A & A case reports
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Orogastric and nasogastric tubes are routinely inserted in anesthetized patients to both reduce the volume of stomach contents and decrease the incidence of postoperative nausea. We present a case of esophageal perforation and subsequent pneumothorax after insertion of an orogastric tube in a patient undergoing routine shoulder arthroscopy.
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Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment modality used to treat various chronic pain conditions, including complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). We present a case in which spinal cord stimulation was used for the treatment of lower extremity CRPS in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis. ⋯ The sacral hiatus remained open and was used to access the epidural space, facilitating the placement of 2 thoracic epidural electrodes. The resulting stimulation controlled not only the patient's lower extremity CRPS pain but also alleviated his chronic axial pain secondary to ankylosing spondylitis.
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Prenatal assessment of a fetus with D-transposition of the great arteries demonstrated an absence of mixing between systemic and pulmonary circulations, and predicted lethal postnatal hypoxemia. A multidisciplinary meeting evaluated therapeutic options. ⋯ Prenatal delineation of pulmonary and systemic circulations in the fetus with D-transposition of the great arteries influences postnatal management. Multidisciplinary planning enhanced the perinatal outcome.
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The use of regional anesthesia including paravertebral blocks has been advocated for the treatment of pain from rib fractures in adults. Although paravertebral nerve blocks have been used in pediatric patients to manage postoperative pain for surgeries to the thorax and abdomen, their use for analgesia after rib fractures and thoracic trauma has not been reported. We report the use of a T7 continuous paravertebral nerve block for pain relief in a 5-week-old, 5-kg infant who suffered T7 and T8 rib fractures and a pulmonary contusion to the left chest secondary to a gunshot wound.