Indian journal of anaesthesia
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This case report exemplifies how the anaesthetic technique of general anesthesia with continuous bilateral femoral nerve block for bilateral knee arthroplasty was well chosen for the management of perioperative complications in an elderly patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). A 69-year-old female patient of HOCM was scheduled for bilateral total knee replacement. Echocardiography revealed severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with peak systolic gradient of 56 mmHg. ⋯ This complication was successfully managed without interrupting the management of pain. Management of patients with HOCM for noncardiac surgery requires knowledge of variable presentation of two forms of disease. Also, this case report highlights the practical advantage of continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB)s over epidural anaesthesia.
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An electrical storm is usually associated with catecholaminergic surge following myocardial ischaemia and manifest as recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, requiring frequent DC shocks. Delivering repeated DC shocks induces myocardial damage and further worsens the arrhythmias, which are resistant to the antiarrhythmic drugs. Cardiac sympathetic blockade abates the excessive catecholaminergic drive and help pacifying the malignant ventricular arrhythmias. ⋯ The ultrasonography during blockade of the stellate ganglion enhances the success rate of the technique, reduces the quantity of local anaesthetic required to produce desired effects and prevents technical complications. Supraclavicular surgical access to the upper thoracic sympathetic chain obviates the necessity for one lung ventilation and lateral decubitus during surgery, when the patient is in hemodynamically unstable condition. Sympathectomy can be performed under general anaesthesia taking cautions to avoid sympathetic stimulation in intraoperative period.
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Unanticipated difficult tracheal intubation remains a primary concern of anaesthesiologists and upper lip bite test (ULBT) is one of the assessments used in predicting difficult intubation. In this study, we aimed to check the utility of lateral neck X-ray measurements in improving the diagnostic value of the ULBT. ⋯ Although all the tests used had relatively acceptable predictive values, combination of tests appeared to be more predictive. Highest sensitivities were observed with ULBT, mandibulohyoid distance and thyromental distance respectively. Use of radiological parameters may not be suitable as screening tools, but may help in anticipating and preparing for a difficult scenario.
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Although different techniques have been developed for administering combined spinal epidural (CSE) anaesthesia, none can be described as an ideal one. ⋯ SDT is an acceptable alternative to DST and SST.
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During the inhalation of anaesthesia use of low fresh gas flow (0.35-1 L/min) has some important advantages. There are three areas of benefit: pulmonary - anaesthesia with low fresh gas flow improves the dynamics of inhaled anaesthesia gas, increases mucociliary clearance, maintains body temperature and reduces water loss. ⋯ Nevertheless, anaesthesia with high fresh gas flows of 2-6 L/min is still performed, a technique in which rebreathing is practically negligible. This special article describes the clinical use of conventional plenum vaporizers, connected to the fresh gas supply to easily perform low (1 L/min), minimal (0.5 L/min) or metabolic flow anaesthesia (0.35 L/min) with conventional Primus Draeger(®) anaesthesia machines in routine clinical practice.