A & A case reports
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Despite the high impact of lapses in communication skills on patient care, these skills are often not explicitly taught in residency training programs. We implemented a simulation and web-based curriculum in communication for anesthesia residents and used a patient survey adapted from the Four Habits Coding Scheme to detect changes in patient feedback on residents' communication skills after the curricular intervention. Postintervention mean ratings of residents for the overall survey were higher than preintervention mean ratings. Future research will focus on assessing the curriculum's effectiveness and exploring the generalizability of the survey and curriculum.
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Harlequin syndrome is characterized by the sudden onset of unilateral facial flushing and sweating, often preceded by exercise, excessive heat, or, rarely, regional anesthesia. Although the exact mechanism remains unclear, it is often referred to as transient or permanent interruption of the sympathetic nervous system. We present a case of Harlequin syndrome without Horner syndrome in a patient with unilateral right-sided facial flushing that started shortly after a left-sided thoracic paravertebral nerve block for a mastectomy. We discuss the interruption of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and the levels of spinal nerve block associated with a thoracic paravertebral nerve block.
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Large head and neck teratomas are very rare. Depending on their site of origin, they can produce varying degrees of airway compromise and can interfere with the conduct of general anesthesia. ⋯ If these neoplasms coexist with cardiac lesions necessitating corrective or palliative procedures, the task of oxygenation, ventilation, and securing a definitive airway becomes challenging especially in the presence of underlying unstable hemodynamics. We report on the anesthetic management of a female infant with a facial teratoma and single-ventricle physiology undergoing a cardiac palliative procedure where securing a definitive airway with minimal hemodynamic instability was the immediate requirement.
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Patients with primary open angle glaucoma have decreased outflow through the trabecular meshwork of the eye, resulting in increased intraocular pressure (IOP). It is known that the Trendelenburg position causes increased IOP, but there are no current guidelines for monitoring and treating patients with glaucoma undergoing surgical procedures while in the Trendelenburg position. We describe a case of successful intraoperative management of increased IOP in a patient with glaucoma undergoing robotic radical prostatectomy while in steep Trendelenburg position.
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Safe anesthesia in premature and ex-premature infants remains a challenge for the anesthesiologist. These infants are at risk of postoperative apnea, desaturation, and bradycardia after general anesthesia. ⋯ None of our patients had postoperative apnea or required neonatal intensive care admission. A possible opioid and muscle relaxant-sparing effect of peribulbar block might have reduced the incidence of postoperative complications.