[Retrospective evaluation of predictors and risks of multiple puncture in central venous catheterization].

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that multiple puncture more than or equal to 3 times is a factor associated with the development of CVC-related complications. The present retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the predictors and risks of multiple puncture during the insertion of CVC. METHODS: After the IRB approval, 1296 patients who underwent CVC in the operating room were enrolled. Data were collected using CVC report and the medical charts. Multiple puncture was defined as the puncture performed more than or equal to three times during the insertion of CVC. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to assess the predictors of multiple puncture during the CVC insertion. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that age less than 6 years, complications during insertion and the way to use ultrasound echo were associated with multiple puncture. Multivariate analysis also revealed that age less than 6 years was a significant predictor for multiple puncture (odds ratio 2.08, 95% CI 1.01-4.29). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study indicate that the age less than 6 years is a significant predictor for multiple puncture during the CVC insertion.

Obstrução das vias aéreas com risco para a vida, causada por edema de via aérea superior e inchaço cervical significativo depois do trabalho de parto/parto / Life-threatening airway obstruction due to upper airway edema and marked neck swelling after labor and delivery / Obstrucción de las vías aéreas con riesgo para la vida, causada por edema de vía aérea superior e hinchazón cervical significativa después del trabajo de parto

EXPERIÊNCIA E OBJETIVOS: Em geral, alterações nas vias aéreas ocorrem em grávidas normais; no entanto, essas alterações podem gerar situações críticas em populações específicas. OBJETIVOS: Esse artigo apresenta o caso de uma paciente que entrou em choque por causa de sangramento atônico em seguida a parto vaginal de natimorto. RELATO DE CASO: Mulher com 32 anos com sangramento atônico em seguida a parto vaginal de natimorto foi transferida para nosso hospital. A paciente manifestou choque e seu estado respiratório estava em progressiva deterioração. Ficou evidenciada obstrução das vias aéreas causada por inchaço cervical e edema faringolaríngeo. Tentamos intubação traqueal utilizando laringoscopia direta e indireta. No entanto, não foi possível inserir qualquer dos dispositivos de laringoscopia tentados. Depois de várias tentativas com TrachlightTM, finalmente obtivemos sucesso com a intubação. Depois da histerectomia, a paciente foi internada na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI), onde ficou em tratamento durante cinco dias. Ao receber alta da UTI, tinha escore de Mallampati I-II. Durante sua estadia na UTI, seu peso diminuiu de 60 kg para 51 kg. CONCLUSÕES: É provável que episódios simultâneos de trabalho de parto/parto e de ressuscitação com fluidos pioraram suficientemente o edema de via aérea e o inchaço cervical a ponto de causar obstrução aguda das vias aéreas e dificuldade na laringoscopia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Airway changes generally occur in normal gravidas; however, these changes could cause critical situations in specific populations. OBJECTIVES: This article presents the case of a difficult airway patient that went into shock because of atonic bleeding after vaginal delivery for stillbirth. CASE REPORT: A 32-yr-old woman with atonic bleeding after vaginal delivery for stillbirth was transferred to our hospital. She manifested shock, and her respiratory condition was progressively deteriorating. Airway obstruction caused by neck swelling and pharyngolaryngeal edema was apparent. We tried tracheal intubation using direct and indirect laryngoscopes. However, it turned out that insertion of the laryngoscopic devices to the oral cavity was impossible. After several attempts using the TrachlightTM, successful intubation was finally made. After hysterectomy, she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated for five days. At discharge from the ICU, her Mallampati score was I-II. Her body weight decreased 60 kg to 51 kg during ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that concomitant attacks of labor and delivery and fluid resuscitation probably worsened upper airway and neck edema enough to cause acute airway obstruction and difficult laryngoscopy.

