Journal of clinical anesthesia
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We describe a case of living unrelated renal transplantation from a non-malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptible donor to an MH-susceptible recipient, along with its intraoperative and perioperative considerations. The renal transplant recipient reported a personal history of MH requiring intensive care unit admission. A nontriggering anesthetic was therefore chosen for the unrelated donor to avoid possible triggering via the transplanted kidney to the MH-susceptible recipient. This case provides a unique opportunity to review the concepts of antigen transfer related to transplant anesthesia, as well as the importance of communication among anesthesia and surgical teams to promote patient safety.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Comparative efficacy of stellate ganglion block with bupivacaine vs pulsed radiofrequency in a patient with refractory ventricular arrhythmias.
There is increasing interest in interventional therapies targeting the cardiac sympathetic nervous system to suppress ventricular arrhythmias. In this case report, we describe an 80-year-old patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy and multiple implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks due to refractory ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation who was unable to continue biweekly stellate ganglion block procedures using bupivacaine 0.25% for suppression of his arrhythmias. ⋯ This represents the first report of a pulsed radiofrequency stellate ganglion lesion providing long-term suppression of ventricular arrhythmias. Further study of this technique in patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation is warranted.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
A comparison of the I-Gel supraglottic device with endotracheal intubation for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction coil treatment.
To compare the use of the I-gel airway with orotracheal intubation (OTI) for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) coil treatment in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with heterogeneous emphysema, since it has been proved that supraglottic airways have lower incidence of postoperative respiratory complaints compared to OTI. ⋯ The I-gel airway ensures appropriate ventilation and makes the use of the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope quite easy. Therefore, we consider that the I-gel device is an effective and safe alternative to classical OTI for airway management in COPD patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema undergoing BLVR coil treatment.
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The operating room suite can be one of the most costly units within the hospital. Some of these costs stem from postoperative unplanned admissions, case cancellations, case delays, and extended recovery room times. The objective is to determine the clinical predictors of these operating room inefficiencies. ⋯ This study reports the national incidence and various clinical predictors for these 4 operating room metrics. This can serve as both a resource for operating room managers to compare their practice to national trends and a tool for strategically identifying at-risk surgical cases.