Ventricular tachycardia and acute heart failure induced by atropine in the treatment of bradycardia: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Despite various advantages of laparoscopic surgical procedures, artificial pneumoperitoneum might lead to hemodynamic fluctuations including severe bradycardia and cardiac arrest. Atropine is usually proposed to treat intraoperative severe bradycardia ( < 40 beats per minute). However, atropine could induce ventricular arrhythmias, which might be life-threatening in severe case. PATIENT CONCERNS: Here, we reported a 41-year-old female who was diagnosed with gallbladder polyps and was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. DIAGNOSES: Bradycardia occurred suddenly during the operation and atropine was injected intravenously. Eventually the patient developed ventricular tachycardia and acute heart failure. INTERVENTIONS: We organized an urgent consultation and the patient was treated immediately. OUTCOMES: Fortunately, the patient experienced no complications after timely diagnosis and treatment. After 6 months of follow-up, her New York Heart Association classification was I with no complications. LESSONS: This case highlighted that the administration of atropine to treat bradycardia may lead to ventricular tachycardia and acute heart failure, and anesthesiologists should remain vigilant to avoid potentially life-threatening consequences.

Synergistic effects of defocus-incorporated multiple segments and atropine in slowing the progression of myopia.

Myopia is a leading cause of visual impairment in young people worldwide. It sometimes increases the risk of blindness and reduces life quality. Previous reports have revealed the treatment effects of defocus-incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) and topical atropine (ATP) on myopia control. However, no study has evaluated these two interventions together. In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine whether the combination of DIMS lenses and 0.01% ATP can slow the progression of myopia compared with DIMS lenses or single vision (SV) lenses alone. We included 107 children with myopia who were treated with DIMS and 0.01% ATP combination (DIMS + ATP group), DIMS monotherapy (DIMS group), or a control group (SV group). We compared treatment effects among three groups in axial length and myopia progression. After a 1-year follow-up, the DIMS + ATP group showed a smaller change in axial length and myopia progression than the DIMS and SV groups (P < 0.05). Hence, combination treatment with DIMS and 0.01% ATP might be a better choice for children with myopia.

Transplantation of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes into a Myocardial Infarction Model of Cynomolgus Monkey.

Recent evidence has provided exciting proof of concepts for the use of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (PSC-CMs) for cardiac repair; however, large animal studies, which better reflect human disease, are required for clinical application. Here, we describe how to create myocardial infarction in cynomolgus monkey followed by transplantation of PSC-CMs. This method ensures the establishment of a myocardial infarction model and enables reliable PSC-CM transplantation.

Case report: 2 cases of cardiac arrest caused by rhino-cardiac reflex while disinfecting nasal cavity before endonasal transsphenoidal endoscopic pituitary surgery.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal-cardiac reflex (TCR) is a brainstem vagus reflex that occurs when any center or peripheral branch of the trigeminal nerve was stimulated or operated on. The typical clinical manifestation is sudden bradycardia with or without blood pressure decline. The rhino-cardiac reflex which is one type of TCR is rare in clinical practice. As the rhino-cardiac reflex caused by disinfection of the nasal cavity is very rare, we report these two cases to remind other anesthesiologists to be vigilant to this situation. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes two cases of cardiac arrest caused by rhino-cardiac reflex while disinfecting nasal cavity before endoscopic transsphenoidal removal of pituitary adenomas. Their heart rate all dropped suddenly at the very moment of nasal stimulation and recovered quickly after stimulation was stopped and the administration of drugs or cardiac support. CONCLUSION: Although the occurrence of rhino-cardiac reflex is rare, we should pay attention to it in clinical anesthesia. It is necessary to know the risk factors for preventing it. Once it occurs, we should take active and effective rescue measures to avoid serious complications.