EXPERIENCIA Y OBJETIVOS: De manera general, las alteraciones en las vías aéreas se dan en las embrazadas normales; sin embargo, esas alteraciones pueden generan situaciones críticas en poblaciones específicas. OBJETIVOS: Este artículo presenta el caso de una paciente que entró en chock a causa del sangramiento atónico inmediatamente después del parto vaginal de mortinato. RELATO DE CASO: Mujer de 32 años, con sangramiento atónico inmediatamente después del parto vaginal de mortinato que fue derivada a nuestro hospital. La paciente manifestó chock y su estado respiratorio estaba deteriorándose mucho. Se descubrió una obstrucción de las vías aéreas causada por hinchazón cervical y edema faringolaríngeo. Intentamos la intubación traqueal utilizando laringoscopia directa e indirecta. Sin embargo, no se pudo insertar ninguno de los dispositivos de laringoscopia mencionados. Después de varios intentos con TrachlightTM, finalmente logramos el éxito con la intubación. Después de la histerectomía, la paciente fue ingresada en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI), donde permaneció bajo tratamiento durante cinco días. Al recibir el alta de la UCI, tenía una puntuación de Mallampati I-II. Durante su permanencia en la UCI, su peso cayó de 60 kg para 51 kg. CONCLUSIONES: Es posible que episodios simultáneos de trabajo de parto y de resucitación con fluidos, hayan empeorado suficientemente el edema de vía aérea y la hinchazón cervical, hasta el punto de causar la obstrucción aguda de las vías aéreas y la dificultad en la laringoscopia.

Life-threatening airway obstruction due to upper airway edema and marked neck swelling after labor and delivery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Airway changes generally occur in normal gravidas; however, these changes could cause critical situations in specific populations. OBJECTIVES: This article presents the case of a difficult airway patient that went into shock because of atonic bleeding after vaginal delivery for stillbirth. CASE REPORT: A 32-yr-old woman with atonic bleeding after vaginal delivery for stillbirth was transferred to our hospital. She manifested shock, and her respiratory condition was progressively deteriorating. Airway obstruction caused by neck swelling and pharyngolaryngeal edema was apparent. We tried tracheal intubation using direct and indirect laryngoscopes. However, it turned out that insertion of the laryngoscopic devices to the oral cavity was impossible. After several attempts using the Trachlight™, successful intubation was finally made. After hysterectomy, she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated for five days. At discharge from the ICU, her Mallampati score was I-II. Her body weight decreased 60 kg to 51 kg during ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that concomitant attacks of labor and delivery and fluid resuscitation probably worsened upper airway and neck edema enough to cause acute airway obstruction and difficult laryngoscopy.

Effects of n-propyl gallate on neuronal survival after forebrain ischemia in rats.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was conducted to assess the effects of intraperitoneal administration of n-propyl gallate (PG) on hippocampal neuronal survival after forebrain ischemia. METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of 6 groups. Animals in the PG-I-10, PG-I-8 and PG-S groups received intraperitoneal injection of PG (100mg/kg) 72, 48, 24h and 30 min before severe (10 min) or moderate (8 min) ischemia or sham operation, respectively, while animals in the V-I-10, V-I-8 and V-S groups received the vehicle (10% DMSO) in the same manner. Forebrain ischemia was produced by bilateral carotid occlusion combined with hypotension (35 mmHg) under isoflurane anesthesia. Animals were killed 7 days after reperfusion. Histological assessments were performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. In separate groups of animals that received PG or vehicle, m-RNA levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), erythropoietin (EPO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured using the reverse transcription-PCR protocol. RESULTS: The number of normal neurons was significantly higher in the PG-I-8 group compared with that in the V-I-8 group, whereas it was similar between the PG-I-10 and V-I-10 groups. Animals that received PG had significantly higher levels of HIF-1α, EPO and VEGF expression compared with those that received vehicle. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that intraperitoneal administration of PG may have neuroprotective effects in a model of moderate, but not severe, forebrain ischemia in rats.

Difficult passage of the endotracheal tube and massive nasal bleeding during awake nasal fiberoptic intubation in a patient with airway obstruction caused by neck hematoma--a case report.

