A&A practice
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Prolonged intubation is a common cause of injury to the posterior larynx often resulting in cricoarytenoid joint (CAJ) fixation and posterior glottic stenosis (PGS). We present a case of respiratory failure due to acute bilateral CAJ fixation and PGS following only 2 days of intubation for routine cardiac surgery. ⋯ Clinicians should remain vigilant for laryngeal injury presenting as CAJ fixation and PGS. Prompt surgical consultation is advised as early intervention is associated with reduced morbidity.
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Differential diagnosis of the underlying cause of new-onset total body paralysis can be challenging and unsatisfying. In akinetic mutism, a rare side effect of tacrolimus, patients become apathetic, mute, and lose voluntary muscle movement. ⋯ Delayed emergence/paralysis after anesthesia can include the common culprits of residual operative medications, stroke, as well as tacrolimus-induced akinetic mutism and thoracic epidural migration. We present a case of new-onset total body paralysis, presenting on postoperative day 1 following a double-lung transplant in a patient started on tacrolimus with a thoracic epidural catheter in place.
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Nasotracheal intubation is an essential component of anesthetic management for intraoral and mandibular surgeries. Direct nasotracheal intubation can occasionally be difficult and require an initial oral endotracheal tube (ETT) placement with subsequent conversion to a nasal ETT. ⋯ However, execution can be challenging and limited by available resources. This report re-examines conventional oral to nasal ETT conversion techniques and describes another innovative approach utilizing equipment more readily available in the operating room or as an option when difficulty is encountered with conventional conversion techniques.
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Opioid-induced catatonia is underrecognized and poorly understood in the literature. An 81-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease stage III taking sertraline underwent surgery with general anesthesia, receiving fentanyl, hydromorphone, and ketamine. ⋯ Differential diagnoses and etiologies discussed reveal a possible multifactorial catatonia mechanism involving opioids, ketamine, and serotonin. Anesthesiologists should consider these potential interactions when using opioids for management of vulnerable patients.
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Delivering safe anesthesia care in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner presents many unique challenges. We present a case report of how an MRI-conditional anesthesia machine malfunctioned after being pulled toward an MRI scanner during routine imaging, not previously reported in the literature. This near-miss event emphasizes the continued need for staff education and vigilance.