essential in high risk patients. The prophylactic measures usually applied are administration of low molecular weight heparin to prevent thrombosis, early ambulation, and the use of elastic compression stockings or intermittent pneumatic compression.

[Anesthesia with sevoflurane for tonsillectomy in a boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy]. / Anestesia con sevoflurano para amigdalectomía a un niño con enfermedad de Duchenne.

A 6-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and foreseen difficult tracheal intubation underwent tonsillectomy under general inhaled anesthesia with sevoflurane. No neuromuscular blockers were administered and no perioperative complications emerged. In spite of advances in genetic diagnosis there continue to be patients with DMD because of spontaneous mutation of the dystrophin gene. Late detection leaves them vulnerable to administration of drugs like succinylcholine that can trigger fatal reactions involving hyperpotassemia, rhabdomyolysis, and malignant hyperthermia. Total intravenous anesthesia seems the best way to provide general anesthesia for a patient with DMD. Inhaled anesthesia is an alternative. Although halogenated agents can lead to rhabdomyolysis and malignant hyperthermia, the frequency seems low if we bear in mind that the use of sevoflurane is widespread in pediatrics. In this case sevoflurane induction facilitated safe tracheal intubation.

[Bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome during spinal anesthesia]. / Síndrome de bradicardia-taquicardia durante una anestesia espinal.

A 78-year-old man developed bradycardia with decreased level of consciousness followed by sinus arrest during femoropopliteal bypass surgery under subarachnoid anesthesia. Early in the recovery period, a similar clinical picture developed, with bradycardia but no change in level of consciousness. Sinus node automaticity or sinoatrial conduction abnormalities were suspected, and a 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram revealed bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome. The patient was prescribed amiodarone and anticoagulant therapy with acenocoumarol; no further episodes occurred during hospitalization. Bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome is a sinus node disorder that manifests intermittently. It can become apparent during or shortly after surgery, leading to problems of differential diagnosis.

[Postoperative patient-controlled analgesia is more effective with epidural methadone than with intravenous methadone in thoracic surgery]. / La analgesia postoperatoria controlada por el paciente es más efectiva con metadona epidural que con metadona endovenosa en la cirugía torácica.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and side effects of epidural and intravenous methadone for postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after thoracic surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized, single-blind trial enrolling 30 patients distributed in 2 groups to receive intravenous methadone (ivPCA group) or epidural methadone (epPCA group). Patients in both groups were administered a loading dose of 0.05 mg.kg-1 followed by infusion of 0.5 mg.h-1. The patients could self-dose 0.5 mg with a lock-out interval of 10 minutes and a maximum of 4 doses per hour. Patient characteristics, type and duration of surgery and fentanyl dose were recorded. Pain was assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS). Level of sedation, respiratory rate and occurrence of nausea, vomiting and pruritus were also recorded over the first 24 hours. RESULTS: The 2 groups were comparable. Pain was greater in the ivPCA group than in the epPCA group in the second hour (VAS 3.93 +/- 1.9 and 2.4 +/- 1.65, respectively; P < .05) and the third hour (VAS 3.57 +/- 1.65 and 1.5 +/- 1.16, respectively; P < .05). The total dose of methadone administered was 25.34 +/- 5.65 mg in the ivPCA group and 18.82 +/- 3.52 mg in the epPCA group (P < .002). There were no significant differences in side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that epidural methadone has an intrinsic spinal effect regardless of whether or not there is extra-spinal action arising from syste mic absorption. Epidural methadone provides a more adequate analgesic effect in less time and at a lower dose. Both approaches provide good postoperative analgesia with few side effects.

[Morbidity and mortality related to anesthesia and surgery in 60 patients treated with bariatric surgery]. / Morbimortalidad anestésica-quirúrgica en 60 pacientes intervenidos de cirugía bariátrica.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors predicting morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing bariatric surgery for morbid obesity in our hospital. METHOD: Sixty bariatric surgery patients whose body mass indexes (BMI) exceeded 35 kg.m-2 were studied retrospectively. We examined the incidence of associated disease, the perioperative period, type of surgery, anesthetic technique, postoperative analgesia and the incidence of major complications. RESULTS: Fifty-one women and 9 men (mean age 43.33 +/- 10.25 years, mean BMI 46.41 +/- 6.04 kg/m-2) were studied. The incidences of high blood pressure (55%) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (40%) were high. Nine patients (15%) were physical status (ASA) I, 18 (30%) were ASA II, 27 (45%) were ASA III and 6 (10%) were ASA IV. Major complications developed in 3 cases (5%) in the first 24 h and in 8 (13.33%) in the first 7 days. The mortality rate was 0% among ASA I and II patients, 3.7% (1 death) among ASA III patients, and 33.33% (2 deaths) among ASA IV patients. All who died were men. The only factor that predicted morbidity in the first week after surgery was BMI. Both morbidity in the first 24 h and mortality were associated with greater underlying disease in our patients undergoing bariatric surgery. CONCLUSION: Major complications of bariatric surgery occurred in 18.3% of our patients and mortality was 5%. Physical status was a prognostic factor for both early (24 h) postoperative morbidity and mortality in our morbidly obese patients, whereas BMI was related to morbidity during the first week after surgery.

