Anesthetic Management of Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome: A Case Report.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a group of disorders characterized by prolonged reversible cerebral vasoconstriction, associated with acute-onset, severe, episodic "thunderclap" headaches with or without other neurologic clinical features. We describe the first reported case, to our knowledge, of a patient with RCVS who was managed under general anesthesia in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. A 67-year-old woman with a diagnosis of RCVS made 2 months earlier was scheduled to undergo surgical extraction of the mandibular right third molar. Standard monitoring included noninvasive blood pressure measurement, pulse oximetry, and electrocardiography; a bispectral index (BIS) monitor sensor was placed on her forehead. General anesthesia was induced by target-controlled infusion of propofol to an effect site concentration of 5.0 µg · mL-1, with remifentanil, 0.50 µg · kg-1 per minute, and rocuronium, 40 mg. After tracheal intubation, anesthesia was maintained uneventfully with remifentanil, 0.15 to 0.2 µg · kg-1 per minute, and propofol, 2.0 to 3.0 µg · mL-1, in oxygen and air. The end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration was maintained at 38 to 42 mm Hg. The BIS reading was 40 to 60. Fentanyl, 0.1 mg, and acetaminophen, 750 mg, were administered before the end of surgery for postoperative analgesia. The postoperative course was uneventful, with no headaches or hypertensive complications. We successfully achieved anesthetic management with no appreciable clinical signs of cerebral ischemia or recurrence in a patient with RCVS. We used propofol as the anesthetic agent with BIS monitoring to detect cerebral ischemia. However, there is no definitive evidence of the utility of these measures for the prevention or diagnosis of RCVS, and further study is needed.

[Endotracheal intubation in an adult patient fitted with a Leksell frame using a Pentax Airwayscope with a pediatric-type INTLOCK blade (ITL-P)].

Several previous reports have established the Pentax Airwayscope (Pentax AWS, S-100, HOYA-PENTAX, Tokyo, Japan) as an efficient tool for tracheal intubation in adult patients. The Pentax AWS is often successfully used with an INTLOCK blade; to date, however, INTLOCK blades have been released for neonatal and pediatric patients only. In this case, we performed tracheal intubation using a Pentax AWS attached to a pediatric-type INTLOCK blade (ITL-P) in an adult patient fitted with a Leksell Stereotactic frame (Elekta, Sweden). The patient weighed 45 kg and was 154 cm tall, and was scheduled for a tumor biopsy due to glioblastoma in the brain stem. The patient was preoperatively fitted with a Leksell frame on her head. The patient was not premedicated and was monitored with electrocardiography (ECG), noninvasive blood pressure, and pulse oximetry. Following pre-oxygenation, general anesthesia was induced using propofol 4.0 microg x ml with target-controlled infusion and remifentanil 0.25 microg x kg(-1) hr(-1). After loss of consciousness, we administered 30-mg rocuronium boluses. We initially attempted tracheal intubation first using a Macintosh laryngoscope and then a Pentax AWS, but we could not achieve tracheal intubation with either of these instruments. Upon switching to a Pentax AWS with an ITL-P, we successfully achieved tracheal intubation without any complications. Anesthesia was maintained uneventfully with 3.0 microg x ml(-1) propofol and remifentanil 0.10 to 0.25 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) in oxygen and air. Further study is needed to facilitate the effective use of the Pentax AWS and the ITL-P in such cases.

[Endotracheal intubation for a neonatal patient complicated with Arnold-Chiari malformation using a Pentax airway scope with a neonatal-type INTLOCK blade (ITL-N)].

Several previous reports have established the Pentax Airway Scope (Pentax AWS, S-100, HOYA-PENTAX, Tokyo, Japan) as an efficient tool for endotracheal intubation in adult patients. To date, however, there are no reports on its use with the INTLOCK blade for neonatal and pediatric patients. In this case, we performed tracheal intubation using a Pentax AWS attached to a neonatal-type INTLOCK blade (ITL-N) twice, 1 day and 10 days after birth, in a neonatal patient complicated with Arnold-Chiari malformation. The patient weighed 2.2 kg and was 47 cm tall. The first operation consisted of the repair of a meningocele ; the second was for the insertion of an indwelling Ommaya reservoir. We initially attempted tracheal intubation using a Miller's laryngoscope in the first operation and a Macintosh laryngoscope in the second, but we could not achieve tracheal intubation with either of these instruments. Upon switching to a Pentax AWS with an ITL-N, however, we successfully achieved tracheal intubation in both operations. Further research is needed to facilitate the effective use of the Pentax AWS in such cases.

