Unrecognized Postoperative Opioid-Induced Movement Disorder: A Case Report.

A 22-year-old man, with a medical history significant for posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain, underwent ankle surgery at the United States Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan. His immediate postoperative course was complicated by episodic muscle rigidity, necessitating admission for diagnostic evaluation. The differential was necessarily broad and included local anesthetic toxicity, medication mediated effect, seizures, serotonin syndrome, and malignant hyperthermia. Cultural and systemic differences in patient care delivery at a Japanese hospital helped to elucidate the mechanism. This case highlights cultural differences in pain management and navigates the differential of an acute onset movement disorder in the immediate postoperative period.

Spinal Anaesthesia for Cesarean Section in a Patient with Vascular Type Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

We report the administration of spinal anaesthesia for cesarean delivery in a parturient with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Parturients who genetically inherit this disorder are at risk for significant morbidity and mortality. Risks during pregnancy include premature labor, uterine prolapse, and uterine rupture. Additionally, such laboring parturients are at increased risk of hemodynamic volatility, vascular stress, and severe postpartum hemorrhage. Instrumented delivery and cesarean delivery bring additional risks. Nonpregnancy-related complications include excessive bleeding, intestinal rupture, cardiac valvular dysfunction, and arterial dissection. Despite the complexity of this condition, literature focusing on specific intraoperative anaesthetic management is sparse.

Experiences with Regional Anesthesia for Analgesia During Prolonged Aeromedical Evacuation.

INTRODUCTION: There is much debate regarding the appropriate analgesic management of patients undergoing medical evacuation following combat trauma. Our primary objective was to review the utility of regional anesthetic techniques in patients undergoing aeromedical evacuation following surgical limb amputation as treatment for combat trauma. METHODS: This study was conducted as an observational retrospective cohort whereby acutely injured amputee patients were identified via the U.S. Transportation Command's patient movement database. The Theater Medical Data Store was cross-referenced for additional patient care data including opioid consumption, duration of regional technique, pain scores, and rates of intubation. RESULTS: Eighty-four records were retrieved from the Theater Medical Data Store. All 84 patients were victims of improvised explosive device detonation requiring limb amputation and subsequent transport from Kandahar Airfield or Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, to the United States. The majority of interventions remained in place throughout the evacuation process. A significant decrease in opioid consumption in patients receiving regional anesthesia was identified at each leg of the medical evacuation process. Pain scores were sporadically reported and not statistically different. Higher rates of intubation were identified in the nonregional anesthetic group. DISCUSSION: Our analysis demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of applying regional anesthetic techniques for pain management to our combat wounded trauma patients throughout multiple stages of aeromedical evacuation. Benefits include the potential for less sedation and less opioid consumption while potentially foregoing the requirement for intubation during transport.Carness JM, Wilson MA, Lenart MJ, Smith DE, Dukes SF. Experiences with regional anesthesia for analgesia during prolonged aeromedical evacuation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(8):768-772.

Cerebrospinal Fluid-Cutaneous Fistula After Continuous Spinal Catheter in an Obstetric Patient.

A 23-year-old woman at 41 weeks and 6 days estimated gestational age underwent continuous spinal analgesia for labor after a recognized, unintended dural puncture. Excellent analgesia was maintained throughout labor and vaginal delivery, the intrathecal catheter was left in situ for 24 hours postpartum, and the catheter was subsequently removed without apparent complication. On physical examination during her anesthesia postoperative visit, clear fluid was noted to be slowly draining from the catheter insertion site. Although she denied all symptoms associated with a dural puncture, including headache, a cerebrospinal fluid-cutaneous fistula was diagnosed. An epidural blood patch was placed, which terminated the cerebrospinal fluid leak. No long-term complications were evident. Subsequent literature review revealed a rare incidence of this type of complication and varied recommendations for intervention and optimal management. We review the literature with regard to this complication and offer discussion regarding the various suggested means of diagnosis and therapy.

Night of the living thrips: an unusual outbreak of Thysanoptera dermatitis.

Identifying the etiology of a cutaneous eruption in the setting of an acute cluster outbreak is of utmost importance due to the inherent potential public health impact. The differential diagnosis ranges from innocuous arthropod bites to more concerning causes such as infection, medication reaction, and environmental exposure. We report the simultaneous presentation of 15 US Marines who presented with numerous discrete papular skin eruptions. Subsequent thorough patient evaluation and history, literature review, immunization status reconciliation, entomological assessment, site survey, and skin biopsy were performed. This case series is one of the largest reported to date of a cluster outbreak of a papular dermatitis secondary to bites from thrips (ie, insects of the order Thysanoptera).

Awake microlaryngoscopy and serial balloon dilation in a third trimester multigravida with subglottic tracheal stenosis: anesthetic implications.

Tracheal stenosis in pregnancy is a relatively rare occurrence and there are limited data regarding the perioperative management of these patients. Various surgical treatment options are available to include open repair, long-term tracheostomy, or endoscopic repair (rigid versus balloon dilation). We report the case of a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy, with known recurrent and worsening history of subglottic tracheal stenosis, who underwent awake microlaryngoscopy with potassium titanyl phosphate laser radial incision and serial tracheal balloon dilation under topical anesthesia with sedation. We further discuss her perioperative multidisciplinary management.

