Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage following sugammadex and remifentanil administration: A case report.

RATIONALE: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare life-threatening condition that accompanies general anesthesia. Negative-pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) is a rare cause of DAH. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 25-year-old male patient developed hemoptysis following remifentanil administration by bolus injection with sugammadex at the emergence from general anesthesia. DIAGNOSIS: Chest x-ray and computed tomography showed DAH. INTERVENTIONS: Conservative care was provided with 4L of oxygen via nasal prong, 20 mg of Lasix and 2500 mg of tranexamic acid. OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged uneventfully. LESSONS: Muscle rigidity by remifentanil and the dissociated reversal of neuromuscular blockade by sugammadex was suspected as the cause of NPPE-related DAH. Therefore, the possibility NPPE-related DAH should be considered when using a bolus of remifentanil and sugammadex during emergence from general anesthesia.

Chest wall swelling and pneumothorax after shoulder arthroscopy: Were the 2 events totally independent?

RATIONALE: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery (ASS) is a low mortality and morbidity procedure, but anesthetic complications are reported. There have been no reports of combined chest wall swelling and pneumothorax after ASS. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient's right lung was severely collapsed and the mediastinum was deviated after ASS. DIAGNOSIS: Pneumothorax on right chest. INTERVENTIONS: A chest tube was inserted and oxygen therapy was performed. OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged uneventfully. LESSONS: Elective ASS has low mortality and morbidity rates, but we should be more concerned over the complications after ASS.

Relevance of radiological and clinical measurements in predicting difficult intubation using light wand (Surch-lite™) in adult patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between anatomical features of the upper airway (evaluated via computed tomography imaging) and the ease of light wand-assisted endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing ear, nose and throat surgery under general anaesthesia. METHODS: Mallampati class, laryngoscopic grade, thyromental distance, neck circumference, body mass index, mouth opening and upper lip bite class were assessed. Epiglottis length and angle, tongue size and narrowest pharyngeal distance were determined using computed tomography imaging. Intubation success rate, time to successful intubation (intubating time) and postoperative throat symptoms were documented. RESULTS: Of 152 patients, 148 (97.4%) were successfully intubated on the first attempt (mean intubating time 11.5 ± 6.7 s). Intubating time was positively correlated with laryngoscopic grade and body mass index in both male and female patients, and Mallampati class and neck circumference in male patients. Epiglottis length was positively correlated with intubating time. CONCLUSIONS: Ease of intubation was influenced by epiglottis length. Radiological evaluation may be useful for preoperative assessment of patients undergoing endotracheal intubation with light wand.

Cardiopulmonary bypass weaning difficulty due to anomalous origin of coronary artery -A case report-.

We report a case of hemodynamic instability after aortic valve replacement, due to the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery. During the cardiopulmonary bypass weaning process, hemodynamic instability occurred. The cause was not identified at first, and compression of the anomalous right coronary artery was thought to be the culprit, thereafter.

Postoperative urinary retention following anterior cervical spine surgery for degenerative cervical disc diseases.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) may cause bladder dysfunction, urinary tract infection, and catheter-related complications. It is important to be aware and to be able to identify patients at risk of developing POUR. However, there has been no study that has investigated the incidence and risk factors for the development of POUR following anterior cervical spine surgery for degenerative cervical disc disease. METHODS: We included 325 patients (164 male and 161 female), who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery for cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy due to primary cervical disc herniation and/or spondylosis, in the study. We did not perform en bloc catheterization in our patients before the operation. RESULTS: There were 36 patients (27 male and 9 female) that developed POUR with an overall incidence of 11.1%. The mean numbers of postoperative in-and-out catheterizations was 1.6 times and mean urine output was 717.7 mL. Thirteen out of 36 POUR patients (36%) underwent indwelling catheterization for a mean 4.3 days after catheterization for in-and-out surgery, because of persisting POUR. Seven out of 36 POUR patients (19%) were treated for voiding difficulty, urinary tract irritation, or infection. Chi-square test showed that patients who were male, had diabetes mellitus, benign prostate hypertrophy or myelopathy, or used Demerol were at higher risk of developing POUR. The mean age of POUR patients was higher than non-POUR patients (68.5 years vs. 50.8 years, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: To avoid POUR and related complications as a result of anterior cervical spine surgery for degenerative cervical disc disease, we recommend that a catheter be placed selectively before the operation in at-risk patients, the elderly in particular, male gender, diabetes mellitus, benign prostate hypertrophy, and myelopathy. We recommend that Demerol not be used for postoperative pain control.

