Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology
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Case Reports
[Awake intubation using lightwand technique under conscious sedation with remifentanil].
We experienced two cases of difficult airway due to deformities in the oral cavities. The first patient was a 62-year-old woman with a large benign soft palate tumor and the second was a 64-year-old woman with macroglossia secondary to acromegaly. Both patients were evaluated difficult to ventilate via face mask and presenting serious risks for tracheal intubation under general anesthesia. ⋯ Tracheal intubation was managed successfully in both cases and the operations were completed under general anesthesia. Although the patients were aware of being intubated, they could not recall the procedures postoperatively. The awake intubation technique using the lightwand under conscious sedation with remifentanil can be safely applied to a patient with difficult airway.
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We present a 35-year-old healthy male patient who developed pulmonary edema (PE) probably due to venous air embolism during craniotomy in the semi-sitting position for arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Anesthesia was maintained with oxygen, nitrous oxide, propofol and fentanyl. During craniotomy, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure decreased suddenly from 26 to 9 mmHg. ⋯ Transoesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheter were used. Saline was filled at the surgical site to prevent aspiration of air bubbles and surgical procedure was performed carefully without large vein injury and uneventfully. During neurosurgical intervention in the sitting position, special attention should be paid to entry of air bubbles into the venous system which may lead to PE.
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We experienced three cases of ventilatory difficulty through a Proseal laryngeal mask airway was encountered during general anesthesia using remifentanil and sevoflurane. General anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with remifentanil (0.2-0.25 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and sevoflurane (1-1.5%). Increased airway pressure was noticed suddenly. ⋯ The inability to ventilate patients with opioids has been ascribed to increased thoracic wall rigidity or vocal cord closure or combination of both factors. In our three cases, the closure of vocal cord after remifentanil administration seems to be the major cause of difficult ventilation during general anesthesia. Therefore, supraglottic airway devices should be applied with caution during general anesthesia with remifentanil and sevoflurane without muscle relaxant.
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Case Reports
[Diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava in a child using transesophageal echocardiography].
An 11-year-old boy with X-linked alpha-thalassaemia/ mental retardation symptom underwent gastrostomy. After the surgical procedure, insertion of a central venous (CV) catheter via the left subclavian vein was performed under X-ray radioscopy. However, the catheter did not move toward the right side of the heart shadow but descended caudally through the left side of the heart shadow. ⋯ Contrast echocardiography using infusion of agitated saline into the CV catheter was performed. Microbubbles flowing from the coronary sinus into the right atrium were observed, and a diagnosis of PLSVC was made. TEE is useful for diagnosis of PLSVC when passage of a CV catheter via the left subclavian vein or left internal jugular vein is incorrect in a pediatric patient.
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The present article reviewed the management of coagulopathy in the perioperative setting, following the Japanese practical guidelines for the blood component therapy, edited by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan in 2005. The threshold concentrations of platelets, prothrombin time international normalized ratio (PT-INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were optimized for the perioperative critical care under active and/or microvascular bleeding, based on currently available randomized controlled trials. ⋯ Platelet counts, PT, APTT, and if possible, other point-of-care testing including thromboelastography and its modified techniques should be performed following visual inspection of abnormal bleeding. The transfusion algorithms based on causal diagnosis of coagulopathy optimize the risk/ benefit ratio of perioperative transfusion therapy.