Der Anaesthesist
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Surgical interventions in the sitting position are intended to optimize surgical conditions by reducing bleeding in the operation field and improving the surgical approach. There are, however, some potentially life-threatening risks associated with surgery in the sitting position. ⋯ In addition to standard monitoring procedures, transthoracic Doppler ultrasound and transesophageal echocardiography are valuable methods used to detect the presence of air in the vasculature. If an air embolism becomes apparent, further targeted measures are needed to prevent or aggressively treat the progression of potentially life-threatening consequences.
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Case Reports
[Severe airway distress following cervical spine operation: retrospective breakdown of the chain of errors].
A 71-year-old female patient received a prothesis due to a cervical disc prolapsed and bleeding into the collar soft tissues occurred postoperatively. Following a computed tomography examination severe peracute respiratory decompensation occurred while administering topical anesthesia to the pharynx in order to perform fiber optic intubation. ⋯ As an on-site cricothyrotomy set to establish a secure airway was not available the decision was taken to perform surgical cricothyroidotomy. As a conclusion to this life-threatening event in the case of symptoms, such as dyspnea, dysphonia and dysphagia after operations of the cervical spine the airway has to be secured early and according to the local algorithm.
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Barbiturate coma therapy is a useful method to control increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with severe brain damage if standard measures have failed to lower ICP. Pentobarbital (not available in Germany) and thiopental (in Germany only approved for induction of anesthesia) have frequently been used in patients with intracranial hypertension and the effects and side-effects are well-described. However, little is known about the effect of methohexital (the only barbiturate in Germany approved for maintaining anesthesia) in lowering increased ICP. Therefore, the effect of methohexital on ICP was studied in patients where standard measures had failed to control intracranial hypertension. ⋯ Methohexital showed a clear trend for decreasing ICP in patients with intracranial hypertension refractory to standard therapeutic measures. In survivors the effect was highly significant. Patients not responding to methohexital therapy seemed to have an unfavorable outcome.
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Awake caudal anesthesia for inguinal hernia operations: successful use in low birth weight neonates.
Neonates with inguinal hernia face a relatively high risk of incarcerated hernia and bowel obstruction and this therefore requires surgical treatment. Complications following general anesthesia even for minor surgery are more common in low birth weight neonates than in term neonates. Caudal epidural anesthesia without adjunct general anesthesia has been recommended for neonates to reduce the risk of postoperative complications. ⋯ Single dose caudal epidural anesthesia was administered for inguinal hernia surgery to avoid complications associated with general anesthesia. Caudal block was performed with 2.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) levobupivacaine. Caudal anesthesia can be recommended as an effective technique for avoiding postoperative anesthetic complications in low birth weight neonates.
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A patient received an interscalene plexus catheter before shoulder surgery. After induction of general anesthesia catheter placement was performed with Winnie's technique and 5 ml of ropivacaine was injected via the catheter. In the recovery room slight dyspnea without wheezing was observed which improved spontaneously. ⋯ The tomography scan showed epidural malpositioning of the catheter. Neuraxial complications of interscalene regional anesthesia are especially possible with medially directed insertion of the needle and have been described many times in the literature. The symptoms and recommendations for prevention are discussed.