A & A case reports
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Accidental inhalation of powder is a potential problem for infants. The clinical effects of inhaling powder depend on the powder contents, degree of aspiration, and the child's underlying systemic response. We present a case of accidental inhalation of rice starch powder in a 17-month-old girl, which led to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome responsive to conventional treatment, ultimately requiring venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
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As the population ages, geriatric patients with preexisting cardiac disease are presenting for noncardiac surgery in escalating numbers. The decision to proceed with surgery in such patients often is multifactorial. ⋯ However, both patients died postoperatively because of their comorbidities. Although published guidelines are sparse, we hope this report will increase awareness and discussion about caring for geriatric patients with severe aortic stenosis.
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The Bispectral Index™ monitor, an electroencephalographic-derived parameter, can quantify hepatic encephalopathy cerebral function recovery and differentiate between West Haven grades 1 to 4. I report a very peculiar "plateau" phenomenon of 3 clear distinct plateaus of stepwise albumin dialysis Bispectral Index hepatic encephalopathy recovery during an 8-hour Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System™ (MARS™) liver-assist extracorporeal detoxification, manifesting in conjunction with 3 West Haven grade recoveries. In the patients, I observed recovery of cerebral function after hepatic encephalopathy as a series of plateaus with abrupt transitions between the plateaus, rather than the gradual recovery I anticipated.
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Academic anesthesia departments have management responsibilities (e.g., coordinating sedation, directing the operating rooms [ORs], informatics, ongoing professional performance evaluation, staff scheduling, and workroom inventory management). For each of the 64 faculty, a survey sampled 10 weekdays and 4 weekend days of professional activity over N=56 days. ⋯ Corresponding bootstrap limits were 107%, 89%, and 90%, respectively. Thus, although our College of Medicine tripartite mission includes clinical care, education, and research, administrative activities constitute a "fourth mission" of our department.
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The number of patients with noncardiac implantable electronic devices is increasing, and the absence of perioperative management standards, guidelines, practice parameters, or expert consensus statements presents clinical challenges. A 69-year-old woman presented for latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction. The patient had previously undergone implantation of a spinal cord stimulator, a gastric pacemaker, a sacral nerve stimulator, and an intrathecal morphine pump. ⋯ Bipolar cautery was used intraoperatively. Postoperatively, all devices were interrogated to ensure appropriate functioning before home discharge. Perioperative goals include complete preoperative radiologic documentation of device component location, minimizing electromagnetic interference, and avoiding mechanical damage to implanted device components.