Case Reports in Anesthesiology

Some controversial reports have observed oxygen desaturation (defined as percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) < 90%) during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The purpose of this pilot study was to examine oxygenation states in eight patients during ECT. In addition to the usual hemodynamic monitors and pulse oximeter, the oxygen reserve index (ORi) was monitored using a pulse oximeter. Patients received either no preoxygenation or preoxygenation with 100% oxygen via a tight-fitting mask for 1 or 3 min before induction of anesthesia...

Anaphylaxis, a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction, is a feared but uncommon complication of medications administered in the perioperative period. The incidence of perioperative hypersensitivity reactions has been reported to range from 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 1,361. Anesthesiologists are well aware of common causes of hypersensitivity such as paralytics and antibiotics; however, less common triggers of anaphylaxis need to be considered as well. Midazolam, a short acting benzodiazepine metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, is considered very safe with a minimal risk profile...

Tracheal diverticulum (TD) is a rare disease. Due to the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, the increase of routine preoperative chest CT examination has led to a higher detection rate of TD. Although TD is very rare, it is one of the reasons for difficult intubation and difficult ventilation. Improper treatment can cause severe airway emergencies such as diverticulum tearing, tracheal rupture, and subcutaneous or mediastinal emphysema. Unfortunately, there are few studies on TD, especially in perioperative airway and anesthesia management...

Foreign body ingestion remains a common cause of pediatric emergency surgery with button battery ingestion of particular concern. Newer, higher power lithium batteries can cause catastrophic damage of the gastrointestinal tract through erosion of mucosa into surrounding structures. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are paramount. We present a case of an 11-month-old with a button battery lodged in the proximal esophagus. The extraction was difficult and only made possible with the assistance of a video laryngoscope...

BACKGROUND: Surgical fires are known, preventable, and devastating complications of transoral microlaryngeal laser surgery. Several guidelines have recommended maintaining the fraction of inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2 ) at or below 30% for open delivery cases. We hereby present our experience utilizing an air/oxygen gas mixing device (blender) attached to a supraglottic manual jet ventilator during transoral laser microlaryngeal surgery in three cases to control oxygen levels. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of three cases and literature review...

OBJECTIVE: Accidental fracture of epidural analgesia catheters has a very low incidence of 2.5 per 100,000 anesthesia. A rare image of the fracture is reported. METHODS: A 42-year-old female patient was attending a cesarean section eight years earlier to her consult. In the cesarean section, she received regional epidural anesthesia, and the main complaint was low back pain, specifically between the spinous processes L2 and L3. The somatic pain had been presenting intermittently for eight years...

Lumboperitoneal shunt may be indicated as a treatment for idiopathic intracranial hypertension aiming to facilitate the dynamic flow of cerebrospinal fluid into the peritoneum for patients. Parturients with lumboperitoneal shunt are a few, making it difficult to choose the analgesic or anesthetic technique for delivery. We present the case of a successful spinal anesthesia for a cesarean delivery in a parturient who was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension that was treated by lumboperitoneal shunt...

Obtaining vascular access through a superficial vein of the abdominal wall of a gravida patient is an option in an emergency Cesarean surgery when other means fail. Such superficial veins may be mistaken for striae gravidarum on physical exam. A small intravenous (IV) cannula is not ideal but could save valuable time and avoid delaying induction of general anesthesia. Once the airway is secured, a larger bore IV can then be inserted while surgical exposure is undergoing. Analysis of the risks and benefits of inducing general anesthesia with a small gauge IV for a gravida patient should take into consideration risk factors for massive peripartum hemorrhage such as placental disorders (accreta, increta, precreta, abruption, or previa), presence of uterine fibroids, preeclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELP syndrome), severe polyhydramnios, history of grand multiparty, and bleeding disorders such as Von Willibrands and hemophilia...

BACKGROUND: Critical upper airway obstruction, hematoma formation, and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy have been reported as postoperative complications of thyroid surgery. Although remimazolam may reduce the risk of these complications, the efficacy of flumazenil with remimazolam has not been reported. We present the successful anesthesia management of thyroid surgery using remimazolam and flumazenil. Case Presentation . A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with a goiter and scheduled for a partial thyroidectomy under general anesthesia...

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is used for the photodynamic diagnosis of malignant tumors and has been effectively utilized to improve the complete resection rate and reduce the risk of tumor recurrence. However, intraoperative hypotension is a common adverse effect of oral 5-ALA, and it occasionally progresses to severe prolonged hypotension requiring high-dose catecholamine administration. We report a case of intraoperative hypotension due to oral 5-ALA in which arginine vasopressin (AVP) administration was effective for increasing the blood pressure...