Intoxicación por beta bloqueadores / Beta Blockers Intoxication

La intoxicación por betabloqueadores es una situación clínica de poca frecuencia, estrechamente relacionada con trastornos depresivos mayores, con una prevalencia mayor en mujeres. Los episodios de gravedad relacio- nados a toxicidad por betabloqueadores son clasificados como episodios de moderados a severos. En el caso del carvedilol con un umbral tóxico de 50mg. Caso Clínico: Paciente de 16 años con historia de ingesta de carvedilol en niveles tóxicos y único antecedente depresión ma- yor. Discusión: Los betabloqueadores antagonizan los receptores betaadrenérgicos, la sintomatología relacio- nada con bradicardia e hipotensión es frecuente y puede generar afección a nivel del sistema nervioso central. El tratamiento de emergencia sí se capta al paciente en la primera hora consiste en realizar un lavado gástrico y aplicar carbón activado. Se propone el uso de crista- loides y el uso de epinefrina o norepinefrina como ma- nejo de primera línea, en caso de bradicardias sosteni- das debe considerarse el uso de atropina. Los pacientes asintomáticos deben ser vigilados durante seis horas...(AU)

Cobra snakebite mimicking brain death treated with a novel combination of polyvalent snake antivenom and anticholinesterase.

In toxicology literature, snake bites were the second toxicology-relevant cause mimicking brain death. A 57-year-old woman with history of cobra snake bite. On examination, the brain stem reflexes were absent with Glasgow coma score of 3. The patient accomplished full neurological recovery after using a novel combination of Polyvalent Snake Antivenom (PSA) and anticholinesterases. This case highlights a unique presentation of cobra bite induced brain death mimicking. Thus, intensivist should exclude neuroparalytic effect of snakebite before considering withdrawal of ventilatory support or organ donation. Also, the life-threatening presentation of cobra envenomation mandates the use of higher doses of PSA to reverse the neuroparalytic toxicity. We should consider the rule of anticholinesterase as an adjunctive therapy to PSA in severe cobra envenomation.

A Case of Delayed-onset Hemorrhagic Choroidal Detachment After PreserFlo Microshunt Implantation in a Glaucoma Patient Under Anticoagulant Therapy.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of delayed-onset hemorrhagic choroidal detachment (HCD) in a patient affected by primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) undergone PreserFlo Microshunt implantation. CASE REPORT DESCRIPTION: A 76-year-old patient with POAG, under treatment with Dabigatran (a novel oral anticoagulant), underwent an uncomplicated PreserFlo Microshunt implantation in the left eye. In the first postoperative day, intraocular pressure (IOP) was 6 mm Hg, conjunctival bleb was diffuse, anterior chamber (AC) deep, and device correctly positioned. Twelve days after surgery, the patient had emergency access complaining severe ocular pain and sudden vision loss. Ophthalmological evaluation revealed shallow AC and an IOP of 50 mm Hg. The fundus examination revealed almost kissing HCD. OUTCOME: Immediate topical treatment with atropine, aqueous humor suppressants, and corticosteroids was started. Because of high IOP, ocular pain, and the presence of almost kissing HCD, surgical drainage of suprachoroidal hemorrhage and removal of PreserFlo Microshunt were performed. An improvement of the clinical condition was observed in the following postoperative days, with partial resolution of the HCD and a decrease of the IOP. On the third postoperative day, there was a worsening of the HCD, with a reduction of the AC depth and IOP elevation. HCD was drained through the previously performed sclerotomies, associated with pars-plana vitrectomy and silicone-oil tamponade. HCD completely resolved during the following 6 weeks, with IOP reduction and partial improvement of visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Great attention must be taken in patients with glaucoma under treatment with a novel oral anticoagulant, also when planning PreserFlo Microshunt implantation.

Irinotecan inducing sinus pause bradycardia in a patient with small round cell cancer.

