Anesthesia Management in Massive Occipital Meningoencephalocele with Chiari III Malformation: A Case Report.

Arnold-Chiari malformation is a displacement of the brain into the spinal canal, often leading to hemodynamic distress. Arnold-Chiari malformation type III (CM III) is a rare and severe type that requires early detection to prevent complications. We aim to report this rare presentation of CM III. A 16-month-old girl with a massive tumor of the occiput suspected to be a meningoencephalocele with CM III was referred to the neurosurgery department. The patient was assessed with class 3 American Society of Anesthesiologist classification, posed challenges due to a difficult airway and the presence of a meningoencephalocele. The patient was scheduled for an elective surgery. Preoperative, the patient was lethargic with an abnormal heart rate and blood pressure. Induction was performed while preserving spontaneous ventilation, but was assisted by an oropharyngeal airway due to a short neck and obesity. The patient later developed laryngospasm thus, muscle relaxant and propofol were administered. A rescue laryngeal mask airway was inserted due to desaturation. Intubation was performed with video laryngoscope. When the surgeon opened the cele and removed the cerebrospinal fluid, the blood pressure began to decline. Resection of brain tissue caused the patient started to bleed, fluid and blood products were administered. At the end of surgery, the patient had stable hemodynamics and was transferred to the pediatric intensive care for monitoring. In patients with massive occipital meningoencephalocele and CM III, anesthetic management requires smooth intubation and prevention of excessive manipulation of the cervical joint to prevent increased intracranial pressure. The patient was not extubated because the brainstem could not be sufficiently reduced coupled with significant autonomic dysfunction.

Comparison of Efficacy of Premedication between Dexmedetomidine and Midazolam Intranasal for the Prevention of Emergence Delirium in Children Undergoing Ophthalmic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Emergence delirium (ED) is a condition that can occur when a child recovers from anaesthesia uncomfortably. ED can potentially injure children and indirectly discomforts parents. Various interventions were carried out to reduce ED, but there is no specific standard that has been established to prevent ED. Dexmedetomidine and midazolam are said to be effective in reducing ED. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of intranasal dexmedetomidine premedication compared to intranasal midazolam to prevent ED in children undergoing eye surgery. METHODS: This study was a double-blinded randomised clinical trial. Paediatric patients aged 1-12 years with physical status ASA 1 and 2 who underwent eye surgery under general anaesthesia using sevoflurane inhalation were included in the study. There were 64 children obtained by consecutive sampling who underwent eye surgery in our institution between February and May 2019. The subjects were then randomised into the dexmedetomidine group and the midazolam group. Effectiveness was assessed from ED events, recovery time and post-premedication desaturation events. Data analysis was performed using Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: ED incidence in the dexmedetomidine group was 11.18% compared to 28.12% in the midazolam group (P » .109). The recovery time was found to be at a median of 6 minutes for both groups, and no desaturation was found in either group. CONCLUSION: There is statistically no significant difference between the effectiveness of intranasal dexmedetomidine and midazolam premedication 30 minutes before induction to prevent ED occurrence in children undergoing eye surgery.

Propofol effects in rodent models of traumatic brain injury: a systematic review.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes high mortality and disability worldwide. Animal models have been developed to explore the complex processes in TBI. Propofol is used to manage head injuries during surgical intervention and mechanical ventilation in patients with TBI. Many studies have investigated the neuroprotective effect of propofol on TBI. However, other studies have shown neurotoxic effects. Objectives: To review systematically the literature regarding the neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of propofol in rodent models of TBI. Methods: Data from rodents as models of TBI with propofol as one of the intervention agents, and/or comparing the neuroprotective effects of propofol with the other substances in rodent models of TBI, were obtained from PubMed, EBSCO Host, and ProQuest databases. The PRISMA 2020 statement recommendations were followed and research questions were developed based on PICOS guidelines. Data was extracted from the literature using a standardized Cochrane method. Results: We analyzed data from 12 articles on physiological changes of experimental animals before and after trauma, the effects of propofol administration, and the observed neurotoxic effects. The effects of propofol administration were observed in terms of changes in traumatic lesion volume, the release of antioxidants and inflammatory factors, and the neurological function of rodent models of TBI. Conclusion: Propofol has neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects via several mechanisms, and various doses have been used in research to determine its effects. The timing of administration, the dose administered, and the duration of administration contribute to determine the effect of propofol in rodent models of TBI. However, the doses that produce neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects are not yet clear and further research is needed to determine them.

Comparison between Vapocoolant Spray and Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics Cream in Reducing Pain during Spinal Injections.

