Complications of fluid overload during hysteroscopic surgery: cardiomyopathy and epistaxis - A case report -

Background@#Hysteroscopic surgery has been used in various gynecological fields. However, massive fluid overload can occur as a complication due to persistent infusion of media for uterine cavity distension. We present the case of a woman who developed cardiomyopathy with pulmonary edema and epistaxis during hysteroscopic surgery.Case: A 76-year-old female underwent hysteroscopic septectomy. She manifested abrupt, active nasal bleeding and regurgitation in the intravenous line. Heart rate, SpO2, and PETCO2 decreased from 55 beats/min to 29 beats/min, from 100% to 56%, and from 31 mmHg to 9 mmHg, respectively. After the operation, brain CT showed bilateral prominent superior ophthalmic vein dilation. Echocardiography showed left ventricle apical ballooning and global hypokinesia. The patient recovered after two days of conservative management, with no sequelae. @*Conclusions@#Although hysteroscopic surgery is a simple procedure, careful monitoring is necessary to prevent complications from absorption of fluid distending media during the procedure.

Tracheal Infection Resulting from High Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure in an Unconscious Patient with Brain Trauma / 대한신경손상학회지

Deep neck infections (DNIs) are mainly caused by dental caries, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis; however, DNIs can also occur after head and neck trauma. A 79-year-old male patient underwent a craniectomy due to an acute subdural hematoma. The patient was unconscious and continued to have a fever, but no clear cause was found. On postoperative day 9, he suddenly showed redness and swelling on the anterior neck. Enhanced computed tomography of the pharynx revealed tracheal necrosis and an abscess in the surrounding area. An incision and drainage were performed and Enterobacter aerogenes and E. faecalis were identified. The infection was controlled after antibiotic treatment. High endotracheal tube cuff pressure was suspected as the cause of the tracheal infection. Although DNIs are difficult to predict in patients who cannot report their symptoms due to unconsciousness, prevention and rapid diagnosis are important, as DNIs have serious side effects.

Suspected abdominal compartment syndrome during endoscopic diskectomy: A case report

Abdominal compartment syndrome can produce a critical situation if not diagnosed early and managed properly. We report a case of abdominal compartment syndrome that was caused by massive irrigation of surgical fluid during endoscopic lumbar diskectomy at the L4–L5 level. There was a sudden increase in peak inspiratory pressure during the operation, and the patient's tidal volume and blood pressure decreased. When the patient's position was changed from prone to supine, abdominal distension and cyanosis of both lower extremities were discovered. Ultrasonic findings showed fluid collection in both the chest and intra-abdominal cavity. Thoracentesis and abdominal decompression surgery were performed, and the patient's overall state improved. We concluded that irrigation fluid used during the endoscopic operation leaked into the retroperitoneal space and caused abdominal compartment syndrome.

Hypercoagulability and Mortality of Patients with Stroke and Active Cancer: The OASIS-CANCER Study / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with active cancer are at an increased risk for stroke. Hypercoagulability plays an important role in cancer-related stroke. We aimed to test whether 1) hypercoagulability is a predictor of survival, and 2) correction of the hypercoagulable state leads to better survival in patients with stroke and active cancer. METHODS: We recruited consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke and active systemic cancer between January 2006 and July 2015. Hypercoagulability was assessed using plasma D-dimer levels before and after 7 days of anticoagulation treatment. The study outcomes included overall and 1-year survival. Plasma D-dimer levels before and after treatment were tested in univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. We controlled for systemic metastasis, stroke mechanism, age, stroke severity, primary cancer type, histology, and atrial fibrillation using the forward stepwise method. RESULTS: A total of 268 patients were included in the analysis. Patients with high (3rd–4th quartiles) pre-treatment plasma D-dimer levels showed decreased overall and 1-year survival (adjusted HR, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.46–3.31] and 2.70 [1.68–4.35], respectively). After anticoagulation treatment, post-treatment D-dimer level was significantly reduced and independently associated with poor 1-year survival (adjusted HR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.01–1.05] per 1 μg/mL increase, P=0.015). The successful correction of hypercoagulability was a protective factor for 1-year survival (adjusted HR 0.26 [CI 0.10–0.68], P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercoagulability is associated with poor survival after stroke in patients with active cancer. Effective correction of hypercoagulability may play a protective role for survival in these patients.