Irinotecan is a novel anticancer drug that has worked wonders in combination with other anticancer drugs. It can be used as a single chemotherapy agent in colonic cancer treatment or in combination with 5-fluorouracil. Irinotecan has been found a better salvage therapy in patients who are resistant to 5-fluorouracil. It is also used in combination with cisplatin and other drugs for cancers such as pleural mesothelioma, Ewing's sarcoma, lung cancer and others, and has helped reduce tumour burden. Irinotecan is generally associated with gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, while cardiovascular toxicity (5%) has been reported mainly as vasodilatation and possible bradycardia with no known incidence. A case was reported in 1998 by Miya et al of a 65-year-old man with bradycardia which was managed with atropine without modifications in the dosage of irinotecan or in the rate of infusion. We report a case of a patient with small round cell cancer who presented with sinus pause bradycardia after infusion with irinotecan. The patient was managed with atropine during chemotherapy.

Coronary stent embolism to the right posterior cerebral artery.

A 57-year-old male was admitted to the emergency room with chest pain that has been present for 3 hours. His blood pressure was 70/50 mmHg and heart rate was 48 bpm. 12-lead surface electrocardiography revealed inferior myocardial infarction and third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. An emergency coronary angiography showed a 50% stenosis in the middle segment of the left anterior descending artery and 90% in the proximal circumflex (Cx) artery. The right coronary artery was totally occluded. After the predilatation with a 2.0x15 mm compliant balloon at 10 atm, a 3.5x24 mm bare metal stent was implanted. The third-degree AV block improved and a sinus rhythm of 124 bpm was achieved, but hemodynamic stability was not attained. Percutaneous coronary intervention for the Cx artery was performed. Without predilatation, a 3.5x12 mm low profile BMS was easily advanced over the lesion. Just before the stent implantation, asystole developed, followed by convulsions. Blood pressure and heart rate recovered after the administration of 1 mg of atropine. However, during the seizure, the guidewire and coronary stent device fell to the aortic root. Stent struts were not seen on the balloon catheter in a fluoroscopic examination. Fluoroscopic scanning of the vascular system showed that the coronary stent was in the right posterior cerebral artery. There were no symptoms or signs of neurological disorder. Consultant invasive neuroradiologist recommended medical follow-up. Clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid were prescribed indefinitely. Two months after the primary PCI, a successful coronary artery bypass graft operation was performed. After 4 years, the patient remained without any symptoms of neurological problems.

Sedative reduction method for children with intussusception.

Intussusception is common emergency condition in children. Pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction (HR) is considered the first-choice management strategy in cases lacking indications for surgical intervention. Generally, sedatives are not used in children undergoing interventional radiology procedures. Surgical management is associated with long hospitalization durations and high costs, unlike nonsurgical reduction. To avoid surgery, reduction procedures are repeated despite initial treatment failure. However, in cases involving repeated failures, children should be referred for surgery.To ensure good response to reduction, we planned HR under sedation during the third reduction attempt. Sedative reduction (SR) was performed with the administration of ketamine, midazolam, and atropine. All patients with contraindications against HR underwent laparoscopic reduction (LR) without HR.During 3 years, SR was performed in 43 patients, and in 28 (65.1%), the treatment was successful. Among the 15 patients in whom the procedure failed, 14 underwent LR without intestinal resection. There was no significant risk factor contributing to failed reduction under sedation.During the second or third HR attempt, successful reduction may be ensured with the SR procedure with intravenous ketamine, midazolam, and atropine; this procedure may further reduce surgery rates in pediatric intussusception.

Overfiltering Bleb en Route to Annular Ciliochoroidal Effusion.

Annular ciliochoroidal effusion is a rare condition that can complicate trabeculectomy. We report a case of ciliochoroidal effusion mimicking aqueous misdirection after combined glaucoma and cataract surgery. A 75-year-old male with pseudoexfoliation, chronic angle-closure glaucoma, and advanced optic disc damage developed ciliochoroidal effusion after a combined trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. The patient presented with overfiltering bleb, hypotony, and a uniformly shallow anterior chamber that mimicked aqueous misdirection in the clinical picture. Reformation of anterior chamber followed by revision of the bleb was performed. Ultrasound biomicroscopy confirmed the diagnosis. Atropine and steroid eye drops improved the condition. Ciliochoroidal effusion should be ruled out in hypotony with shallow anterior chamber post glaucoma surgery.

