Treatment of laryngeal spasm in pediatric anesthesia by retroauricular digital pressure. Case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Problems with pediatric airways are among the greatest challenges an anesthesiologist can face. Laryngeal spasm, which is twice or three times more frequent in the pediatric population, is paramount. The objective of this work was to report the treatment of laryngeal spasm applying digital pressure on a specific area behind the ear lobe. The technique is old, easy, but little known. It is safe and can be promptly done, and does not require peripheral venous access, which might not be present in some situations. CASE REPORT: We report two cases of pediatric anesthesia, in a three-year old and six month-old patients, who developed laryngeal spasm. Both patients were treated by applying retroauricular digital pressure with immediate improvement of the breathing pattern and arterial oxygen saturation. Since laryngeal spasm is a common and potentially severe complication due to its morbimortality, it requires a safe, effective, and fast treatment. CONCLUSION: The classical treatment of laryngeal spasm includes the administration of 100% oxygen with positive pressure per ventilatory unit (balloon and mask) and, in the absence of response, intravenous succinylcholine, 0.25 to 1 mg x kg(-1). The technique presented here for the treatment of laryngeal spasm is easy to perform, safe and effective, and consists of bilateral digital pressure behind the ear lobes, which reversed the laryngeal spasm in a few seconds, avoiding the development of complications.

Tratamento do laringoespasmo em anestesia pediátrica por digitopressão retroauricular: relato de casos / Tratamiento del laringoespasmo en anestesia pediátrica por digitopresión retroauricular: relato de casos / Treatment of laryngeal spasm in pediatric anesthesia by retroauricular digital pressure: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os problemas com a via aérea pediátrica estão entre os maiores desafios que o anestesiologista pode encontrar em sua prática clínica. Dentre eles, destaca-se o laringoespasmo, que ocorre com freqüência duas a três vezes maior na população pediátrica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar o tratamento de laringoespasmo realizado com digitopressão de ponto localizado atrás do lóbulo da orelha. A técnica é fácil, antiga, porém pouco divulgada. Pode ser utilizada de forma segura e rápida, dispensando o acesso venoso periférico que, em algumas situações, pode estar ausente. RELATO DOS CASOS: Dois casos de anestesia pediátrica em pacientes de 3 anos e de 6 meses de idade, nos quais ocorreu laringoespasmo. Ambos foram tratados apenas com a digitopressão da depressão retroauricular e evoluíram com pronta melhora do padrão respiratório e da saturação arterial de oxigênio. Como o laringoespasmo é complicação comum e potencialmente grave pela sua morbimortalidade, é necessário tratamento seguro, eficaz e rápido. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento clássico do laringoespasmo é a administração de oxigênio a 100 por cento com pressão positiva por unidade ventilatória (balão e máscara) e, se não houver resposta, administração venosa de 0,25 a 1 mg.kg-1 de succinilcolina. A técnica apresentada para tratamento do laringoespasmo é fácil, segura e eficaz, e realizada com digitopressão bilateral da região localizada atrás do lóbulo das orelhas. O laringoespasmo cedeu em poucos segundos e os pacientes tiveram evolução favorável.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Problems with pediatric airways are among the greatest challenges an anesthesiologist can face. Laryngeal spasm, which is twice or three times more frequent in the pediatric population, is paramount. The objective of this work was to report the treatment of laryngeal spasm applying digital pressure on a specific area behind the ear lobe. The technique is old, easy, but little known. It is safe and can be promptly done, and does not require peripheral venous access, which might not be present in some situations. CASE REPORT: We report two cases of pediatric anesthesia, in a three-year old and six month-old patients, who developed laryngeal spasm. Both patients were treated by applying retroauricular digital pressure with immediate improvement of the breathing pattern and arterial oxygen saturation. Since laryngeal spasm is a common and potentially severe complication due to its morbimortality, it requires a safe, effective, and fast treatment. CONCLUSION: The classical treatment of laryngeal spasm includes the administration of 100 percent oxygen with positive pressure per ventilatory unit (balloon and mask) and, in the absence of response, intravenous succinylcholine, 0.25 to 1 mg.kg-1. The technique presented here for the treatment of laryngeal spasm is easy to perform, safe and effective, and consists of bilateral digital pressure behind the ear lobes, which reversed the laryngeal spasm in a few seconds, avoiding the development of complications.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Los problemas con la vía aérea pediátrica están entre los más grandes retos que el anestesiólogo puede encontrar en su práctica clínica. Entre ellos se destaca el laringoespasmo, que ocurre con frecuencia de dos a tres veces más en la población pediátrica. El objetivo de este trabajo fue relatar el tratamiento de laringoespasmo realizado con digitopresión de punto localizado detrás del lóbulo de la oreja. La técnica es fácil, antigua, pero poco divulgada. Puede ser utilizada de forma segura y rápida sin necesidad del acceso venoso periférico que, en algunas situaciones, puede estar ausente. RELATO DE LOS CASOS: Dos casos de anestesia pediátrica en pacientes de tres años y de seis meses de edad, en los cuales ocurrió laringoespasmo. Los dos fueron tratados apenas con la digitopresión de la depresión retroauricular y evolucionaron con una rápida mejora del estándar respiratorio y de la saturación arterial de oxígeno. Como el laringoespasmo es una complicación común y potencialmente grave por su morbimortalidad, se hace necesario un tratamiento seguro, eficaz y rápido. CONCLUSIÓN: El tratamiento clásico del laringoespasmo es la administración de oxígeno a 100 por ciento con presión positiva por unidad ventilatoria (globo y máscara) y si no hay respuesta, administración venosa de 0,25 a 1 mg.kg-1 de succinilcolina. La técnica presentada para el tratamiento del laringoespasmo es fácil, segura y eficaz, realizada con digitopresión bilateral de la región localizada detrás del lóbulo de las orejas. El laringoespasmo cedió en pocos segundos y los pacientes tuvieron una evolución favorable.

