Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Investigation of adverse events associated with anesthetic procedures is a method of quality control that identifies topics to improve clinical care and patient safety. Most research to date has been based on closed claim registries and anonymous reports which have specific limitations. Therefore, to evaluate a hospital's reporting system, the present study was designed to describe critical incidents that anesthesiologists voluntarily and non-anonymously reported through an anesthesia information management system. ⋯ Accurate measurement and monitoring of critical incidents is crucial for patient safety. Despite the risk of underreporting and probable misclassification of manual reporting systems, our results give a comprehensive overview on the occurrence of voluntarily reported anesthesia-related critical incidents. This overview can direct development of a new reporting system and preventive strategies to decrease the future occurrence of critical incidents.
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Case Reports
Failure of metyrosine therapy for preoperative management of pheochromocytoma: a case report.
Pheochromocytomas (PHEOS) are rare catecholamine-secreting adrenal tumours requiring surgical resection. Preoperative alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade to prevent intraoperative hypertension has traditionally been achieved with phenoxybenzamine. Due to changes in the availability of phenoxybenzamine in Canada, alternate therapies are needed for patients. We report our first experience using metyrosine, a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor, for preoperative management in a symptomatic patient with a unilateral PHEO. ⋯ In the case of this patient's PHEO, the use of metyrosine was unsatisfactory in achieving sufficient inhibition of catecholamine synthesis as evidenced by significant intraoperative hypertension. Metyrosine could have a role in preoperative management of these patients, but it may not be optimal as monotherapy for some patients with actively secreting tumours.