Impact of Slow Blood Filling via Collaterals on Infarct Growth: Comparison of Mismatch and Collateral Status / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Perfusion-diffusion mismatch has been evaluated to determine whether the presence of a target mismatch helps to identify patients who respond favorably to recanalization therapies. We compared the impact on infarct growth of collateral status and the presence of a penumbra, using magnetic resonance perfusion (MRP) techniques. METHODS: Consecutive patients who were candidates for recanalization therapy and underwent serial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and MRP were enrolled. A collateral flow map derived from MRP source data was generated by automatic post-processing. The impact of a target mismatch (Tmax>6 s/apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) volume≥1.8, ADC volume10 s for ADC volume<100 mL) on infarct growth was compared with MR-based collateral grading on day 7 DWI, using multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 73 patients, 55 (75%) showed a target mismatch, whereas collaterals were poor in 14 (19.2%), intermediate in 36 (49.3%), and good in 23 (31.5%) patients. After adjusting for initial severity of stroke, early recanalization (P<0.001) and the MR-based collateral grading (P=0.001), but not the presence of a target mismatch, were independently associated with infarct growth. Even in patients with a target mismatch and successful recanalization, the degree of infarct growth depended on the collateral status. Perfusion status at later Tmax time points (beyond the arterial phase) was more closely correlated with collateral status. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with good collaterals show a favorable outcome in terms of infarct growth, regardless of the presence of a target mismatch pattern. The presence of slow blood filling predicts collateral status and infarct growth.

Hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation and postoperative pharyngeal morbidity using GlideScope®, Lightwand and Macintosh laryngoscopes during remifentanil infusion

BACKGROUND: Use of GlideScope® laryngoscopes and lightwands for tracheal intubation does not require much force. Theoretically, less stimulation can reduce hemodynamic changes during intubation. We investigated the hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation using different laryngoscope types during remifentanil infusion. METHODS: Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists class I-II patients were compared in terms of tracheal intubation time, hemodynamic changes, and postoperative pharyngeal complications when using a GlideScope®, lightwand, or Macintosh laryngoscope. Propofol and rocuronium were injected and remifentanil was infused for three minutes. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and 1, 3, and 5 minutes after tracheal intubation. Patients were assessed for postoperative oral and tracheal bleeding as well as hoarseness, dysphagia, and sore throat. RESULTS: Intubation time was prolonged in the GlideScope® group. All three groups showed a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure 1, 3, and 5 minutesafter tracheal intubation. Heart rates increased significantly in all three groups immediately after intubation as well as 1 minute later in the GlideScope® group. However, there were no differences in blood pressure, heart rate, or the occurrence of hoarseness, dysphagia, and sore throat among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: No differences in hemodynamic change were found among the three different techniques.

Hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation and postoperative pharyngeal morbidity using GlideScope®, Lightwand and Macintosh laryngoscopes during remifentanil infusion

BACKGROUND: Use of GlideScope® laryngoscopes and lightwands for tracheal intubation does not require much force. Theoretically, less stimulation can reduce hemodynamic changes during intubation. We investigated the hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation using different laryngoscope types during remifentanil infusion. METHODS: Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists class I-II patients were compared in terms of tracheal intubation time, hemodynamic changes, and postoperative pharyngeal complications when using a GlideScope®, lightwand, or Macintosh laryngoscope. Propofol and rocuronium were injected and remifentanil was infused for three minutes. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and 1, 3, and 5 minutes after tracheal intubation. Patients were assessed for postoperative oral and tracheal bleeding as well as hoarseness, dysphagia, and sore throat. RESULTS: Intubation time was prolonged in the GlideScope® group. All three groups showed a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure 1, 3, and 5 minutesafter tracheal intubation. Heart rates increased significantly in all three groups immediately after intubation as well as 1 minute later in the GlideScope® group. However, there were no differences in blood pressure, heart rate, or the occurrence of hoarseness, dysphagia, and sore throat among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: No differences in hemodynamic change were found among the three different techniques.

