High-frequency jet ventilation during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in a patient with previous contralateral pneumonectomy.

A case of high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in a patient with previous contralateral pneumonectomy is presented. A 77-year-old man with a right pneumothorax was scheduled for bullectomy by VATS. He had undergone left pneumonectomy due to lung cancer 6 years earlier. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol and fentanyl. The patient was intubated with a normal, single-lumen endotracheal tube (ETT). HFJV was applied through the ETT during the VATS procedure. Although PaCO(2) gradually increased from 51.9 mmHg to 80.0 mmHg, appropriate surgical conditions were provided, PaO(2) was well preserved, and blood pressure and heart rate were stable throughout the VATS procedure.

[Use of cryoprecipitate for dilution coagulopathy in a 7-month-old infant].

We experienced a case of dilution coagulopathy successfully treated with cryoprecipitate. A seven-month-old male infant with tetralogy of Fallot and right femoral arteriovenous fistula had undergone a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt at 63 days of age. He was scheduled to undergo complete repair of TOF and closure of femoral arteriovenous fistula. The patient was transferred to the operating room with tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam and fentanyl and maintained with sevoflurane and fentanyl. Before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), femoral arteriovenous fistula was corrected. Then complete repair of TOF was performed under CPB. Massive bleeding was observed and laboratory results showed low plasma fibrinogen level (45 mg x dl(-1)). Cryoprecipitate 2 units were given and fibrinogen level was restored (171 mg x dl(-1)). Bleeding quickly slowed down sufficiently for weaning from CPB. The patient was separated easily from CPB on dopamine and dobutamine infusion. Post-CPB bleeding was minimal and the patient was transferred to intensive care unit. The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 50. In the present case, dilution coagulopathy occurred as a result of the combination of excessive fluid infusion due to massive bleeding and blood dilution due to CPB. Fresh frozen plasma could have been contraindicated to supplement fibrinogen because the patient's body weight was low. Cryoprecipitate, a highly concentrated source of fibrinogen, was effective for correcting fibrinogen deficit.

[Epidural fentanyl delayed emergence from anesthesia].

An 83-year-old man (158 cm, 42 kg) was scheduled for cholecystectomy. He had a history of hypertension and atrial fibrillation. The patient received no premedication. An epidural catheter was inserted via the T9-10 interspace and 2% mepivacaine 7 ml was injected, producing a sensory block from T4 to T12. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and remifentanil, and was maintained with propofol, remifentanil, and nitrous oxide in oxygen. Rocuronium was given to provide neuromuscular block. Just before the completion of surgery, a bolus epidural injection of 2% mepivacaine 2 ml with fentanyl 50 microg was performed. Then epidural solution of ropivacaine 0.1% with fentanyl 6.25 microg x ml(-1), and droperidol 25 microg x ml(-1) was infused at 4 ml x hr(-1). Soon after the surgery, the patient developed atrial fibrillation that was treated with external electrocardioversion with 100 watt x sec. After the restoration of sinus rhythm, anesthetics were discontinued. The patient did not emerge from anesthesia though he breathed spontaneously Doxapram was slightly effective, but he did not respond to the verbal command. Epidural infusion was stopped and the patient was transferred to the ward. The patient fully recovered from anesthesia after 2 hours. Epidural infusion was restarted 17 hours later, and the patient fell asleep. He woke up after stopping epidural infusion. Epidurally administered fentanyl must have been the cause of delayed recovery from anesthesia. He could have been highly sensitive to fentanyl. Patient controlled epidural anesthesia may have been useful for this patient.

Cardiac arrest after spinal anesthesia in a patient with neurally mediated syncope.

We present the case of cardiac arrest in a patient with neurally mediated syncope (NMS). A 66-year-old male patient was scheduled to undergo right inguinal hernioplasty. He had a history of syncope, which occurred a few times a year in childhood and once a year recently. One minute after the second spinal injection, cardiac arrest (asystole) developed. Sinus rhythm was restored by cardiac massage and intravenous administration of atropine and ephedrine. The operation was cancelled. The patient was diagnosed as NMS by a cardiologist. Four months later, right inguinal hernioplasty was performed, uneventfully, under general anesthesia. High sympathetic blockade due to spinal anesthesia and transient withdrawal of sympathetic tone and increase in vagal discharge due to NMS could be the main causes of the cardiac arrest. If the patient has any possibility of NMS, anesthesiologists should consider the possibility of cardiac arrest after spinal anesthesia.

