Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Case Reports
A report on the consequences of the first implanted device for long-term analgesia in refractory cancer pain.
During the early 1970s, satisfactory long-term treatment of the severe pain associated with metastatic cancer was not available. Spinal cord stimulation introduced a few years earlier in 1967 had not proven to be effective in treating nociceptive pain. We describe our pioneering experience using an implanted device to infuse local anesthetics into the epidural space and provide pain relief to the patient. ⋯ We describe the first use of an implanted epidural catheter system for long-term relief of pain due to terminal cancer that occurred at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. We contend that this event played an important role in the cascade of devices that followed and connect it to the changes in the attitude of health care providers toward treatment of cancer pain.
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Carcinoid tumors are derived from enterochromaffin cells and may release physiologically active compounds into the systemic circulation, leading to the development of carcinoid syndrome. Occasionally, these tumors metastasize to the brain, warranting biopsy or resection. In these surgical patients, the perioperative implications for anesthetic management are not heretofore defined in the indexed literature. ⋯ In our experience, carcinoid tumor metastasis to the brain-whether because of tumor makeup or prior treatment-is unlikely to produce symptoms of new-onset carcinoid syndrome intraoperatively; however, the risk cannot be completely excluded. Postsurgical prognosis was poor, both within the hospital and after hospital discharge.
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Observational Study
Endotracheal tube displacement during head and neck movements. Observational clinical trial.
Measure the displacements of endotracheal tube (ETT) tip displacement during head and neck movements. ⋯ Maximal head and neck movements led to unpredictable tube displacements. Proper reassessment of tube positioning after head and neck movement of intubated patients is therefore mandatory.
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The prophylactic use of a preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative high-dose continuous octreotide acetate infusion was evaluated for its ability to minimize the incidence of carcinoid crises during neuroendocrine tumor (NET) cytoreductive surgeries. ⋯ A continuous high-dose infusion of octreotide acetate intraoperatively minimizes the incidence of carcinoid crisis. We believe that the low cost and excellent safety profile of octreotide warrant the use of this therapy during extensive surgical procedures for midgut and foregut NETs.
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Case Reports
Pediatric awake craniotomy for seizure focus resection with dexmedetomidine sedation-a case report.
Resection of lesions near the eloquent cortex of brain necessitates awake craniotomy to reduce the risk of permanent neurologic deficits during surgery. There are limited reports of anesthetic management of awake craniotomy in pediatric patients. ⋯ There were no untoward incidents or any interference with electrocorticography, intraoperative stimulation, and functional mapping. Adequate preoperative visits and counseling of patient and parents regarding course and nature of events along with well-planned intraoperative management are of utmost importance in a pediatric age group for successful intraoperative awake craniotomy.