A & A case reports
-
We documented brachial plexus injury by electromyography and magnetic resonance imaging secondary to needle sticks for central line insertion. This type of complication is rare in the literature, as few case reports exist. Brachial plexus injury can happen because of anatomic variations. ⋯ Pain that emerges in the ipsilateral arm after subclavian catheter placement should be taken into serious consideration. It is important to identify the cause of pain as soon as possible so that the correct treatment can be efficiently provided. Use of an ultrasound-guided catheterization may be a better choice for preventing complications.
-
Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange has been shown to improve oxygenation and increase apnea time in difficult airway cases. It may also be beneficial in patients vulnerable to rapid desaturation due to limited pulmonary reserve. We report the use of transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange for preoxygenation before a cesarean delivery under general anesthesia in a patient with respiratory distress because of pneumonia and heart failure from severe mitral stenosis. To our knowledge, the use of this technique has not been previously reported in pregnant patients.
-
A 2-year-old child presented with an airplane game piece from the board game Monopoly lodged in her esophagus. The airplane's wings, engines, and winglets acted like fish hooks that entered the esophageal mucosa easily but were difficult to extract. ⋯ Deliberate deep placement of the endotracheal tube facilitated surgical manipulation. This case report highlights the importance of teamwork, communication, and the involvement of multiple disciplines, each with their unique experience and expertise, to formulate a plan of action for patients during unique surgical emergencies.
-
This is a rare presentation of a morbidly obese male with a massive retropharyngeal goiter causing laryngeal compressive symptoms and unique airway management challenges. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed a retropharyngeal mass circumferentially compressing the oropharynx and supraglottis and preventing the visualization of the glottis. ⋯ Extensive retropharyngeal extension can cause supraglottic obstruction of the airway. In these cases, optimal management consists of a closely coordinated approach between anesthesia and surgery teams to establish a surgical airway.
-
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder predisposing to aortic and arterial aneurysms. Presentations are classified into subtypes based on gene mutations. ⋯ We report successful management of an elective cesarean delivery in a 16-year-old patient with LDS type IV using epidural anesthesia. Perioperative considerations and multidisciplinary management specific to taking care of parturients with LDS are discussed.