Neumotórax bilateral y neumomediastino tras microcirugía transoral con láser y traqueotomía / Bilateral and pneumomediastinal pneumothorax after transoral laser microsurgery and tracheotomy

La microcirugía transoral con láser CO2 se ha convertido en una alternativa cada vez más empleada para el tratamiento del cáncer de laringe y faringe. Entre las ventajas que aporta frente a la cirugía abierta y la radioterapia, se encuentran su menor invasividad, mayor precisión, mejor preservación funcional del órgano y menor morbilidad asociada al procedimiento. No obstante, esta técnica quirúrgica no está exenta de complicaciones, algunas hasta ahora poco frecuentes, pero de gran trascendencia clínica. Presentamos el caso de una paciente que en el contexto de una microcirugía con traqueotomía por cáncer de laringe sufrió un enfisema subcutáneo, neumomediastino y neumotórax bilateral precisando de las medidas pertinentes para su control y estabilización, que se describen. Además, se realiza una revisión actual en la literatura, sobre las consideraciones anestésicas y las principales complicaciones perioperatorias de la microcirugía con láser(AU)

Transoral laser CO2 microsurgery is becoming an increasing used treatment option for cancer of the larynx and the pharynx. Amongst the advantages it has compared to open surgery and radiotherapy are, it less invasiveness, greater precision, better functional preservation of the organ, and less procedure-associated morbidity. However, this surgical technique is not without its complication, some being rare up until now, but with great clinical importance. We present the case of a patient subjected to microsurgery with a tracheotomy due to cancer of the larynx, who suffered a subcutaneous emphysema, and a bilateral and pneumomediastinal pneumothorax, requiring the appropriate measures for its control and stabilisation, which are described. A review was also performed of the current literature as regards anaesthetic considerations and the main peri-operative complications of laser microsurgery(AU)

[Anaesthesia and recovery in a case of placenta percreta]. / Anestesia y reanimación en un caso de placenta pércreta.

Placenta percreta is a sub-type of placenta accreta in which this organ invades the whole uterine wall and affects the adjacent organs. It is a condition with a high surgical risk which generally requires an obstetric hysterectomy. We present the case of a 36 year-old pregnant woman diagnosed with placenta percreta with bladder and intestinal invasion. She suffered a hypovolaemic shock during surgery which required a massive transfusion of blood products and inotropic support. Three further successive surgeries were required due to the bleeding, with selective embolisation of the hypogastric arteries being performed in one of them. She required 13 days in intensive care. The total volume of blood products transfused was, 43 units of red cells, 28 units of plasma, and 8 platelet pools. The importance of early prenatal diagnosis is emphasised in order to adequately plan the operation, and should include a multidisciplinary team (general surgeons, urologists, vascular surgeons), as well as experienced anaesthesiologists and obstetricians.

[Bilateral and pneumomediastinal pneumothorax after transoral laser microsurgery and tracheotomy]. / Neumotórax bilateral y neumomediastino tras microcirugía transoral con láser y traqueotomía.

Transoral laser CO2 microsurgery is becoming an increasing used treatment option for cancer of the larynx and the pharynx. Amongst the advantages it has compared to open surgery and radiotherapy are, it less invasiveness, greater precision, better functional preservation of the organ, and less procedure-associated morbidity. However, this surgical technique is not without its complication, some being rare up until now, but with great clinical importance. We present the case of a patient subjected to microsurgery with a tracheotomy due to cancer of the larynx, who suffered a subcutaneous emphysema, and a bilateral and pneumomediastinal pneumothorax, requiring the appropriate measures for its control and stabilisation, which are described. A review was also performed of the current literature as regards anaesthetic considerations and the main peri-operative complications of laser microsurgery.

[Control of postoperative pain in knee arthroplasty: single dose femoral nerve block versus continuous femoral block]. / Control del dolor postoperatorio en artroplastia de rodilla: bloqueo del nervio femoral con dosis única frente a bloqueo femoral continuo.

