A&A practice
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N95 respirator masks are used by medical providers for respiratory protection from airborne pathogens of transmissible diseases. In extreme situations or pandemics, when N95 masks may be in short supply, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) reported that some groups created their own N95 mask utilizing an anesthesia circuit mask plus a filter for use in short but high-risk procedures. The makeshift option for personal protective equipment was tested with a qualitative respirator mask fit test.
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Cranial nerve (CN) VII palsy is a rare complication of neuraxial blockade. The likely etiology of the palsy is intracranial hypotension from cerebrospinal fluid loss leading to traction on CN VII. ⋯ We present a patient who had a dural puncture with development of a headache and CN VII palsy, which improved with epidural blood patch (EBP). EBP should be considered for patients with suspected CN palsy from intracranial hypotension.
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Case Reports
A Case Report of High Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Otalgia and Tinnitus.
Neuromodulation continues to grow in its scope and application in the relief of chronic and debilitating disorders. Both otalgia and tinnitus can be multifactorial in etiology, with diagnostic and treatment challenges. This is a case of spinal cord stimulator placement providing a patient with near total relief of otalgia, total relief of tinnitus, and mild improvement in sensorineural hearing loss. We believe that this is the first report showing benefit of high spinal cord stimulation in tinnitus, and we consider whether there are neuronal connections between upper cervical nerve roots and the auditory pathways.
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Spinal cord stimulation has been demonstrated as a therapeutic option for patients with persistent lumbar radicular pain secondary to failed back surgery syndrome. This case report demonstrates a successful percutaneous spinal cord stimulator (SCS) trial followed by surgical placement of a permanent SCS to treat lumbar radicular pain and axial low back pain in a patient with severe thoracolumbar scoliosis status after laminectomy and spinal fusion surgery. Currently, there is a paucity of literature on this topic.