A & A case reports
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Case Reports
Emergent Airway Management of an Uncooperative Child with a Large Retropharyngeal and Posterior Mediastinal Abscess.
Retropharyngeal abscesses are deep neck space infections that can lead to life-threatening airway emergencies and other catastrophic complications. Retropharyngeal abscesses demand prompt diagnosis and early establishment of a definitive airway when there is airway compromise. ⋯ We present the case of a 12-year-old girl with mediastinitis and tracheal compression and anterior displacement from a large retropharyngeal and posterior mediastinal abscess secondary to traumatic esophageal perforation, who received successful awake nasal fiberoptic intubation. Anesthesiologists must be prepared for airway emergencies in uncooperative patients, especially children, but there is controversy concerning the use of sedation.
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Despite the high impact of lapses in communication skills on patient care, these skills are often not explicitly taught in residency training programs. We implemented a simulation and web-based curriculum in communication for anesthesia residents and used a patient survey adapted from the Four Habits Coding Scheme to detect changes in patient feedback on residents' communication skills after the curricular intervention. Postintervention mean ratings of residents for the overall survey were higher than preintervention mean ratings. Future research will focus on assessing the curriculum's effectiveness and exploring the generalizability of the survey and curriculum.
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Harlequin syndrome is characterized by the sudden onset of unilateral facial flushing and sweating, often preceded by exercise, excessive heat, or, rarely, regional anesthesia. Although the exact mechanism remains unclear, it is often referred to as transient or permanent interruption of the sympathetic nervous system. We present a case of Harlequin syndrome without Horner syndrome in a patient with unilateral right-sided facial flushing that started shortly after a left-sided thoracic paravertebral nerve block for a mastectomy. We discuss the interruption of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and the levels of spinal nerve block associated with a thoracic paravertebral nerve block.
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Case Reports
Anesthesia for Potts Shunt in a Child with Severe Refractory Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
Childhood idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive and fatal disease. When pulmonary artery pressures become suprasystemic and refractory to medical management, atrial septostomy can be recommended for bridging patients to lung transplantation. ⋯ The placement of a Potts shunt converts the child to Eisenmenger physiology, which is anticipated to provide an improved quality and duration of life. We present the first description of anesthetic management of a child undergoing surgical Potts shunt for pulmonary arterial hypertension and summarize the multiple, unique intraoperative considerations.
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Safe anesthesia in premature and ex-premature infants remains a challenge for the anesthesiologist. These infants are at risk of postoperative apnea, desaturation, and bradycardia after general anesthesia. ⋯ None of our patients had postoperative apnea or required neonatal intensive care admission. A possible opioid and muscle relaxant-sparing effect of peribulbar block might have reduced the incidence of postoperative complications.