Journal of clinical anesthesia
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(1) To prospectively observe and tabulate all perianesthetic complications in young infants undergoing herniorrhaphy with general anesthesia and (2) to identify all major postnatal complications and determine which, if any, might be significant risk factors for perianesthetic complications. ⋯ In a teaching hospital, prospectively observed perianesthetic complications can occur in more than 50% of infants 60 weeks PCA or younger undergoing herniorrhaphy with inhalation anesthesia. Infants younger than 49 weeks PCA with a significant preanesthetic risk factor should be monitored overnight for apnea and bradycardia.
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The case of a 3-day-old infant with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome who required anesthetic care during closure of an abdominal wall defect is presented. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome comprises a constellation of clinical features, including macroglossia, macrosomia, omphalocele, visceromegaly, mild microcephaly, facial nevus flammeus, horizontal earlobe creases, and renal medullary dysplasia. Due to the high rate of omphalocele in this syndrome, anesthetic care is frequently required during the neonatal period. ⋯ Additional anesthetic implications of this syndrome relate to the occurrence and management of hypoglycemia and polycythemia. Careful intraoperative management of glucose homeostasis is particularly important, since eventual neurologic outcome and intelligence will be normal provided prolonged neonatal hypoglycemia is avoided. Preoperative evaluation of the cardiac and genitourinary system, including echocardiography and renal ultrasound, are recommended because of the frequent occurrence of associated anomalies with omphalocele.
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Uterine inversion following vaginal delivery or during Cesarean section is rare. Cardiovascular instability resulting from blood loss is possible. This article describes the use of intravenous nitroglycerin as an alternative to the induction of general anesthesia and administration of volatile anesthetics to provide uterine relaxation.