The effect of intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine on emergence coughing, sore throat, and hoarseness in smokers.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether endotracheal tube (ETT) intracuff alkalinized lidocaine was superior to saline in blunting emergence coughing, postoperative sore throat, and hoarseness in smokers. METHODS: In our prospective, double-blind trial, we enrolled 50 smoking patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia including nitrous oxide (N2O). Patients were randomly allocated to receive either ETT intracuff 2% lidocaine plus 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (L group), or ETT intracuff 0.9% saline (S group). The ETT cuff was inflated to achieve a cuff pressure that prevented air leak during positive pressure ventilation. Incidence of emergence coughing, sore throat, and hoarseness were analyzed. The volume of inflation solution, the intracuff pressure, the duration of anesthesia, the time elapsed to extubation after discontinuation of anesthesia, and the volume of the inflation solution and the air withdrawn from the ETT cuff were also recorded. RESULTS: Intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine was superior to saline in blunting emergence coughing (p < 0.001). The incidence of sore throat was significantly lower in the L group at the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) (p = 0.02). However, at 24 hours after extubation, sore throat incidence was similar in both groups (p = 0.07). Incidence of hoarseness was similar in both groups. Intracuff pressure in the saline group increased with time while the intracuff pressure in the lidocaine group remained constant. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine was superior to saline in decreasing the incidence of emergence coughing and sore throat during the postoperative period in smokers.

The effect of intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine on emergence coughing, sore throat, and hoarseness in smokers

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether endotracheal tube (ETT) intracuff alkalinized lidocaine was superior to saline in blunting emergence coughing, postoperative sore throat, and hoarseness in smokers. METHODS: In our prospective, double-blind trial, we enrolled 50 smoking patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia including nitrous oxide (N2O). Patients were randomly allocated to receive either ETT intracuff 2% lidocaine plus 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (L group), or ETT intracuff 0.9% saline (S group). The ETT cuff was inflated to achieve a cuff pressure that prevented air leak during positive pressure ventilation. Incidence of emergence coughing, sore throat, and hoarseness were analyzed. The volume of inflation solution, the intracuff pressure, the duration of anesthesia, the time elapsed to extubation after discontinuation of anesthesia, and the volume of the inflation solution and the air withdrawn from the ETT cuff were also recorded. RESULTS: Intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine was superior to saline in blunting emergence coughing (p < 0.001). The incidence of sore throat was significantly lower in the L group at the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) (p = 0.02). However, at 24 hours after extubation, sore throat incidence was similar in both groups (p = 0.07). Incidence of hoarseness was similar in both groups. Intracuff pressure in the saline group increased with time while the intracuff pressure in the lidocaine group remained constant. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the intracuff alkalinized 2% lidocaine was superior to saline in decreasing the incidence of emergence coughing and sore throat during the postoperative period in smokers.

Fluid resuscitation using the intraosseous route: infusion with lactated Ringer's and hetastarch.

OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of the intraosseous (IO) route for fluid resuscitation remains uncertain. This study compares IO infusion rates and estimated volume expansion using clinically relevant infusion pressures with lactated Ringer's (LR) and hetastarch (HES). METHODS: IO needles were placed in the sternum or tibia for infusion of HES and LR in 8 Yorkshire pigs. Pressures were recorded at variable flow rates and linear regression used to identify flow rates at 100 and 400 mm Hg. Volume expansion was calculated for a 10-minute infusion. RESULTS: Mean LR flow rates (mL x min(-1)) were 24/111 (tibia--100/400 mm Hg) and 8/34 (sternum--100/400 mm Hg). The HES flow rates (mL x min(-1)) of 10/44 (tibia--100/400 mm Hg) and 6/26 (sternum--100/400 mm Hg) were significantly lower or -40% (p < 0.01) of the LR flow rates into the tibia and -70% (p < 0.05) into the sternum. Mean volume expansion (mL) for a 10-min infusion of LR was estimated to be 80/369 (tibia--100/400 mm Hg) and 27/112 (sternum--100/400 mm Hg). In comparison, HES volume expansion was -20% higher for the tibia (p > 0.05) and 110% to 120% higher for the sternum (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HES flow rates are lower than LR flow rates in the sternum and tibia of swine. Sternal infusion of HES is likely to provide greater estimated intravascular volume expansion than LR despite the lower infusion rates.

Clinical and histological effects of the intrathecal administration of methylprednisolone in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Methylprednisolone is one of the most commonly used steroids for management of chronic back pain via epidural injection. Its inadvertent injection into the intrathecal space is associated with complications such as adhesive arachnoiditis. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to assess the clinical and histological changes associated with the injection of methylprednisolone into the intrathecal space of dogs. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double blind, controlled animal trial. METHODS: After approval by the animal research ethics committee, 14 dogs were studied in a randomized double blind controlled trial. They were assigned to one of 2 groups: Group I received 1 mL of 0.9% normal saline; Group II received 1 mL (1.15mg/kg) of methylprednisolone into the intrathecal space. Animals were clinically evaluated for 21 days, and then sacrificed. The lumbar and sacral portions of their spinal cords were removed for histological examination. RESULTS: In Group I, there were no clinical or histological changes. All animals in Group II showed no clinical changes but all exhibited histological changes in the spinal cord. The main histological changes consisted of meningeal thickening and lymphocytic infiltrates in the blood vessels. In 3 animals, adhesion of pia, arachnoid, and dura matter was noted and the nerve roots were surrounded by fibrosis. In one animal, necrosis of the spinal cord was evident. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of the present study include: small sample of animals (n=14), relative short clinical follow-up (21 days), and use of a commercially available drug solution, which is not preservative free. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the intrathecal administration of commercially available methylprednisolone was responsible for causing histological changes in the spinal cord and meninges of the animals studied.