Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Lumbar discography is a diagnostic modality to determine whether the intervertebral disc is the cause of pain. The injection of radiopaque contrast into the nucleus pulposus of the disc can reveal the internal details of the disc. We describe a case of inadvertent lumbar discogram resulting from an attempted lumbar interlaminar epidural injection at L5-S1 under fluoroscopy. ⋯ Hence, the patient did not suffer from postdural puncture headache. The needle was probably inferior to the nerve root, and no obvious nerve root trauma or irritation occurred. This potential triangle may provide alternative access for lumbar discography at the L5-S1 level.
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To determine whether postoperative "difficult airway" letters, which inform a patient that he has a difficult airway, are an effective way to communicate with patients and future caregivers. ⋯ The majority of patients who were sent a "difficult airway" letter did not obtain a MedicAlert bracelet, although frequently recommended. However, most of the patients who subsequently had surgery informed their anesthesiologist or surgeon of their airway history. "Difficult airway" letters may have significant utility even if patients do not obtain identifying jewelry.
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Anticipatory decision-making in airway management requires the integration of both history and physical examination findings. Though all airways can be managed along some branch of the American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) Difficult Airway Algorithm, by predicting specific difficulties and integrating this information into an airway approach strategy, emergency branches of the ASA algorithm may be avoided. ⋯ A positive answer to any question leads the clinician to the next, whereas a negative answer directs the operator to a root point of the ASA algorithm. The AAA is introduced with the anticipation that trainees in Anesthesiology, as well as others, will find it helpful in organizing preoperative information concerning the airway.
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Case Reports
Acute respiratory distress syndrome of the contralateral lung after reexpansion pulmonary edema of a collapsed lung.
To report that leukocyte-mediated acute injury may develop in a nonhypoxic lung after hypoxia-reoxygenation injury of the hypoxic lung and in other systemic organs in patients with reexpansion pulmonary edema. ⋯ The hypoxia-reoxygenation injury of one lung can induce acute lung injury in the other lung and systemic organ injury.