A & A case reports
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Peripherally inserted central catheters are being used in increasing numbers. Common (thrombosis, infection, phlebitis, malfunction, or disconnection) and rare complications (pericardial tamponade) have been well explored. ⋯ We conclude that vascular access is more than "just" placing a catheter; it can have serious clinical impact and has evolved into a specialist skill. With increasing use of intravascular catheters, the need for a formalized training becomes urgent.
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Plagiarism by residency applicants in their personal statements, as well as sites that sell personal statements, have been described, and led in 2011 to advice to avoid plagiarism and the caution that plagiarism detection software was available. We screened personal statements of 467 anesthesiology residency applicants from 2013-2014 using Viper Plagiarism Scanner software, and studied them for plagiarism. ⋯ Plagiarized content ranged up to 58%. Plagiarism continues to occur in anesthesiology residency personal statements, with a higher incidence among graduates of non-United States medical schools.
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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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Large head and neck teratomas are very rare. Depending on their site of origin, they can produce varying degrees of airway compromise and can interfere with the conduct of general anesthesia. ⋯ If these neoplasms coexist with cardiac lesions necessitating corrective or palliative procedures, the task of oxygenation, ventilation, and securing a definitive airway becomes challenging especially in the presence of underlying unstable hemodynamics. We report on the anesthetic management of a female infant with a facial teratoma and single-ventricle physiology undergoing a cardiac palliative procedure where securing a definitive airway with minimal hemodynamic instability was the immediate requirement.