A&A practice
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Previous work has shown that predischarge opioid use is the most reliable and practical predictor of postdischarge opioid intake after inpatient surgery. However, the most appropriate predischarge time frame for operationalizing this relationship into more individualized prescriptions is unknown. We compared the correlations between the quantity of opioids taken during 5 predischarge time frames and self-reported postdischarge opioid intake in 604 adult surgery patients. We found that the 24-hour predischarge time frame was most strongly correlated (ρ= 0.60, P < .001) with postdischarge opioid use and may provide actionable information for predicting opioid use after discharge.
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We present a case of acute dyspnea due to postoperative oral bleeding after tonsillectomy, wherein a blood clot obscured the laryngeal structures to such an extent that no recognizable structures could be identified. A larger-bore suction catheter without side holes proved necessary to solve the problem. The case illustrates how a gradually forming blood clot can remain asymptomatic until reaching a size where it poses an airway threat and highlights the necessity for readily available larger-bore suction devices without side holes. We consider this as an important reminder of the unpredictable nature of blood clot formation and its management.
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Case Reports
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Blocks: A Case Report.
We present a case report of a consult for a gynecologic patient who presented with unrelenting postsurgical pain and previously underwent laparoscopic surgery. Given the pain distribution, we hypothesized the patient had an ilioinguinal or iliohypogastric nerve entrapment injury. ⋯ The patient returned to the operating room to release a fascial stitch, permanently relieving the pain. This is a reminder that anesthesiologists can use regional anesthesia for both diagnosis and treatment.
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Remimazolam is a new ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine sedative, the use of which has not been reported for pediatric cardiac surgery. This case report describes the use of remimazolam in a 6-year-old girl who underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery with right-sided thoracotomy for an atrial septal defect. ⋯ The patient awoke and was extubated promptly after surgery, without any serious adverse events, including intraoperative awareness. Remimazolam may be a viable option for general anesthesia during pediatric cardiac surgery.
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Case Reports
Wireless Interrogation During Cardiac Surgery For a Patient With Aveir Leadless Pacemaker: A Case Report.
Intraoperative wireless interrogation is a useful monitoring method for the leadless pacemaker (LP); however, there are few reports on this technique. A 60-year-old woman underwent cardiac surgery 24 days after Aveir LP implantation. Considering the risk of intraoperative device dislodgment and pacemaker malfunction due to electromagnetic interference, the LP was monitored by wireless interrogation via body-surface electrodes, and no device dislodgement or pacemaker malfunction was observed during surgery. Our findings suggest that wireless interrogation using body-surface electrodes on the chest is a practical and valuable monitoring technique in open-heart surgery, which lends additional safety to anesthetic management.