Deduction of Novel Genes Potentially Involved in the Effects of Very Low Dose Atropine (0.003%) Treatment on Corneal Epithelial Cells Using Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Approaches.

Background and Objectives: Atropine is a nonselective muscarinic antagonist which has been used to prevent worsening of myopia in children. Different concentrations of atropine were used for myopia, ranging from 0.01% to 1.0%. However, there are still potential toxicity of different doses of atropine to the cornea. Here, we present a study of investigating novel genes potentially involved in the effects of very low dose atropine treatment (0.003%) on corneal epithelial cells using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics approaches. Materials and Methods: Human corneal epithelial cells were treated with 0.003% atropine, cultured until confluence, and RNA extracted for differential expression profiling of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) between control and atropine-treated corneal epithelial cells. The functional enrichment analysis for differentially expressed genes was performed using two bioinformatics databases, including Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA). In addition, potential miRNA-mRNA interactions involved in atropine-treated corneal epithelial cells were predicted and validated using different miRNA target prediction databases. Results: Our results showed 0.003% atropine might suppress the apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells, potentially through Ras and protein kinase A signaling pathways. We also validated the possible miRNA regulations by using TargetScan and miRDB databases. Hsa-miR-651-3p-EPHA7, hsa-miR-3148-TMEM108 and hsa-miR-874-5p-TBX6 were validated as possible miRNA regulations involved in corneal epithelial cells treated with 0.003% atropine. Conclusions: These findings may contribute novel insights into therapeutic strategies for treating cornea with 0.003% atropine.

Does sugammadex decrease the severity of agitation and complications in pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate  the effectiveness of sugammadex in reducing or eliminating postoperative agitation levels, early respiratory complications and nausea/vomiting in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: A total of 70 patients (age range: 5-13 years) who underwent an adenotonsillectomy  in the Otolaryngology Clinic, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey between May 2015 and September 2017 were included in the study. The patients were randomized into a sugammadex group (Group S) and a neostigmine + atropine (Group N); each group contained 35 patients. Time to extubation, postoperative agitation levels, and early postoperative complications were evaluated and recorded. Data from both groups were statistically evaluated and compared. RESULTS: The time to extubation was significantly shorter in Group S than Group N (p less than 0.05). Agitation scores during recovery were significantly lower in Group S than Group N (p less than 0.05). More complications were observed in Group N than in Group S; the number of patients seen coughing and experiencing nausea/vomiting in Group S was statistically significantly lower (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the use of sugammadex results in less time to recovery and less agitation in comparison to conventional administration of neostigmine + atropine in the reversal of neuromuscular blocking after adenotonsillectomy.

Penehyclidine hydrochloride on postoperatively cognitive function.

There are many drugs that affect postoperative cognitive function in patients under general anesthesia. Pentanethaquine hydrochloride (PHC), as a new type of anti-cholinergic drug, has been widely used. In clinical practice, many patients, especially elderly patients, have suffered from obvious postoperative cognitive dysfunction, but the incidence of pulmonary infection, reduced probably due to the decease of secretion production. Therefore, the effect of PHC on postoperative cognitive functions and inflammatory factors in elderly lung cancer patients under general anesthesia were mainly discussed to determine the clinical advantages and disadvantages. Ninety elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer under general anesthesia were selected and divided into PHC group (group A, n = 30), atropine group (group B, n = 30) and normal saline control group (group C, n = 30). The incidence of postoperative blurred vision was higher in group A compared to group B and C (both p < 0.05). The incidence of other adverse reactions was higher in group A compared to group C (all p < 0.05), but there was no difference between group A and group B (all p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in preoperative and day 1 post-surgery mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores among the three groups (both p > 0.05), but the day 1 post-surgery MMSE scores of three groups were lower (all p < 0.05). PHC increased the incidence of postoperative cognitive impairment and postoperative delirium in elderly lung cancer patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery under general anesthesia, but reduced the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications possibly by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Advances in Emergent Airway Management in Pediatrics.

