A & A case reports
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We describe the perioperative management of a patient requiring removal of a 56.7-kg ovarian cystadenoma, highlighting our techniques in managing the changes in the patient's respiratory, vascular, renal, and gastrointestinal systems due to the large mass. An appreciation of the unique physiologic and anatomical changes in patients with large abdominal masses allows for appropriate precautions in the perioperative period.
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We report the case of a 25-year-old female scheduled for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia. At the end of laparoscopy, an intraperitoneal infiltration (ropivacaine 0.75%, 20 mL) was administered by the surgeon without informing the anesthesiologist. ⋯ An infusion of 20% lipid emulsion was successful in converting the ventricular arrhythmia to a sinus rhythm. This overdose could have been avoided with better communication between anesthesiologist and surgeon.
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We present 2 cases of patients with septic shock and discuss changes in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. While previous increases in BNP in septic shock were attributed to the accompanying myocardial depression, recent work claims that high levels of BNP in sepsis are related to an alteration in the BNP clearance pathway. We postulate from these cases that increased BNP should not automatically be associated with cardiac dysfunction and may assist in an early, difficult diagnosis of septic shock.
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Hypotension or bradycardia or both related to intracranial hypotension after craniotomy has been reported in the literature. However, such reports are uncommon with thoracic epidural drains. We describe a case in which application of high negative pressure suction to a thoracic epidural drain caused a sudden decrease in arterial blood pressure.