[Anesthetic management for a pediatric patient of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome with giant head by hydrocephalus].

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare disorder associated with the triad of 1) capillary vascular malformation, 2) varicose veins and/or venous malformation, 3) and soft tissue and/or bony hypertrophy. A six-month old, 6.0-kg-weight male pediatric patient was scheduled for ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation for hydrocephalus caused by obstructive aqueductus cerebri. At the age of three months, he was diagnosed as KTS by extensive capillary vascular malformation and soft tissue hypertrophy of the right leg. Physical examination showed prominent vascular malformation over his anterior thoracic and abdominal wall, and soft tissue hypertrophy was only on his right leg. Simultaneously, he was complicated with congenital hydrocephalus because of obstructive aqueductus cerebri. His head and skull were enlarged and his head measurement reached 55 cm (chest measurement 32 cm). Anesthetic management of KTS patients should be prepared with blood transfusion against massive hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock. Furthermore, KTS patients should be always considered to have airway difficulty due to the soft tissue hypertrophy, upper and airway hemangiomas. Therefore, we planned safer tracheal intubation following practice guidelines for management of the difficult airway.

Fatal hyperkalemia due to rapid red cell transfusion in a critically ill patient.

A 60-year-old woman in severe hemorrhagic shock underwent urgent laparotomy to control massive hematemesis. Severe metabolic acidosis due to hemorrhagic shock and hyperkalemia as well as hypocalcemia associated with rapid blood transfusion were aggressively corrected with administration of sodium bicarbonate, insulin, and calcium chloride. Following rapid transfusion of the last 8 units of red cell concentrate (RCC), however, cardiac arrest occurred because of hyperkalemia and did not respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Blood gas analysis revealed that the serum K(+) concentration had increased from 4.05 to 8.24 mEq/L over a 7-minute period, while the Ca(2+) concentration had decreased from 1.43 to 0.53 mmol/L. Rapid transfusion of irradiated RCC containing a high concentration of K(+), an extreme decrease in the circulating blood volume to dilute the exogenously administered K(+) and citrate, and severe metabolic acidosis impeding the intracellular shift of K(+) seemed to have contributed to the extremely rapid development of fetal hyperkalemia accompanied by hypocalcemia. Anesthesiologists must be aware that hyperkalemia due to rapid blood transfusion can develop extremely rapidly in patients in severe hemorrhagic shock.

Efficacy of prophylactic doses of intravenous nitroglycerin in preventing myocardial ischemia under general anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous nitroglycerin (TNG) in preventing intraoperative myocardial ischemia (MI) under general anesthesia. Moreover, we analyzed the hemodynamic changes in heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MBP), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) associated with TNG administration both before and after the induction of anesthesia. DESIGN: Meta-analysis. SETTING: Operating room, cardiac surgery or non-cardiac surgery, all surgeries were elective measurements. We performed a computerized search of articles on PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager. The data from the individual trials were combined using a random-effects model to calculate either the pooled relative risk (RR) or the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). We conducted trial sequential analysis (TSA). The primary outcome was the incidence of MI and the secondary outcomes were hemodynamic changes (HR, MBP, and PCWP). MAIN RESULTS: Using electronic databases, we selected 10 trials with a total of 353 patients for our review. Prophylactic intravenous TNG did not significantly decrease the incidence of MI (RR=0.61; CI, 0.33 to 1.13; P=0.12; I2=55). TSA corrected the CI to 0.05 to 7.39 and showed that 9.5% of the required information size was achieved. In terms of hemodynamic changes, intravenous TNG significantly reduced MBP in comparison with the placebo (MBP pre-induction: WMD=-7.27; 95% CI -14.2 to -0.33; P=0.04; I2=97%; MBP post-induction: WMD=-5.13; 95% CI -9.17 to -1.09; P=0.01; I2=73%). CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses showed that prophylactic intravenous TNG does not reduce the incidence of intraoperative MI. Moreover, TSA suggests that further studies are necessary to confirm the results (GRADE: very low). Prophylactic doses of intravenous TNG significantly reduced the MBP both pre and post anesthesia induction (GRADE: very low).

[Anesthetic management of a patient with dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy].

