A & A case reports
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Patients presenting with alcohol withdrawal syndrome have an increased risk of perioperative events related to hemodynamic and respiratory instability. We present the case of a 49-year-old achondroplastic dwarf in alcohol withdrawal with cervical spinal cord injury and aortic dissection requiring emergency surgery. Due to conflicting perioperative management goals, a decision was made to delay surgery until the patient became clinically stable. Additional options might have been explored and resulted in better outcome.
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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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A 4-year-old female developed hypotension, tachycardia, hypoxemia, and diffuse erythema after induction of anesthesia with ketamine, fentanyl, and cisatracurium. Treatment consisted of repeated doses of epinephrine, diphenhydramine, corticosteroids, and IV fluids. ⋯ She had experienced hypotension on the ninth exposure to cisatracurium but the decrease in arterial blood pressure was attributed to propofol. On the tenth exposure to cisatracurium, the patient developed evidence of anaphylactic shock that led to the diagnosis.
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Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has become a common procedure in pediatric surgery. We present a case of accidental intraoperative bronchopleural fistula during a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery procedure, which was first identified by the anesthesia team. We discuss differential diagnoses including the role of end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring as an aid to prompt diagnosis.