BMJ case reports
-
Uvular necrosis following endotracheal general anaesthesia is a rare complication. We report two cases of uvular and soft palate necrosis after atraumatic intubation with endotracheal tube and, in the second case, laryngeal mask airway.
-
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is characterised by severe thunderclap headache with associated characteristic transient, multifocal, segmental vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries lasting several weeks to months. We describe a 50-years old woman who presented with a severe sudden onset occipital headache. ⋯ The pain improved gradually over the next 6 weeks. Repeat brain MR angiography at 12 weeks showed complete resolution of the segmental narrowing.
-
A young man presented with a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and vomiting. He also had shortness of breath with right-sided pleuritic chest pain. On examination he was found to have a rigid and diffusely tender abdomen. ⋯ His postoperative course was uneventful. Pneumothorax is a rare complication of perforated duodenal ulcer and should be kept in mind while assessing patients who present with abdominal pain and dyspnoea. We have discussed various possibilities that should be considered in patients who present with a concomitant pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum.
-
Case Reports
Intraoperative hypercarbia and massive surgical emphysema secondary to transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS).
We describe a case where full-thickness excision of a rectal lesion caused massive surgical emphysema and subsequent hypercarbia with associated difficulties with ventilation. This unique case highlights the risks of respiratory failure with extraperitoneal insufflation as in this case and as more commonly with intraperitoneal insufflation. ⋯ We reviewed the literature in order to understand the case and to highlight factors that should minimise any adverse sequelae. In the presence of ventilatory difficulties secondary to postoperative surgical emphysema, whether via extraperitoneal insufflation as described here or with intraperitoneal insufflation (as in laparoscopy), consider decreasing gas pressures, expediting the procedure, delaying extubation and prolonged close monitoring in recovery with possible admission to a high dependency unit (HDU) or intensive care unit (ICU).
-
Summary A 19-year-old woman with asphyxiation complicated by cardiac arrest, following an unsuccessful suicide attempt by hanging, developed an uncommon complication of trauma-induced thyroid storm. She was initially admitted to the intensive care unit intubated and mechanically ventilated for postcardiac arrest management. ⋯ Treatment with β-blockers and a thionamide resulted in the eventual resolution of her thyroid storm state and normalisation of her thyroid function. We conclude that traumatically induced thyroid storm should be considered in all hypermetabolic patients following blunt neck injuries including hanging, and that traditional treatment of hyperthyroidism can be successfully applied.