Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyAnalgesic efficacy and outcome of transversus-abdominis plane block versus low thoracic-epidural analgesia after laparotomy in ischemic heart disease patients.
Tranversus-abdominis plane (TAP) block is a novel technique alternative to central neural blockade in providing analgesia to the anterior abdominal wall. As such, we compared the analgesic efficacy of TAP block with low thoracic-epidural analgesia (TEA) in ischemic heart disease patients after abdominal laparotomy. ⋯ Low TEA reduced morphine consumption and provided a higher analgesic efficacy compared with TAP block after laparotomy in ischemic heart disease patients.
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2014
Case ReportsPostsurgical coagulopathy in a hemophilia A patient with inhibitors: efficacy of recombinant factor VIIa.
Perioperative hemostatic management in patients with hemophilia A who develop the coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor is challenging, because exogenous FVIII is neutralized, which boosts the inhibitor to provoke postoperative coagulopathy. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has become available for this type of patient, although FVIII is sometimes required. We treated a 56-year-old male patient with hemophilia A with FVIII inhibitor scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ⋯ The amount of bleeding during TKA was 1,340 ml, while the level of the inhibitor increased to a greater level than that after THA, provoking uncontrollable bleeding. For anesthetic management in hemophilia A patients with FVIII inhibitor, anesthesiologists must pay attention to postoperative coagulopathy, and every effort should be used to minimize exposure to FVIII. Furthermore, when rFVIIa is ineffective, postponement of surgery until rFVIIa regains its efficacy may be beneficial as compared to an operation with FVIII.
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2014
Case ReportsPerioperative management of factor XI deficiency in a patient undergoing hip arthroplasty.
Factor XI deficiency, or hemophilia C, is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder often diagnosed by inappropriate bleeding associated with trauma or a surgical procedure, and reports of anesthetic management of this disorder are rare. We experienced an 85-year-old man with femoral neck fracture who was diagnosed preoperatively with factor XI deficiency based on abnormally long activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). He was scheduled for bipolar hip arthroplasty and was prepared for surgery by transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), instead of factor XI concentrates, which are not commercially available in Japan. ⋯ Transfusion of FFP shortened the APTT to a level sufficient to allow hemostasis, although not to within the normal range. Although the patient required transfusion of 2 units of RCC postoperatively, no bleeding complications occurred. For bipolar hip arthroplasty, transfusion of FFP produced sufficient hemostasis without the use of tranexamic acid, factor VII preparations, or desmopressin.
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Over the years, a trend for very low numbers of scientific publications from Africa has emerged. There has been no evaluation of pain research publications from this region. This study was conducted to determine the African pain research spectrum over the last 10 years, to identify trends in the number of publications from different countries, to identify currently underexplored areas of pain research, and to stimulate renewed interest in quality pain research in Nigeria and Africa. ⋯ Pain research publications from Africa should be encouraged. Given the underexplored frontiers of pain research, there is a need to engage in rigorous research in this field to enhance the contribution of the African continent ("the African Voice") to worldwide advances in this respect.
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Journal of anesthesia · Aug 2014
Case ReportsAltered responses to vasopressors of a patient medicated with carvedilol, pilsicainide and enalapril.
A patient scheduled for laparoscopic rectal surgery was medicated with carvedilol, an antagonist of beta 1-, beta 2- and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, pilsicainide, a class Ic antiarrhythmic drug and enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Because the patient experienced attacks of atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response almost weekly, carvedilol and pilsicainide were continued up to the day of surgery, while enalapril was discontinued for 24 h prior to surgery. During the operation, he showed prolonged hypotension that did not respond to usual doses of vasopressors such as ephedrine, phenylephrine and dopamine but responded to higher doses of norepinephrine. Postoperatively, he was given dopamine but exhibited tachyarrhythmia until the dopamine infusion was discontinued.