Journal of clinical anesthesia
-
Case Reports
Pneumocephalus following the treatment of a postdural puncture headache with an epidural saline infusion.
We report a case of pneumocephalus following the attempted treatment of a postdural puncture headache by a continuous epidural saline infusion. Within 1 hour of infusion, symptoms of a severe headache, nausea, and vomiting prompted a computerized tomographic scan of the head that showed 12 to 15 ml of air in the cranium. ⋯ A saline bolus and infusion were initiated after confirmation of correct placement of the epidural catheter. We suggest that air passed from the negative-pressure epidural space through the dural puncture created by the diagnostic spinal tap, producing a pneumocephalus.
-
To determine the types of discrepant data during intraoperative pulse oximetry and their frequency and duration. ⋯ Pulse oximeters frequently report discrepant data intraoperatively, most frequently during emergence from anesthesia. An alarm delay triggered by discrepant data and lasting 12 to 30 seconds would keep most discrepant data from becoming false alarms and, thus, may reduce distracting sound pollution in the operating room.
-
Case Reports
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: anesthetic care prior to transplantation or surgical palliation.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is the most common lethal cardiac defect in neonates. Options for treatment include cardiac transplantation and surgical palliation. ⋯ During this time, anesthetic care may be required for various surgical procedures. Associated anomalies seen in these infants and the anesthetic implications imposed by the abnormal cardiac anatomy are discussed.