Treatment for postoperative wound pain in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery: topical lidocaine patches.

BACKGROUND: This article reports our early experience with the use of lidocaine patches for pain control in the immediate postoperative period after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients undergoing a gynecologic laparoscopy who were randomized to receive either topical patches of 700 mg of lidocaine (n=20) or placebo patches (n=20). The patch was divided evenly into four smaller patches, which were applied at the four port sites and changed every 12 hours for 36 hours after surgery. Postoperative pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) score and the Prince Henry and 5-point verbal rating pain scale (VRS), and the analgesic requirement was also evaluated at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The VAS score for wound pain was lower in the lidocaine patch group at 1 and 6 hours after surgery than the control group (P=.005 and <.0005, respectively). The VAS scores for postoperative pain were lower in the lidocaine patch group at rest 1 hour after surgery (P=.045). The 5-point VRS score for postoperative pain was lower in the lidocaine patch group at 6 and 12 hours after surgery (P=.015 and .035, respectively) than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Topical lidocaine patches at the laparoscopic port sites reduced postoperative pain, particularly postoperative wound pain after gynecological laparoscopic procedures.

The antinociceptive effect of acetaminophen in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

Acetaminophen is one of the most popular and widely used analgesics for the treatment of pain and fever but few studies have evaluated its effects on neuropathic pain. This study examined the effect of acetaminophen on thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical and cold allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were prepared by tightly ligating the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves to produce a model of neuropathic pain. Sixty neuropathic rats were assigned randomly into six groups. Normal saline and acetaminophen (25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to these individual groups. Thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical and cold allodynia were examined at preadministration and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 360 min after administering the drug. Mechanical allodynia was quantified by measuring the paw withdrawal threshold to stimuli with von Frey filaments. Cold allodynia was quantified by measuring the frequency of foot lift after applying 100% acetone. Thermal hyperalgesia was quantified by measuring the thermal withdrawal threshold. The rotarod performance was measured to detect any drug-induced adverse effects, such as drowsiness. The hepatic and renal adverse effect was also assessed by measuring the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. The paw withdrawal thresholds to mechanical stimuli and the thermal withdrawal threshold were increased significantly and withdrawal frequencies to cold stimuli were reduced by acetaminophen administration in a dose-dependent manner. Acetaminophen reduces thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical and cold allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain, and might be useful for managing neuropathic pain.

How should we monitor pediatric patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy? -A case report-.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a hereditary disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and contracture, and special care during anesthesia is needed in these patients. Because inhalational anesthetics and succinylcholine can cause fatal results, intravenous anesthetics are commonly used. However, monitorings for the pediatric population are not otherwise specified. We report our experience of a 6 year-old boy that underwent muscle biopsy suspicious of muscle dystrophy under general anesthesia. The patient received midazolam, fentanyl, propofol and a small dose of rocuronium. He was monitored with bispectral index (BIS), acceleromyography (TOF). At the end of surgery, recovery of TOF ratio to 90% was evaluated, followed by injection of pyridostigmine and glycopyrrolate. When reversal of neuromuscular block was confirmed quantitatively and clinically, the patient was extubated and he experienced no complication.

Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for adnexal tumors: a comparison of surgical outcomes and postoperative pain outcomes.

