A&A practice
-
The epidural blood patch (EBP) is commonly used to treat postdural puncture headaches (PDPHs) from spinal anesthesia, dural puncture with epidural anesthesia, and diagnostic and therapeutic lumbar puncture. We present a case of a patient with pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) who had a lumboperitoneal shunt placed for persistent headaches and subsequently developed symptoms similar to a PDPHs that were successfully treated with an EBP. While the exact mechanism by which our patient was experiencing PDPH symptoms is unknown, the EBP administration proved to be both therapeutic and diagnostic by ruling out shunt catheter malfunction through a resolution of symptoms.
-
A previously healthy 26-year-old man presented for elective Le Fort I osteotomy, bilateral mandibular osteotomy, and genioplasty. During the intraoperative course, the patient developed sudden bradycardia and asystole on placement of a bite block. Asystole is an extremely rare consequence of the trigeminocardiac reflex, and awareness of this potentially life-threatening complication is pivotal in its management.
-
The role of the anesthesiologist in the perioperative environment requires facility in leadership; however, leadership education is not part of the traditional curriculum for anesthesiology trainees. To address this educational gap, we developed a leadership program for anesthesiology residents at an academic medical center to build competency in the areas of teamwork, emotional intelligence, integrity, selfless service, critical thinking, and patient-centeredness, constructs that correlate with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies of interpersonal and communication skills and professionalism. This report describes the design and implementation of the program, including the curriculum, and offers recommendations for implementation at other institutions.
-
There are no case reports of malignant hyperthermia in pediatric patients treated on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We report the case of a 10-year-old boy undergoing aortic valve replacement. The patient developed progressive tachycardia and hypercarbia. ⋯ Numerous dantrolene boluses were given on CPB, and a dantrolene infusion was started. The patient's base deficit and creatine phosphokinase normalized by postoperative day 2. This case demonstrates the importance of expeditious diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia, and the need for additional dantrolene when treating patients whose blood volume is diluted on CPB.
-
Thoracic outlet compression syndrome is a complex syndrome of neurovascular compression at the superior thoracic aperture, thought to occur at 1 of 3 anatomical compartments: the interscalene triangle, the costoclavicular space, and the retropectoralis minor space. Injection into the middle interscalene muscle (ISM) and/or pectoralis muscle plane (PECS I and II) is gaining popularity because it provides significant symptomatic relief. ⋯ ISM and PECS I and II blocks with botulinum toxin type A were successful. In combination, PECS I/II and ISM injections can provide excellent symptomatic relief.