INTRODUCTION: To compare the efficacy of a multimodal analgesia with 2 different techniques (femoral nerve block with a single dose and continuous femoral nerve block) in the control of pain, use of opioids, and secondary effects in patients subjected to total knee replacement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomised study of patients subjected to knee replacement with subarachnoid anaesthesia. The postoperative analgesia consisted of tramadol, dexketoprofen and paracetamol, and one of the following techniques: Femoral nerve block with a single dose of 30mL of 0.5% ropivacaine, or that dose plus a continuous infusion via a femoral catheter of 0.375% ropivacaine 6ml/h for 48h. The demographic, anaesthetic and surgical variables were recorded, along with the pain intensity using a visual analogue scale, opioid use, and complications at 24 and 48h after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were included. There no differences in the demographic data between the groups. The pain intensity was lower in the group that had continuous femoral block, particularly at 48h, compared to the single-dose block, and with a lower use of rescue analgesia in the continuous femoral block. The incidence in secondary effects was similar, with a lower long-term sensory block being observed in the femoral block with a single dose. CONCLUSIONS: The use of peripheral nerve block is accepted practice for analgesia after knee replacement surgery. Continuous femoral block is a valid alternative, decreasing the use of rescue opiates and pain intensity (particularly at 48h) compared to isolated femoral block.

Neuropatía óptica isquémica en el postoperatorio de cirugía de raquis lumbar / Ischemic optic neuropathy after lumbar spine surgery

La causa más frecuente de complicaciones visuales enel postoperatorio de cirugía no oftalmológica es la neuropatía óptica isquémica. La incidencia es variabledependiendo de las series publicadas, en la mayoría deellas, la cirugía de raquis realizada en decúbito pronoaparece implicada.Exponemos el caso de una mujer de 47 años que trasuna artrodesis lumbar, con unas pérdidas hemáticas deunos 900 mL, desarrolló una ceguera prácticamentetotal en el ojo izquierdo. En el examen oftalmológicorealizado, fondo de ojo, angiofluoresceingrafía, campimetría y potenciales evocados visuales se diagnosticó una neuropatía óptica retrolaminar, que evolucionó desfavorablemente

Ischemic optic neuropathy is the most common cause ofvisual complications after non-ophthalmic surgery. Theincidence has varied in different case series, but prone-position spine surgery appears to be involved in most of the reports.We present the case of a 47-year-old woman whodeveloped near total blindness in the left eye followinglumbar spine fusion surgery involving the loss of 900 mLof blood. An ophthalmic examination including inspectionof the ocular fundus, fluorescein angiography, and visualevoked potentials returned a diagnosis of retrolaminaroptic neuropathy. Outcome was poor (AU)

[Ischemic optic neuropathy after lumbar spine surgery]. / Neuropatía optica isquémica en el postoperatorio de cirugía de raquis lumbar.

Ischemic optic neuropathy is the most common cause of visual complications after non-ophthalmic surgery. The incidence has varied in different case series, but prone-position spine surgery appears to be involved in most of the reports. We present the case of a 47-year-old woman who developed near total blindness in the left eye following lumbar spine fusion surgery involving the loss of 900 mL of blood. An ophthalmic examination including inspection of the ocular fundus, fluorescein angiography, and visual evoked potentials returned a diagnosis of retrolaminar optic neuropathy. Outcome was poor.

Embolismo de líquido amniótico. Réplica / On amniotic fluid embolism. Reply

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[Fulminant course of amniotic fluid embolism]. / Embolismo de líquido amniótico con evolución fulminante.

Amniotic fluid embolism is an obstetric complication that can present during pregnancy or labor and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The incidence is low but the mortality rates for both mother and fetus are high. A 34-year-old woman in the 41st week of gestation was admitted for induction of labor. While still in the labor room, she complained of pruritus around the mouth and tongue. Tonic-clonic convulsions, hypotension, and loss of consciousness followed. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers were started and an immediate cesarean section under general anesthesia was performed to deliver a live infant boy. The Apgar score at 5 minutes was 8. The mother was transferred for recovery to the intensive care unit (ICU), where rapid cardiocirculatory and pulmonary decline continued. After 2 episodes of electromechanical dissociation, exitus occurred 2 hours after ICU admission. The autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism. Keratin squames were found in the capillaries of both lungs and polymorphonuclear cells and proteinaceous material were observed in alveoli. Mechanical obstruction is not the only cause of amniotic fluid embolism. Circulating substances that affect myocardial contractility and coagulation are also implicated and the cause may even be an allergic reaction. The usual signs are acute respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and occasionally convulsions and coagulopathy. Cardiac arrest occurs in 80% of the cases. Treatment is symptomatic to provide life-sustaining measures in response to the clinical picture as it develops.