Hemophilia C is a rare bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency in clotting factor XI (fXI) and has no standard of care for preoperative optimization before cardiac surgery. Normalization of fXI levels in patients with hemophilia C can be achieved with fresh frozen plasma (FFP), which sometimes results in allergic reactions. We present a case of a patient with hemophilia C requiring coronary artery bypass grafting surgery who developed an allergic reaction to FFP. Our report underscores the balance between thrombosis and bleeding risks when devising a perioperative plan for patients with hemophilia C...

Systolic anterior motion (SAM) describes a pathologic condition of the mitral valve in which the anterior leaflet is displaced anteriorly, resulting in a narrowed left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The implications of SAM may range in severity from clinically insignificant disease to severe LVOT obstruction resulting in hemodynamic collapse. While SAM is typically observed in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or following mitral valve repair, it may be seen in any setting in which the anatomy and function of the left ventricle has been altered...

This case series aims to highlight the efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in the treatment of phantom limb pain, as well as provide an alternative method for the treatment of this pain syndrome. In this report, we describe three amputee patients with severe phantom limb pain who obtained substantial analgesia and improvement in physical functionality after implantation of a temporary PNS device. Future studies should assess predictors of successful response or poor response to PNS therapy, such as mental health, environmental stressors, coping skills, and procedural factors...

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative anesthetic requirements might be altered due to the modulated metabolic function in living donor liver transplant recipients. Remimazolam may provide appropriate anesthesia in patients with cirrhosis. However, the efficacy and safety of remimazolam in liver transplant recipients have not been reported. We present the successful anesthesia management of a liver transplant recipient using remimazolam. Case Presentation . A 54-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis of unknown etiology was scheduled for living donor liver transplantation...

Symptomatic carotid stenosis and pheochromocytoma both require timely surgical intervention. Following a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a 46-year-old man was diagnosed with bilateral carotid artery stenosis and scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. He was a poor candidate for minimally invasive options due to prior neck radiation. Simultaneously, he began experiencing difficulty with diabetes management and elevated blood pressures and was ultimately diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. This unique situation required coordination to determine the appropriate timing of the two interventions...

A 15-year-old girl with congenital methemoglobinemia and no prior anesthetic history presented for the extraction of multiple impacted molars. Pulse oximetry values were expected to complicate the accurate monitoring of her oxygenation status in the perioperative period. An arterial line was placed for hemodynamic monitoring, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, and obtaining the methemoglobin (MetHgb) level and additional blood gases if clinically indicated. A continuous CO-oximeter was also used. Her intraoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged home on the same day of the procedure...

This article intended to provide an overview of the anesthetic management for a patient with Takayasu arteritis, an uncommon and challenging disease. Despite the limited literature, it becomes more evident that there is no right answer for all patients. Considering that, it is important to take into account the severity and specific features of the underlying disease to decide the best anesthetic approach. In this context, an adequate preoperative assessment focusing on cardiovascular function becomes essential...

Traumatic penetrating injuries to the back are uncommon in children. This type of injury presents many considerations for airway management to the anesthesiologist, including having to secure the airway in a prone position. Although there have been several reports about intubation in the prone position for adult patients in emergency conditions, such studies on pediatric patients are rare. We present the case of a male child with an impaled steel shaft connected to a toy car wheel in his lower back, requiring an emergent operation under general anesthesia...

Remimazolam is an ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine intravenous anesthetic characterized by rapid awakening after anesthesia. However, the method for administering remimazolam in clinical practice remains unclear. Here, we report a case of postoperative heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) after antagonizing remimazolam with flumazenil. An 82-year-old woman was scheduled to undergo lumbar laminectomy for lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Preoperative echocardiography revealed normal left ventricular systolic function, left atrial enlargement, and impaired left ventricular diastolic function...

Introduction: Orthotopic liver transplants are characterized by sudden changes in hemodynamics, intraoperative hemorrhage, metabolic and electrolyte derangements, and arrhythmias. Many of these features are also hallmarks of malignant hyperthermia episodes and make differentiation difficult intraoperatively. Additionally, the treatment for malignant hyperthermia, dantrolene, can cause hepatotoxicity in already damaged native livers and newly reperfused organ allografts. Thus, it is imperative to avoid a triggering anesthetic in these patients...