RESUMEN
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a known risk factor for triggering inappropriate therapy from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Recommendations from the American Society of Anesthesiologists focus on EMI when using monopolar electrocautery for supraumbilical surgeries. Infraumbilical surgeries are not considered high risk for EMI; thus, no magnet must be applied routinely to prevent inappropriate ICD therapy intraoperatively. We describe a case of a 71-year-old woman who presented for left total hip arthroplasty with a history of an ICD. The patient's history was significant for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Monopolar electrocautery was used, and the level of the surgery was below the umbilicus. She experienced nine inappropriate ICD therapies intraoperatively with no long-term sequelae. The location of the electrocautery dispersion pad may have contributed to inappropriate therapies. Thus, the dispersion pad location should be considered when deciding whether to suspend anti-tachycardia functions intraoperatively. We present a case of inappropriate therapy from an ICD and make a recommendation for preventing such events.
RESUMEN
Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematomas are a rare yet potentially devastating occurrence associated with antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies. We present a case of a spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma post-operatively after a total hip arthroplasty surgery performed under a midline approach spinal anesthetic. A 79-year-old male with a BMI of 25.72 kg/m2 presented for anterior total hip arthroplasty. A midline approach with an uncomplicated spinal anesthetic was performed. On the night of postoperative day 0, the patient received a prophylactic dose of dalteparin. The patient reported back pain, contralateral leg numbness, and weakness that began overnight on postoperative day 0. A computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed a 10 cm, contralateral retroperitoneal hematoma. The patient underwent interventional radiology embolization followed by surgical evacuation and demonstrated improvement in the neurologic function of his affected leg. Despite the rarity of a spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma formation in the perioperative period, it could be simultaneously evaluated when performing an MRI to rule out spinal hematoma if a patient suffers a post-op neurologic deficit after a neuraxial technique. Understanding the evaluation and timely treatment of patients at risk for a perioperative retroperitoneal hematoma could help clinicians prevent a permanent neurologic deficit.
RESUMEN
Electrocardiographic (ECG) artifacts may resemble ventricular tachycardia (VT), leading to inappropriate therapies. Despite extensive training, electrophysiologists have still been shown to misinterpret artifacts. The literature is scant regarding the intraoperative identification by anesthesia providers of ECG artifacts resembling VT. We present two cases of the intraoperative occurrence of ECG artifacts resembling VT. The first case involved a patient undergoing extremity surgery after receiving a peripheral nerve block. The patient was treated with a lipid emulsion for a presumptive local anesthetic systemic toxicity diagnosis. The second case was a patient with an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) with suspended anti-tachycardia functionality due to the location of the surgery in the region of the ICD generator. The second case's ECG was identified as an artifact, and no treatment was initiated. Misinterpretation of intraoperative ECG artifacts continues to lead clinicians to institute unnecessary therapies. Our first case occurred in the context of a peripheral nerve block leading to the misdiagnosis of local anesthetic toxicity. The second case occurred during the physical manipulation of the patient during liposuction.
RESUMEN
Vasovagal syncope has been associated with chronic pain procedures, phlebotomy, and musculoskeletal injections. While vasovagal syncope is commonly associated with interventional pain procedures, its occurrence during peripheral nerve block procedures has not been reported. We report a case of vasovagal syncope leading to transient asystole in a patient undergoing a lower extremity peripheral nerve block procedure. The episode resolved after halting the procedure and administering ephedrine, atropine, and intravenous fluids.
RESUMEN
Epidural infusion-associated interscapular pain for laboring parturients is a treatment dilemma for obstetric anesthesiologists. We report a case of a parturient who was successfully treated for labor epidural analgesia-associated interscapular pain. Our treatment plan included reducing the volume of local anesthetic administered by adding the adjunct of clonidine, increasing the epidural solution concentration of local anesthetic, and reducing the overall infusion rate. We conclude that epidural clonidine should be considered a safe adjunct when treating laboring parturients who report epidural infusion-associated interscapular pain.
RESUMEN
The anesthetic technique for calcaneal surgery has been reported to include peripheral nerve blocks, such as a sciatic block in the popliteal fossa, followed by intraoperative sedation. Sciatic nerve blocks are associated with limb weakness and fall risk. We present a case of a patient presenting for outpatient calcaneal surgery. The anesthetic plan consisted of a proximal, ultrasound-guided, single-injection selective posterior tibial nerve block followed by intraoperative sedation. The nerve block was performed, surgery concluded, and the patient received six hours of postoperative analgesia. Once the nerve block effects receded, the postoperative pain was managed with only over-the-counter analgesics while the patient was at home. We recommend an ultrasound-guided proximal posterior tibial nerve block for outpatient surgery involving the calcaneus to preserve lower extremity motor strength and provide postoperative analgesia.
