Journal of clinical anesthesia
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We report the use of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to guide the management of a 29-year-old primigravida at 36weeks' gestation with portal hypertension, esophageal varices, suspected pseudocholinesterase deficiency, and steroid refractory thrombocytopenia presenting to labor and delivery with worsening peripheral edema and new-onset hypertension. A multidisciplinary decision for preoperative platelet transfusion and cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia was made, guided by ROTEM. A successful cesarean delivery was performed with no bleeding complications.
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Total paraplegia after epidural or spinal anesthesia is extremely rare. We herein report a case of total paraplegia caused by a giant intradural herniation of a lumbar disk at the L3-L4 level after total hip arthroplasty for coxarthrosis. The patient had no preoperative neurologic abnormalities. ⋯ Postoperatively, the patient complained of numbness and total paraplegia of the lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a giant herniation of a lumbar disk compressing the spinal cord at the L3-L4 level. The intradural herniation was surgically treated, and the patient's symptoms completely resolved.
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Case Reports
The internal mammary artery as a shunt in a noncyanotic infant with hemitruncus: surgical and anesthetic management.
The internal mammary artery (IMA) has been used as a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt in selected patients with congenital heart disease. Growth and development of hypoplastic pulmonary arteries have been described. We discuss the surgical and anesthetic management of an infant with an atretic-thrombosed right pulmonary artery originating from the ascending aorta in whom the IMA was used to create a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt after failure of a previous shunt and later successful pulmonary artery reconstruction. The IMA should be considered as an alternative conduit in patients requiring a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt for growth of pulmonary arteries.
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Opioids cause spasm of the sphincter of Oddi. Remifentanil is metabolized enzymatically throughout the body. Its context-sensitive half-time is 3 to 4minutes. ⋯ The predicted plasma concentrations of remifentanil at the time of stopping its administration and at the time of disobliteration were 6.38and 2.55ng/mL, respectively. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. In patients who have spasms of the sphincter of Oddi during the administration of remifentanil, the resultant obstruction can be treated effectively by reducing the infusion rate of remifentanil.
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Survivors of myocardial infarction might have residual damage and higher risks of developing heart failure. This increasing complication encompasses up to 45% of all infarcts. ⋯ To guide the surgeon during the intervention we used a real-time 3D echocardiography, enlightening the fact that guidance is crucial for that kind of procedure. To lower postoperative pain and the inflammatory response we have administered successfully intravenous lidocaine, indicating that it is possible to avoid regional anesthesia in patients with multiple sclerosis scheduled for mini-invasive left ventricular reconstruction requiring a mini-thoracotomy.