Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Jan 2004
Review[Intracranial and spinal subdural hematoma: a rare complication of epidural and subarachnoid anesthesia].
Subdural and epidural hematomas complicating central blocks are rare but serious complications that can lead to permanent neurological deficits. This review discusses cranial and spinal subdural hematomas, including the history of this complication in the literature. ⋯ The anatomy of tissues that envelop and contain chronic subdural hematomas are described and the various neurological alterations that can develop are mentioned. Finally, diagnostic imaging options and corrective surgical techniques are reviewed.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Dec 2003
Review[Spinal cord compression caused by hematoma related to neuroaxial anesthesia in Spain].
Spinal cord compression from a hematoma is a rare serious complication of neuroaxial anesthesia. Our objective was to investigate cases reported and published by Spanish authors. ⋯ The number of compressive spinal hematomas reported or published by Spanish authors is fairly high, and there are cases related to both sub-arachnoid and epidural anesthesia. Nonsurgical treatment was provided in 45% of the cases and the outcome was satisfactory in 70%. Risk factors were identified in over half of the reported cases.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Dec 2003
Review Case Reports[A case of "ventilation difficulty-intubation difficulty" solved with transtracheal jet ventilation].
A 56-year-old man recovering from a glossectomy and radical neck dissection presented severe oral bleeding, tracheal deviation with an asphyxiating hematoma and cyanosis. When 2 attempts at orotracheal intubation with the patient awake failed, transtracheal jet ventilation was used temporarily until a definitive airway could be established. Transtracheal jet ventilation is highly useful for managing an airway and maintaining gas exchange in life-threatening situations in which intubation and ventilation has become impossible, yet it is rarely used for that purpose. An easy, fast procedure that has not been widely used in Spain, this technique provides effective ventilation and oxygen while a definitive resolution of the emergency is sought.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Dec 2003
Review[Peripheral nerve block for surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia of the legs].
Even though peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) on the lower limb offer advantages over neuroaxial blockades and general anesthesia, their use has not been fully established. The infrequency with which PNBs are used may be due to inadequate learning, the need to make several injections, the time until onset of block, or anesthesiologists' and surgeons' lack of familiarity with the benefits of regional blocks. Interest seems to have increased in recent years, as numerous publications have focused on lower limb PNBs for surgery and postoperative analgesia. Our aim was to review the main approaches used and the indications for each.