A&A practice
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Review Case Reports
Hereditary Angioedema in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of Obstetric Anesthesia Management.
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder due to C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, causing recurrent swelling. Pregnancy can exacerbate HAE due to estrogen fluctuations alongside peripartum stress and trauma. ⋯ Angioedema prevention involves timely anesthesia consultation, accessible emergency airway equipment, early neuraxial anesthesia, planned vaginal delivery, and 48 to 72 hours of close postpartum monitoring. Readily available C1-inhibitor and a multidisciplinary approach with these recommendations are crucial for peripartum management.
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Case Reports
In-Home Intravenous Dexmedetomidine Infusion for Treatment of Dystonia: A Pediatric Case Report.
The off-label use of an intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion is an option for refractory symptoms in pediatric palliative care with a few published cases of in-home use, most limited to end-of-life care. After an intrathecal baclofen pump malfunction with meningitis and medication withdrawal, a 17-year-old adolescent with quadriparetic cerebral palsy and paroxysmal autonomic instability experienced relief of refractory pain and dystonia with an in-home intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion. His interdisciplinary care team collaborated to establish safety measures and adjust his home medication regimen to further improve quality of life well before his end of life.
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Patients presenting with large ventral abdominal wall hernias require pretreatment with injection botulinum toxin A before surgery. Currently, multipoint and multilayered botulinum injection techniques are practiced. We are describing a new ultrasound-guided, 1-point, single interfascial plane botulinum toxin A injection technique for the closure of big hernial defects.
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An esophageal bronchus is a subtype of congenital bronchopulmonary foregut malformations in which a lobar bronchus arises directly from the esophagus, creating a communication between the esophagus and lung tissue. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent worsening pulmonary sequelae but is challenging due to the rarity of the anomaly and nonspecific respiratory symptoms. We present a child whose esophageal bronchus was identified incidentally during preanesthetic assessment for craniosynostosis repair and discuss the role an anesthesiologist can play in identifying and managing this diagnosis.
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Case Reports
A Case of a Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Secondary to Chiropractic Manipulation of the Thoracic Spine.
Chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy (CSMT) of the cervical spine has been reported to cause mechanical dural injuries that result in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. We present a case of symptomatic intracranial hypotension after isolated thoracic CSMT. ⋯ Multiple epidural blood patches were attempted, including image-guided approaches and with fibrin sealant, but surgical repair was ultimately required. Our case illustrates the risk of dural tear in the setting of recent CSMT and the challenges of managing such an injury.