A & A case reports
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Aortic root abscess is a complication of aortic valve endocarditis that is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis usually is made with transesophageal echocardiography, which is highly sensitive and specific for the disease. ⋯ The diagnosis was made by the use of transesophageal echocardiography but surgical inspection revealed that the paravalvular fluid collection was excessive surgical adhesive. We discuss the clinical significance and differential diagnosis of aortic root abscess in the setting of infective endocarditis.
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Case Reports
Spinal Cord Stimulation Treatment for Persistent Pain After a Burn Injury: A Case Report.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is used to treat neuropathic pain, but there are no published studies on its use to treat burn pain. We used SCS to treat a 67-year-old man suffering from burn pain that could not be managed with high-dose opioids or adjuvant neuropathic analgesics. ⋯ He underwent permanent implantation of a SCS and achieved an opioid-free state. This case suggests that SCS treatment is a therapeutic option for burn pain refractory to conventional therapy.
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Effective communication with patients is essential to quality care. Obviously, language barriers significantly impact this and can increase the risk of poor patient outcomes. ⋯ Although quite beneficial, use of technology that is not validated exposes providers to unnecessary medicolegal risk. We hope to highlight the need for validation of such technology to ensure that these tools are an effective way to accurately communicate with patients in the perioperative setting.
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In recent years, the technique of combined ultrasound and electrical stimulation-guided nerve block has been recommended. We present 2 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who exhibited different muscle responses to nerve stimulation during the performance of peripheral nerve blocks for surgeries. Whereas a 2-year-old boy without severe disability showed the expected muscle contraction to electrical nerve stimulation, a 14-year-old boy with severe disability showed no muscle response. Our experience suggests that muscle responses to electrical nerve stimulation will vary with the stage of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Case Reports
Intravenous Caffeine Rescue for Postoperative Hypoventilation in a 16-Year-Old With Trisomy 10: A Case Report.
Trisomy 10 is a rare disorder, with only 35 cases reported in the literature. Anesthetic management may be challenging in this patient population because of craniofacial, cardiac, and renal abnormalities commonly seen in the disorder. We describe a 16-year-old male with an anesthetic history notable for prolonged emergence, postoperative hypoxia, postoperative reintubation, and unexpected hospital admission presenting for dental extraction of impacted teeth. We utilized intravenous caffeine, a respiratory stimulant used in preterm infants, to facilitate recovery from anesthesia.