[Mobitz type II block during one-lung ventilation].

We present a case of Mobitz type II atrioventricular block during one-lung ventilation in a 74-year-old man with lung cancer under anesthesia. Premedication with atropine 0.5 mg and midazolam 2 mg intramuscularly were given 30 min before entering the operating room. Before anesthesia, his heart rate was 72 beats x min(-1) with normal sinus rhythm and blood pressure was 120/70 mmHg. An epidural catheter was placed at T4-5 interspace and 1.5% mepivacaine was infused (7 ml bolus and 5 ml x hr(-1) thereafter). After placing external pacemaker paddle, general anesthesia was induced with propofol 3 microg x ml(-1) and fentanyl 0.1 mg, and tracheal intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 6 mg. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol and fentanyl. After initiating one-lung ventilation, the patient developed Mobitz type II block with a heart rate of 30 beats x min(-1). External pacing was started (rate: 80 beats x min(-1), output: 150 mA). However, body movement associated with external pacing interrupted operative procedure, and blood pressure was not restored effectively. Therefore, external pacing was stopped and atropine and dopamine were administered. Mobitz type II block continued, but blood pressure and heart rate were maintained during the operation. Cardiac rhythm was restored the next morning without any treatment. Propofol, fentanyl, and thoracic epidural anesthesia could caused Mobitz type II block. External pacing should not be used for thoracic surgeries.

Cerebral pial vascular changes under propofol or sevoflurane anesthesia during global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Propofol and sevoflurane are commonly used anesthetics for neurosurgery. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of propofol with sevoflurane on cerebral pial arteriolar and venular diameters during global brain ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS: Japanese white rabbits were anesthetized with propofol (n=11), sevoflurane (n=9), or the combination of sevoflurane and intralipid (n=10). Global brain ischemia was induced by clamping the brachiocephalic, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries for 15 minutes. Pial microcirculation was observed microscopically through closed cranial windows and measured using a digital-video analyzer. Measurements were recorded before clamping and afterward for 120 minutes. RESULTS: Plasma glucose and mean arterial blood pressure increased significantly during ischemia in the propofol-anesthetized rabbits. During ischemia, pial arteriolar and venular diameters decreased significantly in all groups. After unclamping, large and small, pial arteriolar and venular diameters increased temporarily and significant dilation was observed in both sevoflurane groups. From 10 minutes after unclamping until the end of the study, large and small arterioles returned to baseline diameters in the sevoflurane groups, but decreased significantly by 10% to 20% in the propofol rabbits. Ischemia-induced adverse effects such as pulmonary edema and acute brain swelling were observed primarily in propofol-anesthetized rabbits. CONCLUSION: Propofol and sevoflurane acted differently on pial vessels during reperfusion after ischemic insult. Pial arterioles and venules did not dilate immediately after reperfusion, and subsequently constricted throughout the reperfusion period in propofol-anesthetized rabbits. In contrast, pial arterioles and venules dilated temporarily and returned to baseline in sevoflurane-anesthetized rabbits.

[Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for abdominal surgery in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

A 69-year-old man (150 cm, 57 kg)who had been diagnosed as having COPD, was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal pain and drowsiness. He was diagnosed as CO2 narcosis and perforation of appendix. When he recovered from CO2 narcosis, he was scheduled for elective ilectomy. Because his pulmonary function was impaired, combined spinal and epidural anesthesia was selected. With the patient in the right lateral position, an epidural catheter was inserted at T12-L1 interspace, and spinal anesthesia was performed at L3-4 interspace with 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine 4 ml. When the patient was positioned laterally, SpO2 decreased from 82% to 77%. After completion of injection, the patient was returned to the supine position, and SpO2 immediately recovered. Spinal block level was not satisfactory, and fentanyl 0.1 mg and 2% mepivacaine 4 ml were administered through epidural catheter to achieve a T4 level of block. Because severe intraperitoneal inflammation was observed, ilectomy was changed to drainage of intra-abdominal abscess. The patient did not complain of dyspnea, pain, or nausea, intraoperatively. SpO2 was 85-93% with O2 inhalation at 1l x min(-1) during the operation. Post-operative course was uneventful. Although lateral position is popular in performing epidural and spinal anesthesia, sitting position could be suitable for this patient. Decrease in SpO2 may have occurred due to ventilation-perfusion mismatch. Since combined spinal and epidural anesthesia can preserve spontaneous respiration and it is possible to titrate anesthetic level, it would be preferable for abdominal surgery in patients with COPD.