RESUMEN
Cesarean deliveries receiving spinal anesthesia with intrathecal morphine are associated with post-operative hypothermia. Lorazepam has been proposed as a reversal agent for treating intrathecal morphine-associated post-cesarean hypothermia. Midazolam is a benzodiazepine familiar to most anesthesia providers and is frequently administered in the perioperative period. We present a post-cesarean delivery spinal anesthesia-associated hypothermia patient successfully treated with intravenous midazolam.
RESUMEN
Persistent hypoxemia during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for supporting acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients is a clinical challenge for intensive care medical providers. Prone positioning is an effective strategy to treat persistent hypoxemia; however, placing a patient in a prone position is resource intensive with significant risks to the patient. We present a patient with severe ARDS receiving VV-ECMO who underwent verticalization therapy and subsequently recovered pulmonary function.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Intrathecal epinephrine is used to increase the duration of spinal anesthesia for amenable surgical procedures anticipated to require additional time; however, in the ambulatory setting, it is associated with a prolonged time to post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge. The current study's authors hypothesized that adding intrathecal epinephrine to spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery would be associated with a dose-dependent prolonged post-anesthesia unit length of stay. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study of patients undergoing repeat cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia from 2011 to 2015 was conducted. Patients received spinal bupivacaine 12 mg, morphine 150 mcg, and fentanyl 15 mcg with no-epinephrine, 100 mcg, or 200 mcg of epinephrine. The primary outcome was recovery room length of stay. Secondary outcomes were surgical duration, intraoperative vasopressor use, perioperative opioids, and antiemetic use. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for 1,362 patients. Median recovery room stay was 123 min (interquartile range, 100 to 150) and was not different among groups. More women receiving epinephrine 200 mcg had ≥2 prior cesarean deliveries compared with no-epinephrine or 100 mcg. No significant differences in surgical duration or intraoperative opioids were identified among the groups. Median intraoperative vasopressor use was increased by 225 mcg of phenylephrine equivalents (99% CI, 25 mcg to 430 mcg) in the 100 mcg group and 250 mcg of phenylephrine equivalents in the 200 mcg group (99% CI, 75 mcg to 500 mcg) compared to no-epinephrine (P<0.001). Recovery room antiemetic and opioid analgesic administration were not different among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the addition of intrathecal epinephrine for women undergoing cesarean delivery increases intraoperative vasopressor use but does not prolong PACU length of stay, reduce intraoperative opioids, or increase antiemetic requirements postoperatively. The current study also demonstrated that surgical duration times were not different among the no-epinephrine, 100 mcg, and 200 mcg epinephrine groups.
RESUMEN
Wrong-sided peripheral nerve blocks occur with a surprisingly high frequency despite being described as a "never event." Timeout procedures are performed and documented, yet timeout omission is rarely cited as a contributing factor for wrong-sided blocks. We present two cases of near-miss wrong-sided peripheral nerve blocks and provide recommendations based on the current literature and the most common contributing factors.
RESUMEN
Introduction: Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by extremely short stature, renal tubular dysfunction, osteoporosis, and rickets. The literature is scant regarding the successful reproduction of women with FBS. Cesarean delivery is indicated due to the risk of pelvic fracture from vaginal delivery in a patient with FBS and rickets, yet no case describing the anesthetic has been reported. Clinical Findings. We present a 39-inch-tall, 46.47 kg/m2 BMI woman with FBS who was scheduled for cesarean delivery and requesting neuraxial anesthesia. A low-dose, combined spinal-epidural technique (CSE) was employed to account for her extreme short stature yet allow for additional dosing if needed. The cesarean delivery, hospital course, and follow-up were all uneventful. Conclusion: A single case of an FBS patient's successful pregnancy was previously reported in the literature without describing the anesthetic technique. Our case is unique in that it is the first case in the literature that we are aware of describing the anesthetic technique. This case may provide a template for clinicians treating FBS patients and patients with extremely short stature.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: We present a case of reappearance of spinal anesthesia despite the use of plain (isobaric) lidocaine and without an associated cough or Valsalva maneuver. CASE REPORT: A 66-year-old man had spinal anesthesia for knee arthroscopy. Two hours after the induction of spinal anesthesia and after the patient's motor strength had returned to the lower extremities, his head was elevated to 30 degrees. His legs became weak and he became hypotensive. Within 1 hour, his strength returned and he was discharged uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: The reappearance of spinal anesthesia may be secondary to remixing of the cerebrospinal fluid with the pooled local anesthetic or transfer of the local anesthetic from the subdural to the subarachnoid space with movement of the patient.