Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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This case report describes intraoperative anaphylaxis occurring in a fourteen-year-old female with spina bifida in which latex surgical gloves were incriminated as the aetiologic agent. The patient was non-atopic but since eight years of age she had developed localized angioedema and urticarial skin reactions on exposure to rubber. She had previously undergone several uneventful surgical procedures. ⋯ Subsequent investigations for allergies demonstrated a strongly positive skin prick test and RAST to latex antigen, with negative results to anaesthetic agents, antibiotics and inhalant allergens. During two later operations prophylaxis consisting of diphenhydramine, ranitidine and hydrocortisone appeared to prevent further reactions. Latex should be considered as a cause of life-threatening intraoperative allergic reactions in patients with a history of rubber allergy or frequent exposure to latex products.
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The laryngeal mask airway consists of a tubular oropharyngeal airway to the distal end of which is sealed a silicone laryngeal mask with an inflatable rim which provides an airtight seal around the larynx. It provided a clear airway in 238 of 250 elective and emergency non-obstetrical patients for a wide variety of surgical procedures, ranging from minor gynaecological and urological procedures to major abdominal and orthopaedic surgery with either spontaneous respiration or intermittent positive pressure ventilation. ⋯ In ten patients tracheal intubation was required because of airway obstruction or a large gas leak. The LM airway does not require laryngoscopy for its insertion, it relieves the anaesthetist's hands from holding a face-mask, it cannot be misplaced in the oesophagus, and it is well tolerated during emergence from anaesthesia.
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Case Reports
Negative pressure pulmonary oedema: a potential hazard of muscle relaxants in awake infants.
We report two cases of healthy infants who were given an IV intubating bolus of a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant (0.1 mg.kg-1 vecuronium) at the beginning of an inhalational induction of anaesthesia. Shortly after the introduction of low concentrations of gaseous agents, both infants exhibited airway obstruction although inspiratory muscle activity was still vigorous. The airway obstruction was due to approximation of the tongue to the posterior pharyngeal wall, and was easily corrected by insertion of an oral airway. ⋯ It is postulated that paralysis of glossal muscles occurred prior to diaphragmatic paralysis, creating upper airway obstruction while preserving inspiratory muscle activity. This can rapidly lead to negative pressure pulmonary oedema in the small infant. Meticulous attention to the maintenance of an unobstructed upper airway is required if muscle relaxants are administered to the awake infant.
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The effects of diltiazem (1 microM) and nifedipine (1 microM) were examined separately on the in vitro halothane tests for malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility. Eighteen patients with MH susceptibility were diagnosed as MH-susceptible (MHS) according to the protocol of the European MH Group. ⋯ Furthermore, in five of the ten MHS patients tested in the presence of diltiazem as well as in five of the eight MHS patients tested in the presence of nifedipine the halothane contracture test could be classified as negative. It is concluded that the presence of clinical concentrations of either diltiazem or nifedipine in the muscle bath affects the in vitro discrimination for MH susceptibility to halothane.