Airway management is the cornerstone to resuscitation efforts for many critically ill pediatric patients presenting for emergency care. Pediatric endotracheal intubation is uncommon in emergency medicine, making it challenging to maintain comfort with this critical procedure. This article offers strategies to facilitate pediatric airway management by addressing predictable anatomic and physiologic differences in children. Also reviewed are alternative approaches to airway management (eg, noninvasive ventilation and videolaryngoscopy) that might be used in cases of recognized difficult airways. Finally, recommendations for maintaining procedural skills in providers who may have limited clinical exposure to critically ill children requiring airway interventions are provided.

Treatment of canine postoperative ocular hypertension with combined latanoprost 0.005% and atropine 1% ophthalmic solutions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of topical 0.005% latanoprost (L) vs combined 0.005% latanoprost and 1% atropine (LA) on control of postoperative ocular hypertension (POH), development of posterior synechiae formation, pupil size, and blindness after phacoemulsification surgery in dogs. ANIMAL STUDIED: Dogs with postoperative ocular hypertension were included in the study: L-group, latanoprost (eight dogs, 14 eyes) and LA-group, latanoprost and atropine (nine dogs, 15 eyes). PROCEDURES: Complete ophthalmic examinations including tonometry were performed at 1, 7, and 21 days following phacoemulsification. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the measured intraocular pressure (IOP) at days 1 and 7 postphacoemulsification surgery in the L-group and the LA-group (P = 0.26 [14.12 ± 1.76 mmHg vs 16.96 ± 1.68 mmHg] and P = 0.71 [15.45 ± 1.43 mmHg vs 16.20 ± 1.36 mmHg], respectively). No significant differences were found between pupil sizes at day 7 for the two groups (P = 0.25 [13.83% vs 24.77%]). No significant differences were found between odds of posterior synechiae formation at day 21 (P = 0.92) with a probability ± SE for L-group vs LA-group at 0.27 ± 0.14 vs 0.25 ± 0.13. No significant differences were found in odds of postoperative blindness between groups (P = 0.58) with a probability ± SE of 0.21 ± 0.11 vs 0.13 ± 0.09, respectively for L and LA. CONCLUSIONS: Combined topical latanoprost and atropine in dogs maintains normal postoperative IOPs but does not seem to cause increased mydriasis compared to latanoprost alone.

Acquired myopia followed by acquired hyperopia due to serous neurosensory retinal detachment following topiramate intake.

PURPOSE:: To report a patient with fluctuating refraction following the use of oral topiramate. CASE REPORT:: A 38-year-old male patient was diagnosed elsewhere with sudden-onset-acquired myopia, high intraocular pressure, and bilateral angle closure glaucoma for which he underwent laser peripheral iridotomy in both eyes and was started on topical antiglaucoma medications and topical steroids following laser peripheral iridotomy. He was referred for ultrasound biomicroscopy, which showed bilateral ciliary effusion. Ultrasound of eyes revealed choroidal thickening. On further questioning, he was noted to have taken oral topiramate for 7 days, which he stopped a week before the ocular symptoms. He was started on atropine, on which the acquired myopia resolved, the anterior chamber deepened, and the intraocular pressure came down. After 4 days, he developed acquired hyperopia in the left eye. Neurosensory retinal detachment at the posterior pole was documented with optical coherence tomography. The fluorescein angiography showed few ink-blot leaks and one smokestack leak in the left eye. The neurosensory detachment resolved spontaneously with an uncorrected visual acuity of 6/6 in either eye. CONCLUSION:: A unique case of central serous chorioretinopathy following oral intake of topiramate is presented. This patient had also received laser peripheral iridotomy and topical steroids following the peripheral iridotomy.