Surgical strategy in transposition of the great arteries with aortic arch obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze our experience in the surgical correction of transposition of the great arteries associated with aortic arch obstruction. METHOD: From January 1998 to December 2005 we performed 223 arterial switch operations for transposition of the great arteries; 21 (9.4%) patients had associated aortic arch obstruction. Aortic arch anatomy showed: localized aortic coarctation (n=10) and coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch (n=6) and interrupted aortic arch (n=5). Ventricular septal defect was present in 19 (90.5%) patients. Size discrepancy between the aorta and pulmonary artery and complex coronary artery anatomy were common findings. Surgical correction was performed in either one (14) or two stages (7). Aortic arch reconstruction was achieved either by resection and extended anastomoses (13) or by relocation of the ascending aorta (8). RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 23.8% (n=5); with only one death (11.1%) among the last nine patients. Reoperations in the immediate post-operative period included: bleeding (5), residual ventricular septal defect and unrecognized coarctation (1) or residual stenosis of the aortic arch (1). There were two late deaths caused by fungal infections and reoperation for severe aortic regurgitation. Three patients underwent procedures to relieve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Two patients have slight to moderate aortic regurgitation. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of transposition of the great arteries with aortic arch obstruction is complex with high morbidity. Our present choice is one-stage treatment for all patients without using homologous or heterologous tissue for aortic arch reconstruction. We recommend resection and extended anastomoses for localized coarctation and relocation of the ascending aorta for hypoplastic or interrupted aortic arch.

Estratégia cirúrgica na transposição das grandes artérias associada à obstrução do arco aórtico / Surgical strategy in transposition of the great arteries with aortic arch obstruction

OBJETIVO: Analisar nossa experiência no tratamento cirúrgico da transposição das grandes artérias (TGA) associada à obstrução do arco aórtico. MÉTODO: Entre janeiro de 1998 e dezembro de 2005, realizamos 223 operações de Jatene para correção de TGA: 21 (9,4 por cento) pacientes apresentavam obstruções do arco aórtico. A anatomia do arco aórtico evidenciou: coarctação da aorta localizada (n=10); coarctação com hipoplasia tubular do arco aórtico (n=6); interrupção do arco aórtico (n=5). Comunicação interventricular (CIV): 19 pacientes (90,5 por cento), sendo 11 do tipo Taussig-Bing. Desproporção importante entre aorta e artéria pulmonar e anomalias coronárias foram achados freqüentes. Houve 7 correções em dois estágios e 14 correções em um único estágio. A reconstrução do arco foi realizada por ressecção e anastomose término-terminal ampliada (13) ou por translocação da aorta ascendente (8). RESULTADO: Houve cinco (23,8 por cento) óbitos hospitalares; apenas um (11,1 por cento) nos últimos nove casos consecutivos. Reoperações no período hospitalar: revisão de hemostasia (5), CIV residual + coarctação não identificada (1), estenose residual de arco aórtico (1). Após a alta, houve dois óbitos e três pacientes foram submetidos a reintervenções para estenose da via de saída do ventrículo direito. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento da transposição das grandes artérias associada à obstrução do arco aórtico apresenta alta complexidade e morbi-mortalidade. Empregamos as correções em um e em dois estágios, obtendo resultados comparáveis. Nossa preferência atual é pela correção precoce em um único estágio para todos os pacientes, independente de sua configuração anatômica.

OBJECTIVE:To analyze our experience in the surgical correction of transposition of the great arteries associated with aortic arch obstruction. METHOD: From January 1998 to December 2005 we performed 223 arterial switch operations for transposition of the great arteries; 21 (9.4 percent) patients had associated aortic arch obstruction. Aortic arch anatomy showed: localized aortic coarctation (n=10) and coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch (n=6) and interrupted aortic arch (n=5). Ventricular septal defect was present in 19 (90.5 percent) patients. Size discrepancy between the aorta and pulmonary artery and complex coronary artery anatomy were common findings. Surgical correction was performed in either one (14) or two stages (7). Aortic arch reconstruction was achieved either by resection and extended anastomoses (13) or by relocation of the ascending aorta (8). RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 23.8 percent (n=5); with only one death (11.1 percent) among the last nine patients. Reoperations in the immediate post-operative period included: bleeding (5), residual ventricular septal defect and unrecognized coarctation (1) or residual stenosis of the aortic arch (1). There were two late deaths caused by fungal infections and reoperation for severe aortic regurgitation. Three patients underwent procedures to relieve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Two patients have slight to moderate aortic regurgitation. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of transposition of the great arteries with aortic arch obstruction is complex with high morbidity. Our present choice is one-stage treatment for all patients without using homologous or heterologous tissue for aortic arch reconstruction. We recommend resection and extended anastomoses for localized coarctation and relocation of the ascending aorta for hypoplastic or interrupted aortic arch.