[A case of malignant hyperthermia with evident symptoms in the postoperative period].

A 36-year-old man (185 cm tall, weighing 85 kg) was scheduled for fixation of a right carpal bone fracture. He had no operative history, and his preoperative laboratory data were normal. A laryngeal mask was inserted after intravenous propofol and fentanyl administration without a muscle relaxant. Anesthesia was maintained by sevoflurane in a mixture of air and oxygen. A tourniquet was placed on the right upper arm. One hour after the operation, his heart rate increased to 90-100 beats x min(-1) from 70-80 beats x min(-1) at the start of the operation, and tachycardic continued, even after release of the tourniquet. Although end-tidal CO2 was 50-60 mmHg, his body temperature remained 37.6 degrees C, and neither muscle stiffness nor brown urine was observed. The duration of the operation and the duration of anesthesia were 2 hours 40 min and 4 hours, respectively. The patient went back to the ward without myalgia after removal of the laryngeal mask. On the postoperative day one, the patient had brown urine. On the postoperative day 2, he experienced myalgia of the upper and lower extremities and masseter muscle. On the postoperative day 3, myoglobinuria was detected. As in this case, although evident symptoms of malignant hyperthermia are not always observed during operations, some cases show obvious symptoms during the postoperative period. Thus, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of malignant hyperthermia postoperatively for early diagnosis and treatment.

[Evaluation of high-sensitivity HBsAg quantitative assay for HBV genotype].

The clinical implication of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) concentrations has been reported in HBV-infected patients during anti-viral treatment. HBV genotypes A and D are ubiquitous and scattered worldwide, especially northern America as well as Europe, whereas genotypes B and C are common in Asia. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new version of the Sysmex HBsAg quantitative kit based on Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay. Sera collected from 172 patients infected with any of the four major genotypes A to D (HBV/A, n = 18; B, n = 25; C, n = 84; D, n = 45), including the genotype D cases with weak reaction in the previous version of the kit. The new version of the kit having additional monoclonal antibody, showed improved sensitivity compared to the previous version as well as robust correlation with another quantitative HBsAg assay: the Abbot Architect. Observed during lamivudine therapy, increase in HBsAg and HBV DNA concentrations preceded the aminotransferase (ALT) elevation associated with drug-resistant HBV variant emergence (breakthrough hepatitis). In conclusion, reliability of the Sysmex HBsAg quantitative assay was confirmed for the four HBV genotypes common worldwide. Monitoring of serum HBsAg concentrations in addition to HBV DNA quantification, is helpful in evaluation of the response or resistance to anti-viral therapy.

[Comparison of propofol LCT and propofol MCT/LCT regarding the injection pain at different sites and the memory].

BACKGROUND: Incidence and intensity of pain on intravenous injection of propofol LCT were compared with those of propofol MCT/LCT. METHODS: Eighty adult patients scheduled to receive general anesthesia were divided into two groups, propofol LCT (Group L, AstraZeneca) and propofol MCT/LCT (Group M, Maruishi Pharmaceutical). The peripheral vein was inserted with an 18 gauge intravenous catheter at the dorsal hand, the wrist, or the anterior brachial region. Propofol 2.0 mg x kg(-1) was injected at the speed of 5 mg x sec(-1). Noninvasive arterial blood pressure, heart rate, a BIS value and a degree of pain were measured. We used chi2 analysis and Wilcoxon t-test for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: There was a significantly larger incidence of injection pain in the Group L than the Group M (70% vs. 30%). The pain at the brachial region was significantly less as compared with the wrist or the dorsal hand in both groups. The ratio of patients having the memory of pain on the next day to those complaing the injection pain was 50% in the Group L and 36% in the Group M. There were no significant differences between the two groups in changes in BIS values and doses of propofol necessary for the loss of consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that propofol MCT/LCT elicits less pain on injection than propofol LCT. The injection pain is less at the brachial region than the wrist or the hand. Amnesia of pain may be obtained both with propofol MCT/ LCT and propofol LCT.

[Perioperative cardiovascular complications in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of cardiac complications in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) during noncardiac surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was made for surgical patients in the period of 1989-2000 at Kitasato University Hospital. RESULTS: Thirty out of 66000 patients were preoperatively diagnosed as HCM. Sixty percent of the HCM patients had one or more perioperative cardiovascular complications. There were perioperative congestive heart failure in 3 patients (10%), and myocardial ischemia in 4 patients (13%). However, there were no myocardial infarction, no life-threatening dysarrthythmia and no cardiac death. Factors which appeared to be associated with the perioperative cardiovascular complications were the type of HCM (HOCM), major surgery, general anesthesia and preoperative medication with a beta-blocker or a calcium channel blocker. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that patients with HCM undergoing noncardiac surgery have a high incidence of cardiac complications such as congestive heart failure and myocardial ischemia.

[Serum and urinary inorganic fluoride concentrations with renal and hepatic functions after repeated sevoflurane anesthesia].

The purpose of this study is to examine changes in serum and urinary inorganic fluoride (F) concentrations with their effects on renal and hepatic functions after repeated sevoflurane anesthesia with relatively short time interval. Eight patients received sevoflurane anesthesia twice within 7 days for gynecological surgery. Serum and urine F levels before induction, 0.5 and 1 hour after induction, and 0.5 hour after anesthesia were compared between first and second anesthesia. There were no significant differences in serum and urine F concentrations at the same point between first and second anesthesia. Two obese patients exhibited peak concentrations greater than 50 mumol.l-1 of F. Laboratory findings of renal function remained stable throughout 2 operations, whereas hepatic function deteriorated in the two obese patients after the first anesthesia, and resolved within 14 days after the second anesthesia. In conclusion, it is suggested that the second exposure to sevoflurane within 7 day interval does not alter the sevoflurane metabolism. However, obesity may contribute to a rise in serum inorganic fluoride after repeated sevoflurane anesthesia.