A 60 yr-old male underwent anterior cervical fusion under general anesthesia. Neck swelling was observed at the next morning. Subsequently, emergent CT scanning was performed, which revealed a retropharyngeal hematoma narrowing the upper airway and right anterior neck hematoma significantly deviating the trachea and larynx. Nasal intubation was attempted but difficult passage of the endotracheal tube counteracted this procedure. Immediately, massive nasal bleeding occurred, which worsened the situation. Subsequently, oral fiberoptic intubation with the aid of McCoy type laryngoscope was tried and intubation was barely established. The patient was submitted to emergent evacuation of the hematoma. Reevaluation of the preoperative CT images showed the nasal cavity narrowing because of widespread nasal mucosal swelling. It is necessary to anticipate that nasal mucosal swelling and bleeding tendency due to impairment of venous drainage can exist in such a case.

Use of a laryngeal mask airway to stop a supraglottic air leak which prevented adequate ventilation via a tracheostomy in a patient with cerebral palsy and pneumonia.

We report an adolescent developing ventilation failure due to supraglottic air leakage with the use of an uncuffed hand-made tracheal tube fit to her tracheobronchial deformity. To eliminate the supraglottic air leakage, a size 2.5 laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted into the oral pharynx. Most of air leakage arose from the LMA. Supraglottic air leakage was not detected under mandatory mechanical ventilation following sealing of the 15-mm connector of the LMA with a piece of tape, and the respiratory condition of the patient gradually improved. The combination of a hand-made Y-shaped tube and the LMA was useful in restoring adequate ventilation. In conditions where air leaks through the glottis during mechanical ventilation interfere with adequate ventilation or the maintenance of airway pressure, the use of an LMA may be adequate to stop or significantly decrease the leak.

Infective endocarditis associated with acute myocardial infarction caused by septic emboli.

A 53-year-old Japanese man presented with severe chest pain. He had suffered from persistent fever, muscle pain, arthralgia, and dyspnea on exertion (New York Heart Association class I) for two and half months prior to admission. He had been treated with several antibiotics for two months and prednisolone for almost one month prior to admission. On the day of admission, he had suffered from chest pain at rest, and had come to our hospital. Electrocardiography showed a normal sinus rhythm with significant ST segment elevation in leads V3-6 and abnormal Q waves in leads V4-6. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated left ventricular ejection fraction of 52% with severe mitral regurgitation and an 18-mm vegetation on the anterior mitral valve leaflet. Multiple blood cultures identified Streptococcus sanguis. The diagnosis was acute myocardial infarction and mitral regurgitation associated with infective endocarditis (IE). The incidence of acute coronary syndrome caused by IE is quite low in patients with native valves. After a 6-week course of antibiotics, mitral valve replacement and partial cardiomyotomy were performed. Two years after the surgery, follow-up echocardiography showed almost normal left ventricle function and no mitral regurgitation, and the patient has been living an active life without any complications.

Prevalence of the Brugada-type electrocardiogram and incidence of Brugada syndrome in patients with sick sinus syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, clarification of the prevalence of the Brugada-type electrocardiogram (ECG) and the incidence of spontaneous ventricular fibrillation (VF) that occurred with the Brugada-type ECG in patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) was determined. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 487 consecutive patients (men 45%, mean age 69.9+/-12.3 years), who were defined as having an indication for cardiac pacemaker (PM) for SSS, were investigated. The ECG before an initial PM implantation and occurrence of VF or sudden cardiac death (SCD) was examined retrospectively. Brugada-type ECG was found in 14 patients (2.87%) including 4 (0.82%) with type 1 and 10 (2.05%) with type 2. During the follow-up period of 7.2+/-5.4 years, 2 out of the 4 patients with type 1 ECG had experienced a VF episode after the device implantation. In 10 patients with type 2 ECG, none had VF or SCD. The incidence of spontaneous VF (Brugada syndrome) in SSS patients was calculated as 14.1 per 100 person-years with type 1 ECG. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of typical Brugada-type (type 1) ECG in SSS patients seems to be higher compared with the general population. In addition, SSS patients with the typical Brugada-type ECG might be a high risk for spontaneous VF.