Anaesthetic and postoperative analgesic effects of spinal clonidine as an additive to prilocaine in the transurethral resection of urinary bladder tumours.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine has potent central antinociceptive properties. The study was designed to investigate the effects of the combined subarachnoid administration of clonidine and prilocaine on spinal block and postoperative analgesia for the transurethral resection of tumours in the urinary bladder. METHODS: The controlled, prospective, double-blind study enrolled 40 patients scheduled for elective transurethral resection of bladder tumours under spinal anaesthesia with prilocaine. Patients were randomly assigned to receive an intrathecal injection of prilocaine 75 mg alone (control group) or in combination with clonidine 75 micrograms. We assessed haemodynamic changes (non-invasive arterial pressure, heart rate), pulse oximetry, the upper level of block, the onset and duration of sensory and motor block, postoperative analgesia and any adverse effects. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in demographic data, heart rate, onset time or the levels of sensory or motor block. Analgesia lasted significantly longer in the clonidine group (498.4 +/- 226.9 versus 187.2 +/- 103.1 min; P < 0.05). The duration of motor block was longer in the clonidine group (165.5 +/- 30.6 min) than in the control group (139.7 +/- 40.4 min; P < 0.05) and the duration of sensory block was also longer in the clonidine group (157.3 +/- 24.5 min) than in the control group (137.2 +/- 31.2 min; P < 0.05). Fewer patients in the recovery room needed metamizol (dipyrone) in the clonidine group (5%) than in the control group (50%). Arterial pressure decreased significantly in the clonidine group 75-135 min after the block. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of clonidine 75 micrograms to prilocaine 75 mg for subarachnoid anaesthesia increased the duration of sensory and motor block and reduced the need for additional postoperative analgesics by providing excellent analgesia for about 8 h during recovery from transurethral resection of bladder tumours.

[Placement of a double-lumen tube using a 6 mm diameter fibro-bronchoscope and a Cook exchange catheter in a patient with unforeseen tracheal intubation difficulty]. / Colocación de un tubo de doble luz mediante fibrobroncoscopio de 6 mm de diámetro e intercambiador de tubos Cook a un paciente con intubación traqueal difícil no prevista.

The trachea of a 74-year-old man undergoing left pneumonectomy could not be intubated in two attempts after induction of anesthesia with midazolam, fentanyl, propofol and rocuronium. Difficult intubation had not been foreseen, but inspection through the laryngoscope revealed Cormack and Lehane grade IV conditions. Because a small-caliber fiberoptic bronchoscope was unavailable for intubation with a double-lumen endobronchial tube, we inserted a No. 9 orotracheal tube with a 6 mm bronchoscope as far as the left main bronchus. Intubation was aided by a universal adaptor for fiberoptics with a face mask and a Williams cannula. We were then able to ventilate the patient manually with 100% oxygen during bronchoscopy. As selective ventilation was required during surgery, a No. 11 Cook-type airway exchange catheter was inserted into the left main bronchus, the tracheal tube was removed, and was used to guide a No. 39F left double-lumen endobronchial tube through the bronchus. Insertion was uncomplicated and selective ventilation was satisfactory. The technique described is a new application for the Cook exchange catheter that allows selective bronchial in difficult cases when a small-caliber fiberoptic bronchoscope is unavailable.

[Pregnancy and partum in the woman with a spinal cord lesion in chronic phase]. / Embarazo y parto en la mujer con lesión medular en fase crónica.

A 34-year-old pregnant paraplegic woman with a T12 medullary lesion in chronic phase underwent cesarean delivery in the thirty-seventh week due to pelvic-cephalic disproportion. After failure of epidural anesthesia related to technical difficulties, general anesthesia was provided. A hypertensive crisis developed during surgery but was resolved within minutes after administration of hydralazine. No further complications arose. Pregnancy in a patient with medullary lesion in chronic phase is considered high risk, requiring special care due to extraordinary changes in pathophysiology caused by the lesion in addition to changes directly related to gestation. The main complications that arise are decreased respiratory volume and arterial pressure, increased incidence of thromboembolic events, anemia, urinary tract infections, premature birth, unusual progression of delivery and autonomic hyperreflexia, which is the most serious. When a hypertensive peak develops in such patients, the anesthesiologist must first rule out autonomic hyperreflexia, which has an incidence of 85% in lesions over T7 and has also been described in patients with lower lesions.