BACKGROUND: Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream is often used for local anesthesia during spinal injections. However, this agent has delayed onset of action while vapocoolant spray serves more advantages. The vapocoolant spray containing ethyl chloride has fast onset and is safe, low cost, and widely available. This study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of vapocoolant spray and EMLA cream in reducing pain for spinal injections. METHODS: This was an experimental study on 94 subjects with 47 subjects treated with EMLA cream and 47 subjects treated with vapocoolant spray. The effectiveness of anesthesia was assessed by using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and patient movement during the surgery. RESULTS: This study found that the pain scale was NPRS 0 (0-3) for the EMLA group and NPRS 0 (0-4) for the vapocoolant spray group. There was no significant difference between two groups for pain scale according to the Mann-Whitney U test. For patient movement, the movement was reported only in one (2.1%) patient in the EMLA group and one (2.1%) patient in the vapocoolant spray group. Based on Fisher's test, there was no significant difference between the two groups for patient movement. CONCLUSIONS: Both EMLA cream and vapocoolant spray were equally effective in reducing pain during spinal injection. There was no difference in degree of pain reduction and patient movement between the EMLA cream group and the vapocoolant spray group during spinal injection.

Effectiveness of Subconjunctival 0.5% Bupivacaine for Postoperative Analgesia after Intravitreal Silicon Oil Removal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intravitreal silicon oil removal surgery can cause mild-to-moderate postoperative pain and discomfort in most patients. Postoperative pain can be managed by using many methods, including a local anesthetic drug. One of the common local anesthetic drugs is 0.5% bupivacaine. The application techniques also vary, such as subconjunctival application. It was a good alternative for postoperative analgesia in the ophthalmic surgery because of its minimal risks and complications. The purpose of this research was to measure the effectiveness of subconjunctival 0.5% bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in silicon oil removal surgery. METHOD: This was a double-blind randomized clinical study in patients undergoing elective intravitreal silicon oil removal surgery at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Thirty consecutive patients, enrolled from October 2016 to February 2017, were randomized to receive subconjunctival 0.5% bupivacaine or subconjunctival placebo (0.9% NaCl) at the end of the surgery. The primary outcome was the pain score 24 hours after surgery, using a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Intravenous injection of tramadol 50 mg was given if the VAS >4. Secondary outcomes were the time to first analgesic requirement and the incidence of nausea/vomiting. Statistical analysis was conducted to measure the difference between 24 h pain score in the bupivacaine group (B) and that in the placebo group (NS). RESULT: The overall 24 hours' postoperative pain score was significantly different between the bupivacaine group and the placebo group (p=0.001). In the 24 hours after surgery, there were only five patients needing additional analgesia in the placebo group. The time to first analgesic requirement was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.042). Nausea/vomiting only happened in the placebo group with proportions 6% and 3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Subconjunctival 0.5% bupivacaine was effective for postoperative analgesia in intravitreal silicon oil removal surgery.

Predictors of Difficult Intubation Among Malay Patients in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Failure to maintain an adequate airway can lead to brain damage and death. To reduce the risk of difficulty in maintaining an airway during general anesthesia, there are several known predictors of difficult intubation. People with a Malay background have different craniofacial structures in comparison with other individuals. Therefore, different predictors should be used for patients of Malay race. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the ability to predict difficult visualization of the larynx (DVL) in Malay patients based on several predictors, such as the modified Mallampati test (MMT), thyromental distance (TMD), and hyomental distance ratio (HMDR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 277 consecutive patients requiring general anesthesia. All subjects were evaluated using the MMT, TMD, and HMDR, and the cut-off points for the airway predictors were Mallampati III and IV, < 6.5 cm, and < 1.2, respectively. During direct laryngoscopy, the laryngeal view was graded using the Cormack-Lehane (CL) classification. CL grades III and IV were considered difficult visualization. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity for each predictor were calculated both as sole and combined predictors. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of DVL. RESULTS: Difficulty in visualizing the larynx was found in 28 (10.1%) patients. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity for the three airway predictors were as follows: MMT: 0.614, 10.7%, and 99.2%; HMDR: 0.743, 64.2%, and 74%; and TMD: 0.827, 82.1%, and 64.7%. The combination providing the best prediction in our study involved the MMT, HMDR, and TMD with an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.835, 60.7%, and 88.8%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that the MMT, HMDR, and TMD were independent predictors of DVL. CONCLUSIONS: The TMD, with a cut-off point of 65 mm, had superior diagnostic value compared with the HMDR and Mallampati score. Therefore, the TMD could be used in Malay patients to predict the difficulty of larynx visualization during laryngoscopy.