BMC anesthesiology
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Review Case Reports
Ossification of the cervical anterior longitudinal ligament is an underdiagnosed cause of difficult airway: a case report and review of the literature.
Ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL) of the cervical spine is a common, but rarely symptomatic, condition mostly observed in the geriatric population. Although the condition usually requires no intervention, it could lead to a difficult airway and compromise the patient's safety. ⋯ Anesthesiologists should understand that OALL of the cervical spine could cause a difficult airway. However, it is difficult to recognize asymptomatic OALL on the basis of routine airway evaluation guidelines. For susceptible populations, a thorough evaluation of the airway, based on imaging studies and a history of compression symptoms, should be considered whenever possible. In case of unanticipated difficult intubation, anesthesiologists should refer to guidelines for unanticipated difficult airway management and identify OALL of the cervical spine as the cause.
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Review Case Reports
Severe low cerebral oximetry in difficult cardiopulmonary bypass weaning of low body-weight infant: a case report and literature review.
For infants undergoing complex cardiac surgery, hemodynamic management after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is challenging because of severe myocardial edema, vasomotor dysfunction and weak tolerance to a change in blood volume. More importantly, the lack of availability of equipment for advanced monitoring, such as transesophageal echocardiography or transthoracic echocardiography, restricts the accurate assessment of hemodynamics. ⋯ For infants who develop refractory hypotension and failure in SpO2 monitoring during the CPB weaning period, cerebral oximetry provides an index for assessing brain perfusion and valuable guidance for appropriate inotropic treatment.
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Review Case Reports
Anesthesia management in neonatal congenital bronchobiliary fistula: case report and literature review.
There is very little published literature and none that discussed care in a neonate regarding anesthetic risk and management of neonate with congenital bronchobiliary fistula during thoracoscopy and thoracotomy. This article analyzes related risk factors and literature review from perioperative ventilation, circulation and other aspects of management. ⋯ The most prominent anesthesia challenges are hypoxemia, increased airway resistance, impaired ventilation, and the risk of metabolic acidosis. Close cooperation among the entire neonatal medical team is the key factors in successful management of this rare case.