A&A practice
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Postintubation subglottic stenosis is one of the most common causes of stridor in newborns and babies after prolonged mechanical ventilation. Management of this pathology is complex and requires highly trained personnel because it is associated with a high rate of airway-related mortality. This article presents the rescue of a difficult airway in a pediatric patient with subglottic stenosis with a new device available on the market, the Ventrain, offering certain advantages over those available until now.
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Cervicogenic dizziness is a sensation of disequilibrium caused by abnormal afferent activity from the neck. Its diagnosis and treatment are challenging. ⋯ Subsequent repeat ablations provided the same relief lasting for 6-10 months. This case suggests that upper cervical medial branch block can serve as a diagnostic test for cervicogenic dizziness, and radiofrequency ablation of these nerves might be an effective treatment.
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We present 2 infants with the rare association of long congenital tracheal stenosis, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary hypertension. We describe a step-by-step assessment of the patients and the necessary procedures for a successful concomitant repair of both cardiac and tracheal malformations. The use of a helium-oxygen mixture (heliox) for the induction of anesthesia and pre-cardiopulmonary bypass is discussed.
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Anaphylactic reaction to gelatin-containing hemostatic agents has been reported in the orthopedic literature, most commonly during scoliosis repair in adolescents. However, the risk, differential diagnosis, and management of anaphylaxis in patients with complex congenital heart disease undergoing noncardiac procedures have not been previously reported. We describe the case of an adolescent with a history of repaired truncus arteriosus undergoing posterior spinal fusion who developed sudden and profound hypotension that was ultimately confirmed to be an anaphylactic reaction to Surgiflo. Echocardiography was used to aid in diagnosis and management of the cardiovascular effects of anaphylaxis in this patient with residual cardiac pathophysiology.
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We present a rare case of a newborn with spontaneous, noniatrogenic arterial thromboembolism in the right brachial artery and accompanying ischemic changes to the right upper extremity, who was successfully treated with microsurgical intervention and ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block with a continuous infusion of ropivacaine for 48 hours. This case report highlights the emerging role of both the microsurgeon and anesthesiologist in management of spontaneous neonatal arterial thromboembolism.