A&A practice
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We report a case of acute intraoperative tympanic membrane (TM) rupture in a patient anesthetized with desflurane without N2O. The patient was undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to treat ascending cholangitis. TM rupture is known to occur with N2O but has not been reported in the literature with the use of inhaled volatile anesthetics without N2O. We suspect that several factors contributed to this complication, including prone positioning, a remote history of ear trauma, and the selection of desflurane as the maintenance anesthetic as opposed to a vapor with a higher blood-gas partition coefficient.
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We present a case of acute dyspnea due to postoperative oral bleeding after tonsillectomy, wherein a blood clot obscured the laryngeal structures to such an extent that no recognizable structures could be identified. A larger-bore suction catheter without side holes proved necessary to solve the problem. The case illustrates how a gradually forming blood clot can remain asymptomatic until reaching a size where it poses an airway threat and highlights the necessity for readily available larger-bore suction devices without side holes. We consider this as an important reminder of the unpredictable nature of blood clot formation and its management.
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Middle aortic syndrome (MAS) is a rare disorder characterized by narrowing of the aorta. Depending on the location and extent of aortic narrowing, surgical management may be necessary to prevent long-term sequelae, such as stroke and congestive heart failure. We report a case of MAS and discuss the unique intraoperative anesthetic considerations including hemodynamic monitoring proximal and distal to the aortic narrowing, minimizing the risk of spinal cord ischemia, and utilization of intraoperative dobutamine stress testing to guide surgical management.
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Case Reports
Remimazolam and Remifentanil Anesthetics for an Adolescent Patient with Stiff-Person Syndrome: A Case Report.
Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by fluctuating rigidity and stiffness of the axial muscles. There are no reports on the use of remimazolam in a patient with SPS. A 16-year-old Japanese woman with SPS was scheduled to undergo intrathecal baclofen pump exchange. ⋯ Additionally, electroencephalographic signature showed sufficient anesthetic depth. The patient's emergence from general anesthesia was uneventful. In conclusion, remimazolam could be considered an effective anesthetic drug for patients with SPS.
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Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an arrhythmogenic disorder characterized by episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Clinically, patients who have CPVT present with juvenile sudden death or stress-induced syncope. ⋯ Instead of a typical stellate ganglion block (SGB), the patient underwent bilateral continuous proximal intercostal blocks that successfully inhibited arrhythmogenic events. This therapeutic method may provide an alternative to SGBs and demonstrates proof of concept for an early elective intervention to be included in the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for patients with CPVT.