AANA journal
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Dexmedetomidine was used as an adjunct anesthetic for an infant with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). who underwent complete surgical repair during a mission trip in Jamaica. Anesthetic maintenance was achieved with the concomitant use of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil infusions, as well as inhalational sevoflurane. The dexmedetomidine infusion ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 µg/kg/h and the remifentanil infusion ranged from 0.5 to 2 µg/kg/min, with end-tidal sevoflurane ranging from 0.8% to 6%. ⋯ This report includes a review of the anatomy and pathophysiology of tetralogy of Fallot, medical and surgical treatments, anesthetic management, as well as global health issues involved in caring for complex cardiac patients in this underserved population. The expertise and dedication of medical mission professionals ensures that children in developing Caribbean countries receive life-saving heart surgery that would otherwise not be available. Collaboration between pediatric cardiac surgery programs in the United States and developing programs in the Caribbean is vital to the future of a self-sustaining cardiac program that will provide the knowledge and resources to care for these complex cardiac patients.
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Morbid obesity is a relatively common and vastly increasing condition that can have a profound impact on morbidity and mortality during the administration and maintenance of general and regional anesthesia. Physiological derangements, difficult airway management, and biological augmentation in pharmacokinetics are some of the clinical challenges involved with this particular patient population. This case report discusses the advantages of regional versus general anesthesia in the morbidly obese patient population, in conjunction with an analysis of the various types of spinal anesthetics. This will be followed by a focused discussion related to the management of a morbidly obese patient undergoing a nonelective orthopedic procedure.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease that is underdiagnosed. It is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep that can last for several seconds and can subsequently cause hypoxia-related complications. This apnea can lead to significant medical problems, daytime somnolence, cognitive impairment, decreased work productivity, and an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes. ⋯ If patients who have OSA or who are at risk for having OSA are identified before surgery, anesthesia providers can take action to prevent perioperative complications. Guidelines published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists provide helpful anesthetic considerations for patients with OSA undergoing surgery in an effort to decrease morbidity and mortality. While research into the effects of surgery and anesthesia in patients affected by OSA is ongoing, compliance with these recommendations, along with vigilance, will help ensure that many patients with OSA can be managed safely during their surgical experiences.
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Case Reports
Awake video laryngoscope intubation: case report of a patient with a nasopharyngeal mass.
Difficult airway management remains central to anesthesia practice. Video laryngoscopes have been an adjunct to airway management since the early 2000s. ⋯ The purpose of this article is to summarize the use of a video laryngoscope for an awake intubation and to suggest alternative uses of these devices in other awake intubation scenarios. The case report presented offers a description of successful awake intubation using a video laryngoscope in a patient with a large pedunculated mass arising from the nasopharynx and extending down into the oropharynx.
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Current procedures for cleaning anesthesia airway equipment as assessed by the presence of visible and occult blood on laryngoscope blades and handles as labeled "ready for patient use" has been reported to be ineffective. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are 2 commonly seen pathogens that frequently are found in the healthcare setting. It has been shown that HBV can survive on a dry surface for at least 7 days and both HIV and HBV are transmitted via blood. ⋯ To prevent further potential infections, it should be ascertained why anesthesia providers are not all using disposable laryngoscope blades. The purpose of this literature review is to determine the use and infection control practices of disposable laryngoscope blades. Their frequency of use, their evaluation of ease of use, and any complications encountered when using the disposable blade are reviewed, as well as the perceptions of anesthesia providers regarding disposable laryngoscope blades.