Journal of clinical anesthesia
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We present a rare case of coronary artery spasm during spinal anesthesia in a patient who had neither complications nor prior history of coronary artery disease. Some factors are involved in the occurrence of perioperative coronary artery spasm. ⋯ Although spinal anesthesia by itself has not been reported to be a cause of coronary artery spasm, it is likely, in the current case, that the combination of the activated parasympathetic nerve system by the retraction of the peritoneum and spinal anesthesia might have caused the coronary artery spasm. Anesthesiologists need to be aware that coronary artery spasm may occur during spinal anesthesia, especially when the peritoneum is retracted.
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Review Comparative Study
Effects of regional anesthesia on perioperative outcome.
To provide an overview of current knowledge, this article reviews experimental and clinical data from investigations examining effects of regional anesthesia on perioperative morbidity in specific physiologic systems. The issues of morbidity and mortality following general and regional anesthesia are addressed, as are the development of perioperative thromboembolism and blood loss, which are known to be increased during general anesthesia. Finally, the effects of regional anesthesia on the vascular system, the perioperative stress response, and the pulmonary function are discussed.
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Venous air embolism is a potentially fatal complication. In a patient undergoing extensive debridement of an open perineal wound, hemodynamically significant air embolization occurred during use of a pulsatile saline irrigation device. We describe another intraoperative setting in which venous air embolism is a risk.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of esophageal, tympanic, and forehead skin temperatures in adult patients.
To compare esophageal, tympanic membrane, and forehead skin temperatures in patients undergoing elective surgeries. ⋯ There was a lack of precision between the clinically accepted measurements (lower esophageal and tympanic membranes and the skin temperature measurement. The data suggest that forehead skin temperature is not interchangeable with standard core temperature measurements, and that sole reliance on the forehead skin measurement in the perioperative setting could adversely affect patient care.