Embolismo de líquido amniótico con evolución fulminante / Fulminant course of amniotic fluid embolism

El embolismo de líquido amniótico (ELA) es una complicaciónobstétrica con una elevada morbimortalidadque puede presentarse tanto durante el embarazo comoen el parto. Su incidencia es escasa, mientras que tantola mortalidad materna como la fetal permanecen aúnmuy elevadas.Gestante de 34 años y 41 semanas que ingresa parainducción de parto. En la Sala de Dilatación nota pruritoen área peribucal y lengua y seguidamente convulsionestónico-clónicas, hipotensión y pérdida de consciencia.Se realizan maniobras de reanimación cardiopulmonare inmediatamente, bajo anestesia general, sepráctica una cesárea obteniéndose un recién nacido vivocon Apgar de 8 a los 5 minutos. En el postoperatorio setraslada a la paciente a UCI, donde prosigue el deteriorocardiocirculatorio y respiratorio, de manera rápidamenteprogresiva y, tras dos episodios de disociaciónelectromecánica, es éxitus a las 2 horas. La necropsiaconfirmó posteriormente el cuadro como ELA, encontrándoseláminas de queratina en la luz capilar deambos pulmones, con polimorfonucleares y materialproteináceo en la luz alveolar.Se sabe que el ELA no es consecuencia únicamente deuna obstrucción mecánica sino que influyen también unaserie de sustancias humorales liberadas que afectan a lacontractilidad miocárdica, a la coagulación, llegandoincluso a una reacción de hipersensibilidad. La clínicahabitual consiste en una insuficiencia respiratoria aguda,colapso cardiovascular y en ocasiones convulsiones y coagulopatíaque en el 80% de los casos desemboca en unaparada cardiaca. El tratamiento es sintomático y desoporte vital en función de la clínica predominante encada momento

Amniotic fluid embolism is an obstetric complicationthat can present during pregnancy or labor and is associatedwith high rates of morbidity and mortality. Theincidence is low but the mortality rates for both motherand fetus are high.A 34-year-old woman in the 41st week of gestationwas admitted for induction of labor. While still in thelabor room, she complained of pruritus around themouth and tongue. Tonic-clonic convulsions, hypotension,and loss of consciousness followed. Cardiopulmonaryresuscitation maneuvers were started and animmediate cesarean section under general anesthesiawas performed to deliver a live infant boy. The Apgarscore at 5 minutes was 8. The mother was transferredfor recovery to the intensive care unit (ICU), whererapid cardiocirculatory and pulmonary decline continued.After 2 episodes of electromechanical dissociation,exitus occurred 2 hours after ICU admission. Theautopsy confirmed the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism.Keratin squames were found in the capillaries ofboth lungs and polymorphonuclear cells and proteinaceousmaterial were observed in alveoli.Mechanical obstruction is not the only cause ofamniotic fluid embolism. Circulating substances thataffect myocardial contractility and coagulation are alsoimplicated and the cause may even be an allergic reaction.The usual signs are acute respiratory failure, cardiovascularcollapse, and occasionally convulsions andcoagulopathy. Cardiac arrest occurs in 80% of the cases.Treatment is symptomatic to provide life-sustainingmeasures in response to the clinical picture as it develops

Anafilaxia y rocuronio. Réplica / Reply to "Anaphylactic reactions to rocuronium: myth or reality?": Anaphylaxis and rocuronium

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Temporary trigeminal disorder as a result of pneumocephalus after subarachnoid block.

A patient was scheduled for inguinal herniorrhaphy under subarachnoid block. Lumbar puncture was difficult and several attempts were needed before it could be achieved. During the immediate postoperative period, the patient developed paraesthesia and anaesthesia on the right side of the face, mostly in the nose, cheek and upper lip areas. A CT scan showed a small pneumocephalus at the level of the brainstem. The symptoms persisted for approximately 70 min, after which they disappeared.