This report may be the first case of perioperative management in a patient with dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy (DRPLA). A 19-yr-old man with DRPLA was admitted for recurrent aspiration pneumonia. Medications included phenobarbital, carbamazepine and clonazepam. The planned surgical procedure was tracheostomy and tracheoesophageal separation. He recovered from these procedures uneventfully. Two months later, however, he was readmitted for plastic surgery of narrowing tracheostoma. All of these procedures were performed under general anesthesia, induced using propofol (or thiamylal) and vecuronium, and maintained with sevoflurane. Thiamylal, propofol and benzodiazepines were effective in the prevention of myoclonus-like seizure. No adverse effects of muscle relaxant were observed.

["Takotsubo" cardiomyopathy developed in the postoperative period in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

A 75-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) underwent surgical gastrostomy and repair of incisional hernia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and high concentrations of sevoflurane. Tracheal intubation was performed without muscle relaxants. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and thoracic epidural anesthesia (bupivacaine and fentanyl). Surgery, emergence and extubation were completed uneventfully. She was transferred to ICU for postoperative observation. On the 2 nd POD, however, she was re-intubated due to sudden dyspnea and desaturation caused by failed sputum exhaustion. Simultaneously, her ECG showed ischemic change in leads I, III, aVF, and V3-6. Left ventriculogram showed an "Ampulla" or so called "Takotsubo" shape with intact coronary angiogram. After medication with nitroglycerin and diltiazem, her ECG returned to normal. She showed no deterioration of neurological symptoms. No respiratory and cardiac events were reported until her discharge from hospital. We conclude that an extreme care is required in patient with ALS to avoid perioperative complications.

[Chronic cervical and lumbar epidural catheterization through the atlanto-occipital membrane in rats].

UNLABELLED: We report here an efficient means of epidural catheter placement through atlanto-occipital membrane in rats. METHODS: Male SD rats (n = 84) were divided into lumbar (n = 48) and cervical (n = 36) groups. Under sterile technique, PVC V-1 tubing was inserted and advanced caudally targeted to the C 4 or L 4 level. Analgesic efficacy and duration were measured by injecting increments of 2% lidocaine until a maximum paw withdrawal latency time from a radiant heat thermal stimulator. Rats (n = 6 each day) were sacrificed and an autopsy was performed to observe both the laterality of the catheter tip and the proliferation of fibrous tissue around the catheter. RESULTS: The volume of lidocaine and its duration was 52 +/- 17 microliters and 27 +/- 13 min (mean +/- SD) in lumbar, 30 +/- 10 microliters and 26 +/- 9 min in cervical group. In lumbar group, two catheters penetrated the dura. The remaining catheters were confirmed to be in the epidural space within L 4 +/- 1 or C 4 +/- 2 segment. Lumbar catheter tips were almost equally distributed between the center, left and right, while cervical catheter tips were distributed between left and center portion of the epidural space. The severity of tissue proliferation was time dependent. The proliferation of fibrotic tissue seemed more rapid in cervical than lumbar group. CONCLUSION: Although this approach for epidural catheter placement is efficient and produces excellent drug effects on day 3 after implantation, as reported by others, rapid development of fibrous tissue around the catheter quickly limits the usefulness of the epidural catheter.

[The efficacy of video intubating laryngoscope for novice residents].

BACKGROUND: The visibility and quality of the tracheal intubation may be improved by the video intubating laryngoscope (VIL). However, the efficacy using VIL among novice residents has not been reported. METHODS: Total of 154 cases of tracheal intubation experienced by 5 novice residents in 8 weeks were divided into VIL (X-Lite: Rüsch, Germany) group (n = 59) and ordinary laryngoscope group (OL: n = 95), retrospectively. Number of attempts, success and failure were recorded in both groups. In VIL group, video image of the entire procedure was recorded. Success rates were compared between OL and VIL. In VIL group, elapsed time for intubation and findings during laryngoscopic procedure were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: In the first attempt, the success rate was significantly higher in VIL (83%) than OL (68%). Including secondary attempt, the rate increased to 85% in OL and 97% in VIL, and the difference was also significant. In VIL group, elapsed time for entire intubation was 42 +/- 18 seconds (mean +/- SD). It was significantly decreased in 4, 6 and 7th week compared in the first week. Residents showed different pattern of findings during their laryngoscopic procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The use of VIL improved success rate of tracheal intubation compared with OL. Retrospective analysis of video image revealed their progress and characteristics features in their laryngoscopic procedure. VIL was efficient in the education of the novice residents.