Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Case Reports
Partial displacement of epidural catheter after patient position change: A case report.
Epidural catheter migration is a well-known cause of failed anesthesia and complications. One of the factors that affect catheter movement is when patients change their position after skin fixation. We report a case of an epidural catheter placed without evidence of intravascular or subdural insertion that produced an insufficient block. ⋯ The planned operation was completed without a pneumatic tourniquet. A postoperative C-arm fluoroscopic image revealed that 1 side hole of the catheter had moved out of the epidural space. We think that a positional change after catheter fixation was the reason for catheter outmigration leading to insufficient analgesia, which was incompatible with the amount of local anesthetic injected.
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A 75-year-old man presented with dizziness and fatigue secondary to ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. He underwent an elective ablation but continued to suffer from ventricular tachycardia with cardiovascular instability despite antiarrhythmic therapy with multiple agents. The patient continued to develop episodes of ventricular tachycardia and an episode of ventricular fibrillation. ⋯ The patient demonstrated sinus rhythm with episodes of sinus tachycardia. Left stellate ganglion block has proven to be a successful mode of treatment for those patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmia resistant to medical management or those who fail atrioventricular node ablation. Ultrasound-guided left stellate ganglion block is a valuable and effective means to providing sympathectomy in the management of electrical storm or ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
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Observational Study
Gastric regurgitation in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy with a laryngeal mask airway: a prospective observational study.
The use of pneumoperitonium and the placement of patients in Trendelenburg position are commonly cited reasons for the potential development of intraoperative regurgitation of gastric contents and the need for an endotracheal tube in laparoscopic surgery. The main objective of the current investigation was to evaluate the presence of regurgitation of gastric contents in the oropharynx of patients having laparoscopic gynecological surgery with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA). ⋯ Our current results suggest that the use of an LMA in healthy patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery may be safe. Future studies to confirm or refute our findings are warranted.
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To evaluate the perioperative dynamics of hematologic changes and transfusion ratio in patients undergoing a major spinal surgery accompanied with massive bleeding defined as blood loss >5 liters. ⋯ Our results indicate that a 1:1 RBC:FFP and 4:1 RBC:PLT transfusion ratio was associated with significant intraoperative variations in coagulation variables but stable intraoperative acid-base parameters. This transfusion ratio helped clinicians to achieve postoperative coagulation parameters not significantly different to those at baseline. Future studies should assess if more liberal transfusion strategies or point of care monitoring might be warranted in patients undergoing spinal surgery at risk of major blood loss.
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We describe the first case of severe hypernatremia associated to laparoscopic surgery for hydatid cyst in an adult patient after the use of hypertonic saline solution with complete resolution. Severe hypernatremia is an unusual fact at the immediate postoperative period but may have fatal consequences for the patient and need immediate action. ⋯ The relation between this surgical technique and the severe complication is discussed. More experience is needed in terms of safety for the patient.