[Remifentanil or propofol for sedation in subarachnoid anesthesia. Effects on ventilation, hemodynamic stability and bispectral index]. / Remifentanilo o propofol para la sedación en anestesia subaracnoidea. Efectos sobre la ventilación, estabilidad hemodinámica e índice biespectral.

OBJECTIVES: To compare depth of sedation, hemodynamic and respiratory effects, and bispectral index (BIS) in surgical patients under subarachnoid anesthesia with intravenous perfusion of 1 mg/kg/h of propofol or 3 microgram/kg/h of remifentanil or placebo. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Fifty-one elective surgery patients were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: propofol (n = 17), remifentanil (n = 17) or placebo (n = 17). We monitored ECG, blood pressure (BP), respiratory frequency (RF), oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2), nasal end tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PETCO2), BIS and sedation on the Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scale (OAA/S). Five minutes after starting subarachnoid anesthesia, we initiated the assigned intravenous perfusion. Measurement of hemodynamic variables, BIS, PETCO2, RF and OAA/S score occurred at baseline, every 5 minutes during surgery and after withdrawal of sedation at intervals until recovery of baseline values. RESULTS: Patient data and SpO2 were similar in the 3 groups. PETCO2, FR and OAA/S did not change significantly from baseline in the placebo group but were significantly different in the other groups. BIS was significantly lower in the propofol group than in either the remifentanil or the control group. Times to recovery were similar in the two sedation groups. Slight complications were observed in 35.3% patients in the propofol group, 53.3% in the remifentanil group and 7.7% in the placebo group; complications were mainly nausea, pruritus and hypoventilation in the remifentanil group and venous pain in the propofol group. CONCLUSIONS: The sedation regimens used were safe and adequate. Propofol is associated with fewer complications than remifentanil.

[Comparative study between 5% prilocaine and 2% mepivacaine by the subarachnoid route in transurethral resections]. / Estudio comparativo entre prilocaína al 5% y mepivacaína al 2% por vía subaracnoidea en resecciones transuretrales.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the duration of spinal block with 5% prilocaine and 2% mepivacaine in short procedures for transurethral resection and to assess possible complications in the immediate postoperative period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients scheduled for transurethral resection of the prostate or a vesical tumor. Patients were ASA I-III, over 55 years of age and randomly assigned to two groups to receive 5% prilocaine (1 mg/kg, n = 27) or 2% mepivacaine (0.8 mg/kg, n = 30). We collected data on anesthetic technique, levels of extension of motor and sensory blockades, duration of blockades and complications within the first 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Demographic data, ASA classification and duration of surgery were similar in both groups. We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in duration of sensory blockade (120.92 +/- 36.21 min with prilocaine and 145.83 +/- 35.81 min with mepivacaine) and in motor blockade (106.29 +/- 38.16 min with prilocaine and 133.16 +/- 42.21 min with mepivacaine). Five cases of hypotension and 4 of bradycardia occurred in each group and one patient in the mepivacaine group suffered slight postoperative cephalea. CONCLUSIONS: Both local anesthetics offer good surgical conditions with hemodynamic stability and few complications. The duration of sensory and motor blockade is shorter with prilocaine than with mepivacaine, making prilocaine more appropriate for short interventions.

[Isobaric 2% lidocaine in continuous subarachnoid anesthesia using microcatheters]. / Lidocaína isobárica al 2% en anestesia subaracnoidea continua con microcatéteres.

The objective in the study of the clinical effect of isobaric 2% lidocaine for continuous spinal anesthesia with a microcatheter technique. Nine consecutive patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery under spinal anesthesia were enrolled. We inserted 27 G catheters through 22 G Sprotte (Intralong) needles to administer 20 mg of isobaric 2% lidocaine followed by successive doses of 10 mg until the required level of anesthesia was reached. Repeated injections of 10 mg were given during surgery whenever the level of anesthesia fell as much as one metamere, possibly permitting pain to appear. We recorded hemodynamic variables, level of anesthesia and motor block, as well as complications during and after surgery. The technique was used with nine patients, for whom the mean presurgical dose was 32.3 +/- 9.2 mg and the mean total dose was 51.3 +/- 25.3 mg. However, the protocol for administering the local anesthetic was suspended in three patients due to difficulty in maintaining the achieved level of anesthesia, as repeated injections were required, with consequent patient discomfort. In these patients relatively high levels of blockade were required and surgery lasted longer than one hour. The protocol followed with isobaric 2% lidocaine was not effective for continuous spinal anesthesia with microcatheters because of difficulty of maintaining level of anesthesia.