[Obstetrical epidural analgesia during labour: one dural puncture, repeated postural headaches, three blood patches ]. / Analgésie péridurale obstétricale pour le travail: une brèche dure-mérienne, des céphalées posturales, trois blood patchs

We report the case of a patient in whom three blood patches had to be performed to treat a post-dural puncture headache following the insertion of an epidural catheter for labour analgesia. There are few data about repeated blood patches used to treat recurring symptoms after failure of a previous blood patch. The technical guidelines used to perform a first blood patch should be followed for the next procedure as well. The role of the cerebrospinal fluid leaking in the symptoms has to be verified, to avoid performing a useless blood patch and to miss another cause, which needs an urgent treatment.

[Cardiac arrest at induction of a patient with thyrotoxicosis. Have you thought of anaphylaxis?]. / Arrêt cardiaque à l'induction d'un patient en thyrotoxicose. Avez-vous pensé à l'anaphylaxie ?

We report the occurrence of cardiac arrest shortly after the anaesthetic induction for thyroidectomy in a patient with decompensated thyrotoxicosis associated with taking amiodarone. After investigation, it was revealed that the cardiac arrest was linked to an anaphylactic reaction to suxamethonium. This accident, unrelated to hyperthyroidism, reminds us of the relative frequency and severity of anaphylactic reactions related to curare. This event, in the context of severe cardiac insufficiency, due to an amiodarone-associated thyrotoxicosis, is described here for the first time. Its diagnosis requires to remain consistent. Its support must be in compliance with the recommendations of learned societies of anaesthesia.

[Study of a protocol of intra-articular analgesia after arthroscopy of the knee]. / Etude d'un protocole d'analgésie intra-articulaire après arthroscopie du genou.

The purpose of this study was to assess the analgesic effects of intra-articular injection of a morphine-bupivacaine combination following knee arthroscopy. 47 patients were evaluated. Knee arthroscopies were all performed under general anaesthesia, using propofol, alfentanil, isoflurane and nitrous oxide. Analgesic effects were evaluated by a visual analogic pain scale. Serum bupivacaine was measured during the first 8 postoperative hours. Analgesia was good in the immediate postoperative period, with minimal side effects. The serum bupivacaine levels were low. However the analgesic efficacy of intra-articular injection of morphine-bupivacaine should be corroborated through a double blind study.

[Chatergee syndrome and anesthesia. Apropos of a case]. / Syndrome de Chattergee et anesthésie. A propos d'un cas.

A combination of complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) and symmetrical negative T waves on the ECG characterizes the Chattergee syndrome. This pattern is infrequently and fortuitously detected in the absence of clinical symptoms. However, when appearing during general anaesthesia, it may lead to diagnostic difficulties to rule out a myocardial ischaemia. One case of this pattern was observed near the end of an otherwise non-complicated cholecystectomy in a ASA II 45 year old man, ECG abnormalities lasted for only a short time. Recovery and outcome were uneventful. Investigations were negative except for an early LBBB during the exercise test. Echocardiography and coronarography were normal. No therapy was given. In such perioperative cases, it is recommended to keep a very cautious attitude and to search for an incipient coronary disease which cannot be completely excluded in some cases.

[Conduction anesthesia and analgesia in emergency cases. From pain to its treatment]. / Anesthésie loco-régionale et analgésie en situation d'urgence. De la douleur à son traitement.

The study of pathophysiological and symptomatological characteristics of pain in emergency situations, and of its harmful consequences, shows that, in spite of a difficult context, analgesia is an essential part of the care to patients during the prehospital stage. Its prescription implies a good knowledge of analgesia techniques, including precise rules such as titration. The choice of analgesia must be the outcome of a rigorous step giving priority to the vital functions and associating several techniques. Regional anaesthesia is not very often used in prehospital emergency but rather in emergency units and in the surgical ward. Analgesia must be adapted, mainly to specific situations in emergency: children, old people, burned people with pain.

[Diseases of the shipwrecked: apropos of 3 cases]. / Pathologie du naufragé: à propos de trois cas.

Three men (31, 34, 36 yr old) were rescued after they had drifted for 50 hours on their wrecked catamaran. While their apparent clinical condition was not worrying, besides multiple bruises, marked dehydration, epigastralgias, mild hypothermia in one patient and 50, severe biological disorders were present in all four: haemoconcentration, functional renal insufficiency, metabolic acidosis, severe rhabdomyolysis, hepatic cytolysis. After intravenous rehydration for 24 hr hydroelectrolytic and acid-base anomalies were corrected. Pathophysiology of shipwreck casualties is recalled. Initial management in ICU is necessary. Psychological and emotional aspects should not be underrated.

[Ambulatory colonoscopy under systemic general anesthesia. Our experience apropos of 500 cases]. / Colonoscopie sous anesthésie générale systématique en ambulatoire. Notre expérience à propos de 500 cas.

The authors report a retrospective study of 500 colonoscopies performed on outpatients under general anaesthesia. Anaesthesia protocol associated diluted propofol in continuous titrated infusion and alfentanil. The doses used were relatively low and no serious adverse effects were observed. Therefore this method appears to be appropriate for most outpatients undergoing a colonoscopy provided that usual security rules are respected.