Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology
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A male patient in his thirties was scheduled to undergo adenotonsillectomy due to dyspnea from bilateral tonsillar hypertrophy. He was morbidly obese (body mass index 56 kg x m(-2)) with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and thus was evaluated with extreme risk for difficult ventilation and intubation. We planned awake intubation via video-assisted laryngoscopy and fiberoptic bronchoscopy under dexmedetomidine sedation, and the intubation was successfully performed. ⋯ On postoperative day 1, he started walking with no need of sedative drugs. On day 4, after confirmation of minimal oropharyngeal swelling, tracheal cannulae was removed, and no further complications were observed in his postoperative course. We conclude that careful preoperative evaluation of the airway, retention of spontaneous breathing via awake intubation, and preventive tracheotomy for postoperative airway management are important points in perioperative management of a morbidly obese patient with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
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Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) has been highlighted over a decade. Although perioperative stroke is obvious central nervous system pathology, POCD is often subtle and unrecognized. No consensus on the definition for POCD has been reached. ⋯ POCD often occurs frequently in elderly patients even after minor surgical procedures. POCD may last years after surgery and may impair the patient's social activity including premature departure from the workforce. Although neuroinflammation is suggested as an important predisposing factor, our knowledge on other predisposing factors is limited and effective preventive measure is unknown.
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Patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are older and more likely to have extensive vascular diseases than those referred for such procedures in the past. Undiagnosed cerebral small vessel diseases (SVD), such as lacunar infarctions or white matter lesions, and dementia are common. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) remains a major concern in these elderly patients. ⋯ Surgical procedures could exacerbate neuroinflammation and accelerate cognitive dysfunction, especially in patients with SVD and dementia. Mild cognitive impairment may serve as a surrogate marker for underlying SVD or dementia. Preoperative cerebrovascular evaluation, such as MRI, MRA, or cervical ultrasound, and cognitive screening may be effective to identify high-risk patients, making it possible to individualize surgical approaches aimed at reducing POCD.
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We encountered three cases of perioperative anaphylaxis identified by using skin-prick tests. [Case 1] A 43-year-old woman was scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy under general anesthesia for gastric tumor. However, the procedure was cancelled because of anaphylaxis that was noted at the beginning of the surgery. We performed a skin-prick test and observed a positive reaction with ro- curonium. [Case 2] A 79-year-old man underwent laparoscopic colon resection under general anesthesia for colon cancer. ⋯ We performed a skin-prick test and noted a positive reaction with latex. It is difficult to identify the reason for anaphylaxis during surgery under general anesthesia because various agents may be responsible for the anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis during surgery is a rare but life-threatening event and it is important to identify the causative agent for anaphylaxis.
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This study was designed to determine postoperative pain levels after ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery, and also to examine whether intraoperative fentanyl use during ENT surgery enhances the quality of postoperative pain control. ⋯ Prevalence of moderate to severe postoperative pain after ENT surgery was approximately 28%. Intraoperative fentanyl use was not associated with a decreased incidence of moderate to severe postoperative pain, but was significantly associated with PONV.