A & A case reports
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We present the case of a 25-year-old woman with acute fatty liver of pregnancy, a rare mitochondrial disorder that manifests during pregnancy and has a significant mortality rate. Postoperative pain management is challenging for myriad reasons. With the increasing application of transversus abdominis plane blocks for postcesarean delivery analgesia, we describe the real and potential complications of this method of regional analgesia in patients with this disease.
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We describe the perioperative management of a patient requiring removal of a 56.7-kg ovarian cystadenoma, highlighting our techniques in managing the changes in the patient's respiratory, vascular, renal, and gastrointestinal systems due to the large mass. An appreciation of the unique physiologic and anatomical changes in patients with large abdominal masses allows for appropriate precautions in the perioperative period.
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We report the case of a 25-year-old female scheduled for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia. At the end of laparoscopy, an intraperitoneal infiltration (ropivacaine 0.75%, 20 mL) was administered by the surgeon without informing the anesthesiologist. ⋯ An infusion of 20% lipid emulsion was successful in converting the ventricular arrhythmia to a sinus rhythm. This overdose could have been avoided with better communication between anesthesiologist and surgeon.
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Hypotension or bradycardia or both related to intracranial hypotension after craniotomy has been reported in the literature. However, such reports are uncommon with thoracic epidural drains. We describe a case in which application of high negative pressure suction to a thoracic epidural drain caused a sudden decrease in arterial blood pressure.
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Acute aortic occlusion by massive thoracoabdominal thrombi has been reported as a serious complication in patients undergoing major vascular or cardiac surgical procedures. However, this complication occurs rarely after ambulatory procedures. In this case report, we describe a patient who experienced paraplegia after an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in whom acute aortic thromboembolic occlusion was subsequently diagnosed. We emphasize the importance of accurate neurologic and cardiovascular history taking and examination throughout the perioperative period along with the appropriate diagnostic studies to expeditiously arrive at a diagnosis of such a rare complication.