A&A practice
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Horseshoe lung is an extremely rare congenital malformation in which the right and left lungs are fused due to stenosis of the lung parenchyma. In anesthetic management, it is important to avoid hypoxemia and hypercapnia caused by a decline in lung capacity and functional residual capacity. A 3-year-old boy with horseshoe lung and left lung hypoplasia was scheduled to undergo cheiloplasty. Regarding respiratory management, to prevent hypoxemia and hypercapnia, we avoided intraoperative peripheral airway obstruction with positive end-expiratory pressure, set a long inspiratory phase time for sufficient alveolar expansion, and maintained sufficient gas exchange in lungs with low reserve capacity.
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Case Reports
Anesthetic Care of 2 Siblings With Neonatal Ichthyosis and Sclerosing Cholangitis Syndrome: Case Reports.
We report for the first time the anesthetic management of 2 sisters suffering from neonatal ichthyosis and sclerosing cholangitis syndrome. They both presented with neonatal cholestatic jaundice and ichthyosis. The first was admitted for orthotopic liver transplantation at the age of 1 year, and the second patient underwent open pyeloplasty for a pyeloureteric junction syndrome at the age of 4 years. These 2 case reports highlight that, except for the potential difficulties with securing the catheters, dressings and endotracheal tube to the skin, the anesthetic implications of neonatal ichthyosis and sclerosing cholangitis syndrome are mainly related to the liver disease: cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
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National or international guidelines can help surgeons and anesthesiologists make treatment decisions, but the existence of conflicting recommendations can hinder treatment rather than helping. A case in point is the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease, a chronic subcutaneous infection located in the sacrococcygeal area. ⋯ Three surgical societies have proposed guidelines for treating the disease, but these guidelines vary greatly in their approach to anesthesia. Who should provide input into guidelines? And how can medical disciplines successfully collaborate? Anesthesiologists must be involved in defining perioperative recommendations not only in patients with pilonidal sinus disease.
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Whole-lung lavage (WLL) remains the gold standard in the treatment of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. However, anesthetic management during WLL can be challenging because of the risk of intraoperative hypoxemia and various cardiorespiratory complications of 1-lung ventilation. Here, we describe a novel strategy involving the application of high-frequency percussive ventilation using a volumetric diffusive respirator (VDR-4) during WLL in a 47-year-old woman with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Our observations suggest that high-frequency percussive ventilation is a potentially effective ventilation strategy during WLL that may reduce the risk of hypoxemia and facilitate lavage.
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Case Reports
Securing the Airway in Pretracheal Dermal Metastases From Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: A Case Report.
Dermal metastases reflect the ominous and aggressive spread of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. The rampant proliferation of these metastatic tumors to the neck results in respiratory distress and impending airway obstruction. ⋯ Awake tracheostomy is generally regarded as the gold standard to manage the compromised airway. However, in this unusual case, after discussion between surgeon and anesthesiologist, because of the anticipated formidable difficulties in performing awake tracheostomy, it was decided that awake fiberoptic intubation would provide the best chance of success.