A&A practice
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Case Reports
Electroencephalogram-Guided General Anesthesia in a Pediatric Patient With Alexander's Disease: A Case Report.
In this case, the electroencephalogram (EEG) was used to guide anesthesia care for a pediatric patient with Alexander's Disease undergoing serial intrathecal injections. Previous procedures using a standard maintenance propofol dose of up to 225 µg/kg/min led to postanesthetic recovery times of over 6 hours, requiring a neurology consult for noncoherence. The EEG assisted in guiding maintenance propofol dosing to 75 µg/kg/min, decreasing postanesthetic wash-off and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) recovery time by 50%. This highlights the potential impact of astrocyte dysfunction on anesthetic sensitivity and robustness of EEG as a biomarker of anesthetic effect, including for pediatric patients with rare neurodevelopmental diseases.
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We describe a patient with severe Arnold Chiari Malformation and syringomyelia who underwent gynecological laparoscopy in an emergency context; no brain imaging was available. We here report the successful use of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) velocity measurements as surrogate monitoring for cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure, respectively. MCA velocity was low when assessed after peritoneal insufflation and ONSD increased to 6.3 mm after Trendelenburg positioning. This noninvasive Ultrasound and Doppler neurological monitoring helped adapt the anesthetic management and the patient recovered both normal ONSD and MCA velocity values.
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Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a common treatment for severe aortic stenosis (AS), but it carries the risk of severe complications, including device embolization. We present a case of a TAVR valve embolization into the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), diagnosed with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) shortly after device deployment. The dislodged valve was successfully retrieved from the LVOT into the aorta, flattened, and stabilized with a thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) stent, enabling the successful implantation of a new TAVR valve.
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EEG-based DoA monitoring is a powerful tool for ensuring the optimal balance between maintaining unconsciousness and preventing excessive sedation during procedures. Understanding the role, indications, equipment, and troubleshooting of EEG-based DoA monitoring is necessary for the effective use of this tool in clinical decision-making.
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Case Reports
A Nonequipment-Related Line Isolation Monitor Alarm: A Problem-Based Learning Discussion.
A line isolation monitor (LIM) alarm is a device in the operating room to alert personnel to a potential fault in equipment or the electrical system. Typically, an LIM alarm is related to an electrical fault in a piece of operating room equipment. We present a case where the hazard current by the LIM briefly decreased, then continued to climb after unplugging equipment. This report aims to provide clinicians with an understanding of LIMs and an awareness that there are nonequipment causes for an LIM alarm.