Journal of anesthesia
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2016
Are prehospital airway management resources compatible with difficult airway algorithms? A nationwide cross-sectional study of helicopter emergency medical services in Japan.
Immediate access to the equipment required for difficult airway management (DAM) is vital. However, in Japan, data are scarce regarding the availability of DAM resources in prehospital settings. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Japanese helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are adequately equipped to comply with the DAM algorithms of Japanese and American professional anesthesiology societies. ⋯ In Japan, compliance with standard airway management algorithms in prehospital settings remains difficult because of the limited availability of alternative ventilation equipment and back-up personnel. Prehospital health care providers need to consider the risks and benefits of performing endotracheal intubation in environments not conducive to the success of this procedure.
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A 49-year-old Chinese female underwent elective laparoscopic assisted Whipple's surgery lasting 12 h. This was complicated by postoperative pressure alopecia at the occipital area of the scalp. Pressure-induced hair loss after general anaesthesia is uncommon and typically temporary, but may be disconcerting to the patient. We report this case of postoperative permanent pressure alopecia due to its rarity in the anaesthesia/local literature, and review the risk factors for its development.
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2016
Case ReportsAnesthetic management of nonintubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using epidural anesthesia and dexmedetomidine in three patients with severe respiratory dysfunction.
Nonintubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been reported to be safe and feasible for patients with various thoracic diseases, including those who have respiratory dysfunction. In nonintubated VATS, it is important to maintain spontaneous respiration and to obtain a satisfactory operating field through adequate collapse of the lung by surgical pneumothorax. Therefore, we need to minimize the patient's physical and psychological discomfort by using regional anesthesia and sedation. ⋯ Here, we report three patients with severe respiratory dysfunction who underwent nonintubated VATS for pneumothorax using epidural anesthesia and DEX. In all three patients, DEX infusion was started after placement of an epidural catheter and was titrated to achieve mild sedation, while maintaining communicability and cooperation. This seems to be a promising strategy for nonintubated VATS in patients with respiratory dysfunction, as well as patients with normal respiratory function.
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Journal of anesthesia · Apr 2016
Case ReportsCombined nephrectomy and aortic valve replacement: perioperative decision-making.
Open heart surgery and urologic surgery may be required for patients with coincident diseases. We report a patient who suffered from aortic valve stenosis which was asymptomatic barring atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Traditionally, severe cardiac disease is addressed first before conducting elective noncardiac surgery; however, this option was not available since the patient already had a perinephric hematoma which could bleed more when subjected to systemic heparinization for cardiopulmonary bypass. Here, we describe the process of perioperative decision-making involving multiple specialities and re-examine several guidelines.