Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology
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Here we report our success in performing lateral approach tracheal intubation in a patient with severe respiratory failure due to septic shock caused by shoulder joint abscess. A 71-year-old woman presented with severe respiratory difficulty due to sepsis from a shoulder joint abscess and was scheduled for emergent drainage and irrigation. She could not breathe sufficiently in the supine position and thus maintained a semi-sitting position. ⋯ Mask ventilation was performed using the two-hand technique from the lateral approach. Tracheal intubation was also performed with a left lateral approach utilizing the Pentax-AWS Airwayscope (AWS). Lateral approach for tracheal intubation utilizing AWS may be useful in patients who present with severe respiratory difficulty.
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Here, we report successful anesthetic management of posterior cervical spinal fusion utilizing block of the frontal nerve, the greater occipital nerve, and the superficial cervical plexus in a patient with athetoid cerebral palsy. A 69-year-old woman (height 157 cm; weight 33 kg) with athetoid cerebral palsy was scheduled to undergo posterior cervical spinal fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. After induction of general anesthesia, we performed tracheal intubation using the Pentax-AWS Airwayscope with a thin Intlock. ⋯ Continuous administration of dexmedetomidine was started during operation. Following surgery, smooth spontaneous ventilation was observed following uneventful extubation. No significant pain and no athetoid movement were observed under continuous administration of dexmedetomidine.
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A 64-year-old man was scheduled for radical sinus operation. Preoperatively, we did not expect difficult airway. ⋯ We removed i-gel and fiberscope, leaving the AIC in place, and could easily advance a reinforced tube over the AIC into the trachea. Fiberoptic tracheal intubation via the i-gel and AIC is useful in a patient with difficult intubation.
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Both motor evoked potential (MEP) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) have been used for the purpose of preventing postoperative neurological complications in patients undergoing neurosurgery. Although not completely, they can detect insufficient cerebral blood flow during aneurysm surgery and carotid surgery and prevent functional deterioration during tumor resection. Regarding MEP, there are several points to be considered for maximizing the potential of MEP. ⋯ Although there is no such thing as 100% accuracy in electrophysiological monitoring, a multimodal electrophysiological monitoring system may contribute to decrease neurological deficits. Irreversible neurological deficits could be prevented by early detection of the changes in the amplitude and by prompt intervention to correct deteriorating condition. Therefore, it is important for anesthesiologists to select suitable anesthetics for the monitoring, maintain the depth of anesthesia, and discuss the patient management with surgeons.