A&A practice
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Brachial plexus avulsion injuries result in permanent motor and sensory deficits, leading to debilitating symptoms. We report the case of a 25-year-old man with chronic pain following right-sided C5-T1 nerve root avulsion without evidence of peripheral nerve injury. ⋯ These results agree with data suggesting collateral sprouting of sensory nerves occurs following a brachial plexus injury. Further study is needed if we are to understand the mechanisms of the peripheral nerve stimulator as a treatment option.
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Case Reports
Long Duration of Action of Tranexamic Acid After Cardiac Surgery in a Hemodialysis Patient: A Case Report.
A 61-year-old woman with chronic renal dysfunction was scheduled to undergo aortic valve replacement. After a bolus of 1 g tranexamic acid (TXA), the TPA (tissue-plasminogen activator)-test result with the ClotPro system demonstrated extensive inhibition of fibrinolysis. ⋯ Although TXA levels dropped to 6.9 μg/dL after hemodialysis on postoperative day (PoD) 1, fibrinolytic shutdown on the TPA-test remained unchanged until PoD 2. In dialysis patients, low-dose TXA <1 g may be considered for reducing seizure and thromboembolic complications after cardiac surgery.
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Case Reports
Refractory Hypoxemia on VV-ECMO: Repetition of a Structured Approach Is Paramount: A Case Report.
Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is increasingly used to manage severe respiratory failure. Unfortunately, refractory hypoxemia often complicates VV-ECMO support. ⋯ Frequent recalculation of cardiac output and oxygen delivery enabled early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. We highlight the need for a structured and oft-repeated approach to this complex problem.
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Administering sugammadex to reverse neuromuscular blockade can cause marked bradycardia and rarely asystole. In this case, a rapid onset, biphasic heart rate response; slowing then speeding, after administering sugammadex was noted while at steady state, 1.3% end-tidal sevoflurane. ⋯ No other events, drugs, or stimuli coincided with the event. The acute onset and transient nature of the atrioventricular block without evidence of ischemia implies a brief parasympathetic effect on the atrioventricular node after sugammadex administration.
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A peripheral nerve block may be used to improve patient tolerance of awake intubation. During an awake intubation, the glossopharyngeal, superior laryngeal, and recurrent laryngeal nerves can mediate discomfort, pain, cough, glottic closure, and gag reflexes. ⋯ The glossopharyngeal nerve block was performed via the parapharyngeal space approach targeting the distal glossopharyngeal nerve. This procedure resulted in an uneventful awake intubation.