Reexpansion Pulmonary Edema Occurred after Evacuating the Hepatic Hydrothorax in a Liver Transplant Patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A hepatic hydrothorax is a pleural effusion that develops in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension in the absence of cardiopulmonary disease. It is a complication of end-stage liver disease, and a liver transplant is the treatment of choice. In our case, a reexpansion pulmonary edema occurred after evacuating 4,250 ml of ascites and aspirating 3,600 ml of the pleural effusion within 15 minutes aimed at visually improving the surgical field in a 46-year-old male patient receiving a liver transplant. 1 hour 30 minutes after aspirating the pleural effusion, the level of oxygen saturation decreased from 100% to 95%, and serosanguinous fluid spilled over from the endotracheal tube. We inserted a double lumen endotracheal tube to both separate and protect the unaffected left lung, and applied CPAP 10 cmH2O at the affected right lung. The reexpansion pulmonary edema was successfully treated using this supportive management.

Anesthesia for Caffeine Augmentation in Electroconvulsive Therapy: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

The efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depression is dependent on the duration of seizure. Over a course of ECT, progressive reduction in the duration of the induced seizure is common. Caffeine pretreatment is reported to prolong seizure activity in patients experiencing inadequate seizure activity although maximal electrical stimulus for ECT is applied. The side effects of caffeine are anxiety, psychomotor agitation, prolonged seizures, enhanced hemodynamic changes and arrythmias. Caffeine is generally well tolerated by most patients, but it should be used with caution for those medically fragile patients, i.e., with preexisting cardiac disease. We describe here a case of anesthesia for ECT with caffeine augmentation. A 61-year-old man was diagnosed of major depression. Caffeine pretreatment with ECT was scheduled after antidepressants and 3 ECTs failed. Hypertension and tachyarrythmia were treated with esmolol.