General Anaesthesia for emergency caesarian section in a patient with Eisenmenger's Syndrome and Pre-eclampsia

Pregnancy is poorly tolerated in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome [ES] with maternal mortality of 30-50%. Physiological changes of pregnancy decreases systemic vascular resistance that further aggravates the bi-directional or right to left shunt associated with ES. When it occurs with eclampsia, the morbidity and mortality are even higher. We report a case of 30 weeks pregnant woman with ES, who underwent emergency caesarian section because of pre-eclampsia. The intra-operative course was uneventful but she died on the second post-operative day. Post-operatively she was managed by the cardiologist in the coronary care unit. The probable cause being that she was over transfused, as the fluid status was not assessed by any invasive monitoring [like CVP]. It was concluded that patients should be monitored closely in the post-operative period in the intensive care unit with complete invasive monitoring for up to a week to prevent factors resulting in worsening of the shunt [such as fluid balance] and thromboembolic phenomenon

Risk of developing right bundle branch block [R. B. B. B.] and complete heart block [C. H. B.] during pulmonary artery catheterization in open heart surgery patients

To analyze the incidence and associated haemodynamic disturbances of a new Right Bundle Branch Block [R.B.B.B] induced by Pulmonary Artery Catheter [P.A.C] with a particular emphasis in patients with preexisting Left Bundle Branch Block [L.B.B.B.] in a prospective manner. To establish whether prophylactic placement of a ventricular pacemaker in patients with pre existing L.B.B.B. during pulmonary artery cotheterization is necessary. The study was conducted at the department of Anaesthesiology and intensive care of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Pulmonary artery catheterization was performed in 125 adult patients who underwent various open heart surgical procedures. Outcome studied: Incidence of new R.B.B.B induced by P.A.C. and its associated haemodynamic disturbances with a particular emphasis in patients with a pre existing L.B.B.B. was recorded. New R.B.B.B. occurred in 13 [10.4%] patients while none of the 1 1 patients with a preexisting R.B.B.B. developed C.H.B. during the procedure. Development of new block was not associated with any haemodynamic disturbance. Prophylactic temporary pacing is recommended in patients having a pre-existing R.B.B.B. before placement of P.A.C. in previous studies. However, our study does not show that previous R.B.B.B. is at risk of developing complete heart block [C.H.B.] during the procedure. In view of grave consequences of C.H.B. It is recommended that facilities of pacing should be on board in case it happens

Complications of pulmonary artery catheterization: a prospective study in open heart surgery patients

Pulmonary artery was catheterized in 125 adult patients undergoing various open-heart surgical procedures for perioperative haemodynamic monitoring. A standard approach to right internal jugular vein was used in all patients. Complications noted were related either to central venous access, pulmonary artery catheter [PAC] threading and during stay of catheter in the pulmonary artery. Post-operatively, X-ray chest was done in every patient and tip of the catheter was sent for culture once the PAC was removed. There was 8.8 percent incidence of inadvertent carotid artery puncture. Pneumothorax occurred in one patient. Arrhythmias occurred in 49.6 percent of the patients. New right bundle branch block occurred in 10.4 percent of the patients, while none of the 11 patients with a pre-existing left bundle branch block developed complete heart block during pulmonary artery catheterization. There was no incidence of pulmonary artery rupture associated with the use of PAC. There was a 9.6 percent incidence of PAC colonization, which was seen on culture of catheter tip. This investigation revealed a low incidence of morbidity associated with the use of PAC

Combined carotid endarterectomy and myocardial revascularization - anaesthetic management

Coronary and carotid artery disease frequently coexist. When a patient who requires myocardial revascularization is found to have significant carotid artery disease as well it raises the question that whether simultaneous or staged operations should be done. Anaesthetic management of a case of simultaneous myocardial revascularization and carotid endarterectomy is being presented

Value of routine pre-operative chest x-ray in patients over the age of 40 years

The overall usefulness of routine chest X-ray, its cost benefit ratio and effect on anaesthetic management in patients over the age of 40 years was assessed. Four hundred and seventy-seven consecutive patients undergoing elective non-cardiopulmonary surgery with no cardiopulmonary diseases, having a routine preoperative chest x-ray were selected at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Twenty five [5.2%] were excluded from the study as their chest x-ray were not available at the time of surgery. Twenty eight [8.3%] below and 33 [28.7%] above 60 years of age had abnormalities in chest x-ray but the difference in cardiac abnormalities in two age groups was insignificant. The frequency of lung field abnormalities increased with age from 3.2% in less than 60 to 15.6% in patients above 60 years of age. The difference in frequency of occurrence of lung field abnormalities was statistically significant in case of lung abnormalities. Only one case required change in anaesthetic management based on routine preoperative chest x-ray. Our study showed that the incidence of significant lung field abnormalities increased in patients aged 60 years and above with no history of chronic obstructive airway disease. We recommend routine preoperative chest x-ray be carried out only in patients over the age of 60 years

Experience with laryngeal mask airway in Pakistani patients

One hundred and thirty seven adult patients undergoing peripheral surgery were studied regarding ease of larangeal mask airway [LMA] insertion, airway maintenance during surgery and complication encountered during insertion, maintenance and in the postoperative period. In a majority [84%] of patients, the airway was positioned correctly at the first attempt, 3% patients had mild laryngospasm at insertion and in 85% a good airway was obtained. No airway related problems were encountered intraoperatively. Two percent patients had laryngospasm on removal of LMA. Postoperatively, the complaint of sore throat and uvular trauma was seen in 4% cases

review of 6978 consecutive admissions to the recovery room at a University Hospital

Recovery from anaesthesia is a time of potential danger to the surgical patients. A retrospective audit of all recovery room admissions over a period of 18 months was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital. During this period 6978 patients were admitted to the recovery area and 695 had one or more complications. The complications were recorded by the recovery room nursing staff in a recovery log book. The breakdown of complications according to different physiological systems is discussed. Several surveys have reviewed complications in the western population, but in contrast, no study is available in Pakistani patients. It is recommended that since one in ten patients is likely to have a problem in the early post-operative period, the local hospitals should provide adequate facilities meeting the criteria laid down for the recovery rooms in modern anaesthetic practice

Anaesthetic management for atlanto axial subluxation

A number of disease processes including congenital anomalies, malunited odontoid fractures, rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis can result in atlanto axial subluxation. The patient population presenting for surgery is therefore varied in age and general condition, ranging from fit young men to steroid dependent frail arthritic patients. The degree of instability and the spinal cord compression are also variable. Gauging these parameters has an important bearing on the anaesthetic management. We present management of six patients with atlanto axial subluxation in our institution

effects of suxamethonium and pancuronium on the haemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation

The pharmacological effects of suxamethonium and pancuronium on the cardiovascular system may vary and therefore alter the haemodynamic response to intubation. The arterial blood pressure, the heart rate and the rate pressure product were measured as parameters of haemodynamic change in forty adult ASA. I and II patients undergoing laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in a randomised controlled study. The patients were induced with either thiopentone/suxamethonium [Group A] or thiopentone/pancuronium [Group B]. There was no significant difference between the groups on comparison of systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes. Pancuronium, however, caused a significantly higher rise in the heart rate after endotracheal intubation compared to suxamethonium. In both groups the maximum rate pressure product occurred one minute after intubation, rising by 56% in the suxamethonium group and 64% in the pancuronium group compared to control values. In conclusion, there were significant and statistically similar increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and rate pressure product following intubation in both groups with values significantly above baseline until three minutes post intubation but the increase in heart rate in group A was significantly less than that in group B