Acute myocardial infarction with myocardial perfusion defect detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

The first case was a 68-year-old woman who had acute migratory pain from back to anterior chest and the second case was 66-year-old man with a cardiac tamponade. Two cases were demonstrated with a low density area of the left ventricular postero-lateral wall with conventional contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) performed to differentiate the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and acute aortic dissection. Subsequent coronary angiograms showed the lesions of left circumflex. These cases of early contrast-defect corresponded to a decreased myocardial blood flow with AMI. CE-CT image facilitated the diagnosis of AMI preceding CAG examination.

Clinical evaluation of adverse effects during bepridil administration for atrial fibrillation and flutter.

BACKGROUND: Bepridil hydrochloride (Bpd) has attracted attention as an effective drug for atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL). However, serious adverse effects, including torsade de pointes (Tdp), have been reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adverse effects of Bpd requiring discontinuation of treatment were evaluated. Bpd was administered to 459 patients (361 males, 63+/-12 years old) comprising 378 AF and 81 AFL cases. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction and atrial dimension (LAD) were 66+/-11% and 40+/-6 mm, respectively. Adverse effects were observed in 19 patients (4%) during an average follow-up of 20 months. There was marked QT prolongation greater than 0.55 s in 13 patients, bradycardia less than 40 beats/min in 6 patients, dizziness and general fatigue in 1 patient each. In 4 of 13 patients with QT prolongation, Tdp occurred. The major triggering factors of Tdp were hypokalemia and sudden decrease in heart rate. There were no differences in the clinical backgrounds of the patients with and without Tdp other than LAD and age, which were larger and older in the patients with Tdp. CONCLUSION: Careful observation of serum potassium concentration and the ECG should always be done during Bpd administration, particularly in elderly patients.

Methemoglobinemia induced by automobile exhaust fumes.

Although methemoglobinemia is an uncommon disorder, it should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of cyanosis. Major causes of acquired methemoglobinemia are nitrates, aniline, and analgesics, though rare cases have been reported to have been caused by automobile exhaust fumes. A 24-year-old man had inhaled a large amount of automobile exhaust fumes, intending to commit suicide. He had become unconscious, with dilated pupils and symptoms of cyanosis. Arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation (Sp(O2)) was 86%, with a methemoglobin level of 44.3% and a carboxyhemoglobin level of 0%, while electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatine, and glucose measurement results were normal. He was treated with methylene blue 250 mg (approximately 4 mg/kg) through a nasogastric tube. Four hours after the treatment, because the methemoglobin level was slightly above normal (2.2%), we added 180 mg of methylene blue. The results of final arterial blood gas analysis were a methemoglobin level of 0.4% and a carboxyhemoglobin level of 0.8%. He recovered uneventfully and returned home by himself the next day. To summarize, we successfully treated, with methylene blue given through a nasogastric tube, a young man who had developed severe methemoglobinemia from inhaling automobile exhaust fumes.

Ventricular fibrillation refractory to ICD therapy.

A 14-year-old boy was admitted for the evaluation of recurrent syncope. His ECG on admission revealed a sinus rhythm with an undetermined QRS axis, T wave inversion at leads V3, V4 and abnormal q at leads I, aVL, V5 and V6. However, no underlying disease could be detected by any morphological examination. Programmed ventricular stimulation also induced no ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VF). Only signal-averaged ECG showed ventricular late potential and the cause of syncope was not clarified. As his brother with a similar ECG had died suddenly, he was prophylactically treated with an ICD. However, 14 months later he died suddenly after playing a video game. The ICD recorded VF, which was not converted despite 6 cardioversion attempts by the ICD. Progression of myocardial damages and/or elevation of defibrillation threshold may have been the cause of unsuccessful cardioversion.

Conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm by bepridil in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Bepridil has multiple ion-channel blocking effects similar to amiodarone and is expected to have anti-arrhythmic effects that are useful for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to clarify the conversion of persistent AF and maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) by oral bepridil. METHODS AND RESULTS: Oral bepridil was administered to 112 patients (83 males, 29 females; age: 59.0+/-10.8 years) with persistent AF lasting an average of 5 months. The conversion effects and maintenance of SR after pharmacological or direct current (DC) cardioversion, as well as the incidence of adverse complications, were evaluated. In 65 of 112 (58%) patients, SR was restored within 6 months (average: 2.1 months) following bepridil administration. DC cardioversion was carried out for 21 of the remaining 47 patients with unsuccessful pharmacological conversion, and all had restoration of SR. Eventually, of the 86 patients in total who were restored to SR by either bepridil or DC cardioversion, 70 (81%) patients maintained SR after a mean follow-up of 18 months. No serious adverse complications were observed, except for marked QT prolongation in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Bepridil showed favorable conversion effects in patients with persistent AF and was highly effective for maintaining SR after pharmacological or electrical cardioversion. However, careful follow-up is necessary for the prevention of torsade de pointes caused by QT prolongation.

Dislodgment of an atrial screw-in pacing lead 10 years after implantation.

Dislodgment of an atrial screw-in pacing lead is quite rare. This report describes a rare case of an atrial screw-in lead dislodgment 10 years after implantation. Although it is an uncommon complication, very late dislodgment can occur postoperatively, and careful follow-up is necessary.

Jugular bulb oxygen saturation under propofol or sevoflurane/nitrous oxide anesthesia during deliberate mild hypothermia in neurosurgical patients.

Sevoflurane and propofol have been widely used as anesthetic agents for neurosurgery. Recent evidence has suggested that the influence of these anesthetics on cerebral oxygenation may differ. In the present study, the authors investigated jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjO2) during propofol and sevoflurane/nitrous oxide anesthesia under mildly hypothermic conditions. After institutional approval and informed consent, 20 patients undergoing elective craniotomy were studied. Patients were randomly divided to the group S/N2O (sevoflurane/nitrous oxide/fentanyl anesthesia) or the group P (propofol/fentanyl anesthesia). After induction of anesthesia, the catheter was inserted retrograde into the jugular bulb and SjO2 was analyzed. During the operation, patients were cooled and tympanic membrane temperature was maintained at 34.5 degrees C. SjO2 was measured at normocapnia during mild hypothermia and at hypocapnia during mild hypothermia. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic variables between the groups. During mild hypothermia, SjO2 values were significantly lower in group P than in group S/N2O. The incidence of SjO2 less than 50% under mild hypothermic-hypocapnic conditions was significantly higher in group P than in group S/N2O. These results suggest that hyperventilation should be more cautiously applied during mild hypothermia in patients anesthetized with propofol and fentanyl versus sevoflurane/nitrous oxide/fentanyl.

Plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide increase in patients with idiopathic bilateral atrial dilatation.

Idiopathic bilateral atrial dilatation (IBAD) is an extremely rare anomaly and is usually associated with atrial fibrillation. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) have been shown to increase in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, secretion of ANP and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with IBAD remains unclear. We investigated the clinical features of 9 patients with IBAD and 16 age- and sex-matched patients with lone atrial fibrillation (LAF). Plasma levels of ANP and BNP were measured, and echocardiographic parameters were followed. Left (LAV) and right atrial volumes (RAV) were significantly higher in patients with IBAD than in patients with LAF (both p < 0.01). There were no differences between patients with IBAD and LAF in other echocardiographic parameters. The percent increases in LAV and RAV in patients with IBAD exceeded those in patients with LAF (both p < 0.01). Plasma levels of BNP and the BNP/ANP ratios in patients with IBAD were significantly higher than those in patients with LAF (both p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in plasma levels of ANP. Regarding the clinical course of the patients with IBAD compared with those with LAF, the atrial volume increased gradually, and plasma levels of BNP were significantly higher. These findings suggested that IBAD was not only influenced by long-term atrial fibrillation, but also by subclinical left ventricular dysfunction.