[Grand mal convulsion after an interscalene block with ropivacaine].

We report a case of grand mal convulsion due to inadvertent intravascular injection of ropivacaine. An 83-year-old woman was scheduled for upper limb surgery. The interscalene block was performed with neurostimulator and 0.5% ropivacaine 30 ml was injected after careful negative aspiration. Approximately 3 min after the injection, the patient lost consciousness and developed generalized convulsion, which was repeated 7 times. The seizures stopped after administration of diazepam 10 mg and thiamylal 250 mg i.v. Trachea was intubated and lungs were mechanically ventilated. During the seizure, arterial blood pressure increased from 180/110 mmHg to 190/120 mmHg and heart rate changed from 90 beats x min(-1) to 88 beats x min(-1). Ventricular premature beats were observed sporadically but stopped spontaneously. After the episode, the operation was performed under general anesthesia (nitrous oxide 50% and sevoflurane 1.5-2% in oxygen 50%). The patient recovered uneventfully after the operation. Although careful aspiration was done before the injection of ropivacaine, inadvertent intravenous injection could have occurred during the administration. Intermittent aspiration should be indispensable during the administration, because a large dose of local anesthetic is necessary for interscalene block. In this case, the only cardiovascular manifestation was ventricular premature beats indicating that ropivacaine has less cardiotoxicity.

The direct effects of propofol on pial microvessels in rabbits.

Propofol is widely used for neurosurgical anesthesia; however, its effects on the pial microvasculature are unknown. We therefore evaluated the direct effects of propofol on pial microvessels in rabbits. Pial microcirculation was visualized using a closed cranial window technique in 20 Japanese white rabbits. In the first experiment (n=14), after baseline hemodynamic measurements, the cranial window was superfused with 5 increasing concentrations of propofol (10, 10, 10, 10, 10 mol/L; n=8) or intralipid (at comparable concentrations; n=6) dissolved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid for 7 minutes each. A typical anesthetic concentration of 5 microg/mL corresponds to 10 mol/L. In the second experiment (n=6), phenylephrine 10 mol/L and nitroglycerin 10 mol/L were applied topically for 7 minutes under pentobarbital anesthesia. In the third experiment (n=3), electroencephalogram and bispectral index were measured under pentobarbital anesthesia. Diameters of selected pial arterioles and venules were visualized with a microscope-video capture unit combination and subsequently measured with a digital video analyzer. Topical application of propofol at 10, 10, 10, or 10 mol/L did not alter the diameters of the pial microvessels; however, at 10 mol/L propofol induced dilation in large and small arterioles, along with venular dilation. Intralipid alone did not have any significant effect on vessel diameters. Phenylephrine and nitroglycerin produced pial arteriolar and venular constriction and dilation, respectively. Phenylephrine constricted and nitroglycerin dilated pial arterioles and venules. Pentobarbital did not produce either burst suppression or an isoelectric electroencephalogram. The results confirm our hypothesis: clinically relevant concentrations of propofol, that is, approximately 10 mol/L, do not dilate pial arterioles or venules.

Retroperitoneal lymphangioleiomyomatosis associated with endosalpingiosis.

A case of retroperitoneal lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) arising from endosalpingiosis is described. A 25-year-old woman with no history of tuberous sclerosis or hormonal therapy presented with a painless, palpable abdominal mass. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging studies of the abdomen demonstrated a 4 cm cystic mass in the retroperitoneum. Macroscopically, the excised retroperitoneal cyst was multilocular and measured 4.0 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm. Histologically, the lesion demonstrated three components. The first comprised multiple cysts or glands lined by columnar epithelial cells with cilia. The second component was a condensation of small stromal cells immediately subjacent to the cystic epithelium or glands. The third component was a thick exterior wall composed of plump spindle cells with clear to palely eosinophilic cytoplasm in a fascicular pattern, and slit-like vascular spaces, resembling LAM. Immunohistochemically, the epithelium and glands were positive for cytokeratin 7. The stromal cells were positive for vimentin and CD10. The cells of the LMA-like component showed positive staining for HMB45, alpha-smooth muscle actin, muscle actin and h-caldesmon. The lesion, LAM arising from endosalpingiosis, represents a distinctive pathologic entity that should be recognized and studied further. This type of lesion should be included in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal cystic lesions.