The objective of this study was to show the feasibility of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) by comparing the surgical outcomes and postoperative pain of LESS with conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) for gynecologic adnexal tumor. This is a prospective case-control study. We enrolled 33 patients-one in 18 patients for LESS and the other in 15 patients for CLS-who were diagnosed with evident adnexal tumor consecutively from September 2009 to February 2010 and were performed by a single surgeon. In LESS, all procedures were performed successfully without any case of conversion to CLS. There were no differences in the demographic characteristics between the two groups. The pathological findings were similar in both groups; a mucinous cystadenoma was the most common pathological feature. The most common operative type performed was cystectomy (22/33, 66%). There were no differences between the LESS and CLS groups in median operation time (62.8 minute vs. 51.3 minutes, p=0.073); estimated blood loss during operation (100 mL vs. 128 mL, p=0.068); and postoperative pain intensity measured by visual analog scale. There were no major complications in either group, including operative wound complications. Our study suggested that LESS for adnexal tumor is a feasible surgical technique through the comparable data of the surgical outcomes and postoperative pain outcomes.

Failure of epidural analgesia converted to epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery in a patient with bronchial atresia in labor.

Bronchial atresia is a rare anomaly characterized generally by obstruction in the bronchial system, mucus accumulation, emphysematous changes and bulla formation in the peripheral lung. Regional anesthesia is the choice for cesarean delivery in a parturient patient with this anomaly. We report a patient with a diagnosis of bronchial atresia in whom the conversion of epidural analgesia to epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery failed during labor, needing the application of general anesthesia for a successful delivery.

Effect of ketamine versus thiopental sodium anesthetic induction and a small dose of fentanyl on emergence agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in children undergoing brief ophthalmic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation (EA) in children after sevoflurane anesthesia is common. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidences of EA between ketamine and thiopental sodium induction in children underwent sevoflurane anesthesia. We also evaluated if a small dose of fentanyl could reduce the incidence of EA. METHODS: The patients who were scheduled for strabismus or entropion surgery were divided into 4 groups. The patients in Groups 1 and 2 were induced anesthesia with ketamine 1.5 mg/kg; those in Groups 3 and 4 were induced with thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg. The patients in Groups 1 and 3 received an injection of fentanyl 1.5 microg/kg, whereas the patients in Groups 2 and 4 received IV saline of the same volume. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane. The recovery characteristics and EA in recovery room were assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of EA was significantly higher in Groups 2 and 4 and there was no difference between Groups 2 and 4. Group 2 had almost an eleven-fold higher risk of developing EA than did Group 1, and the incidence of EA in Group 4 was sixty-nine-fold higher than that of Group 1. The risk factor for EA was only the kind of medication. Preoperative anxiety had no significant correlation with EA. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of EA after sevoflurane anesthesia is similar between ketamine and thiopental sodium anesthetic induction in children undergoing pediatric ophthalmic surgery. Also, the addition of a small dose of fentanyl after anesthetic induction decreases the incidence of EA.

Barotrauma developed during intra-hospital transfer -A case report-.

A 74-year-old male patient receiving ventilatory support due to aspiration pneumonia developed bilateral pneumothorax, pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum, pneumo-retroperitoneum, and subcutaneous emphysema, after manual ventilation while being transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the operating room (OR). These complications were assumed to be secondary to inappropriate manual ventilation of the intubated patient. In addition, it is likely that the possible migration of an already marginally acceptable endotracheal tube (ETT) position during transport was the cause of these complications. Finally, aggravation of a latent pneumothorax might have contributed to these complications.

Heparin resistance during cardiopulmonary bypass.

The hemostatic system is activated during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures, and the use of heparin attenuates the coagulation. However, heparin resistance occurs in between 4 and 22% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and the preoperative use of heparin is usually responsible for this. Sometimes, critically ill patients are referred for intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion, and anticoagulation therapy with heparin is recommended to prevent thrombosis and embolization. The author experienced heparin resistance in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and IABP insertion.

Management of tracheal compression that's caused by an innominate artery aneurysm: A case report.

An aneurysm of the innominate artery could compress the tracheal lumen, and this requires special care. Intubation without intensive monitoring and antihypertensive agents could aggravate the hypercapnia and completely rupture the aneurysm. There are few reports on the airway management of tracheal compression that's caused by an innominate artery aneurysm. We report here on a patient who had a severe hypercapnia after endotracheal intubation above the stenotic area of the tracheal compression, which was caused by an artery aneurysm. Permissive hypercapnia was inadvertently enforced without our knowledge, but the patient recovered without any neurologic problems.