Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2012
Case ReportsPropofol use for sedation or sedation for propofol use?
A large amount of pharmacological and clinical evidence supports the abuse potential of propofol. Although previous case reports have indicated that recreational use of propofol is primarily by medical professionals, its spread among the general public has recently been highlighted. This is the first case report to show that cravings for propofol can be quite intense in some people, and thus propofol can be wrongfully used by clinicians who are enticed by the promise of monetary gain. Illicit diversion of propofol in hospitals has been confirmed; thus, propofol has been designated as a controlled substance in South Korea as of February 2011.
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2012
Nausea and vomiting after breast cancer surgery, and relationship with tumor receptor status.
Breast surgery is associated with frequent post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Studies have suggested that hormonal status affects PONV. Estrogen has been implicated in many emetic syndromes. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status in breast tissue are hormonally affected. Kakugawa et al., in 2007, found a clear trend toward higher serum level of estrone, estradiol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in post menopausal women with PR-positive cancer. ⋯ The incidence of PONV is higher for patients below 50 years of age. The positive association between ER positivity and PONV in patients above 50 years of age could be attributed to the altered hormonal milieu in these patients and should be investigated further.
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2012
Case ReportsPercutaneous electrode placement for spinal cord stimulation in a patient with spinal fusion: a technical report.
A spinal cord stimulation (SCS) trial was attempted to alleviate left knee pain in a patient with spinal fusion from T12 to L4. Good paresthesia coverage for the knee pain was attained with SCS. However, while removing the needle used for electrode placement, the needle became fixed in the bony supplementary tissue. ⋯ Without the hub, we had no choice but to use a pneumatic drill for removing the needle. Accordingly, the supplementary bone tissue was drilled under real-time imaging, using a pneumatic drill with a 3.2-mm drill bit, and another epidural needle was inserted through the hole. We consider that, in patients with spinal fusion, making a borehole with a pneumatic drill for introducing the epidural needle for percutaneous SCS electrode placement may be advisable in order to avoid the above-mentioned difficulties.
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2012
Case ReportsAnesthesia in an adult patient with tracheal hemangiomas: one-lung ventilation for lung lobectomy.
Primary tracheal tumors are rare in adults, and careful airway management is required during anesthesia for affected patients. We report the case of a patient with tracheal hemangiomas undergoing nontracheal operation. A 61-year-old woman was scheduled for a lung operation. ⋯ The operation was performed uneventfully, and the tracheal tube was replaced postoperatively with a laryngeal mask airway while the patient was under deep anesthesia and neuromuscular blockade. The mask was removed after confirming lack of bleeding from the hemangiomas. No hypoxia or other complications occurred during or after the operation.
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2012
Case ReportsSuccessful treatment of severe asthma-associated plastic bronchitis with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
We describe a case of near-fatal asthma requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The patient presented with severe respiratory distress, which was not responsive to conventional pharmacological therapy. The patient also failed to respond to mechanical ventilation and thus was placed on venovenous ECMO for temporary pulmonary support. ⋯ Aggressive airway hygiene with frequent bronchoscopies and application of biphasic cuirass ventilation for facilitation of secretion clearance were performed to improve the patient's respiratory status. The patient achieved a full recovery and suffered no neurological sequelae. This case illustrates that aggressive pulmonary hygiene with ECMO is a useful therapy for patients with asthma-associated plastic bronchitis.