Endovascular Treatments for Ruptured Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissecting Aneurysms: Experience in 16 Patients

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms are rare lesions that are considered an important cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. We report our decade-long experience in treating ruptured intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included 21 consecutive patients between February 2005 and March 2015. Their clinical features included radiologic finding at the initial examination, treatment modality, functional outcome at the last follow-up, mortality, and radiologic outcome at more than 6 months after the initial treatment. RESULTS: All 16 aneurysms were treated endovascularly; aneurysm trapping was performed in 9 patients and vascular reconstruction was performed in 7 patients. For 6 aneurysms involving the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), the modalities of treatment were aneurysm trapping in 3 patients and vascular reconstruction in 3 patients. The mean duration of follow-up was 29 months (range, 6–70 months). Five patients expired, indicating a mortality rate of 31%. In surviving patients, the unfavorable outcome rate (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] > 2) was 36%. The overall mean mRS for survivors was 1.8. Angiographic follow-up in 11 survivors at 13 months, (range, 6–46 months) revealed recanalization of the aneurysm in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Ruptured intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm is associated with poor functional outcome and high mortality. More immediate treatments are needed due to the high rebleeding rate in this disease condition. Endovascular treatment may be a useful option for ruptured intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms.

Successful Hysterectomy and Therapeutic Hypothermia Following Cardiac Arrest due to Postpartum Hemorrhage / 대한구급학회지

Postpartum hemorrhage is a common cause of maternal mortality; its main cause is placenta accreta. Therapeutic hypothermia is a generally accepted means of improving clinical signs in postcardiopulmonary resuscitation patients. A 41-year-old pregnant woman underwent a cesarean section under general anesthesia at 37 weeks of gestation. After the cesarean section, the patient experienced massive postpartum bleeding, which led to cardiac arrest. Once spontaneous circulation returned, the patient underwent an emergency hysterectomy and was placed under therapeutic hypothermia management. The patient recovered without neurological complications.

Relationship between Gingival Biotype and Underlying Crestal Bone Morphology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between gingival biotype and underlying crestal bone morphology in the maxillary anterior region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The maxillary anterior teeth from 40 subjects (20 thin biotype, 20 thick biotype) with ages from 20 to 50 years were included in this study. All subjects had healthy gingiva in the maxillary anterior region and had no history of orthodontic treatment, periodontal treatment, or hyperplastic medication. Using the probe transparency method, the scalloped distance (SCD) between the contact point-bone crest and the midface-bone crest was measured for each maxillary anterior teeth of two groups. RESULT: The mean SCD was 3.00±0.21 mm in thin biotype and 2.81±0.20 mm in thick biotype. The SCD value in the thin biotype was statistically significantly greater than in the thick biotype (t=2.982, P<0.01). Comparing the degree of crestal bone scallop in each maxillary anterior teeth in the two groups, all six teeth in the thin biotype showed higher bone scallop than in the thick biotype. CONCLUSION: A simple procedure using a probe could to determine gingival biotype and to predict the underlying crestal bone morphology was introduced. This may be useful for effective treatment planning.

Hemisphere cerebral infarction after total laparoscopic hysterectomy in the Trendelenburg position: A case report

Perioperative stroke can lead to mortality or serious disability and usually occurs in patients undergoing cardiac, vascular, or neurologic surgery; it is rare in gynecological surgery. We report the case of a patient who suffered life-threatening cerebral infarction after elective laparoscopic hysterectomy. During the surgery, the patient was placed in the Trendelenburg position. On postoperative day one, the patient was diagnosed with right hemisphere cerebral infarction; brain computed tomographic angiography showed proximal right internal carotid artery occlusion. Decompressive craniectomy was performed to resolve brain swelling, but the patient died 10 days later.

Association of Left Atrial Enlargement with Cortical Infarction in Subjects with Patent Foramen Ovale / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Left atrial dysfunction has been reported in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO). Here we investigated the role of left atrial dysfunction in the development of embolic stroke in patients with PFO. METHODS: We identified consecutive patients with embolic stroke of undetermined sources except for PFO (PFO+ESUS). Healthy subjects with PFO served as controls (PFO+control). A stratified analysis by 10-year age group and an age- and sex- matching analysis were performed to compare echocardiographic markers between groups. In the PFO+ESUS group, infarct patterns of PFO-related stroke were determined (cortical vs. cortico-subcortical) and analyzed in correlation with left atrial function parameters. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients and 231 controls were included. The left atrial volume indices (LAVIs) of the PFO+ESUS patients were higher than those of the PFO+controls in age groups of 40–49, 50–59, and 60–69 years (P28 mL/m2) LAVI was more associated with the cortical infarct pattern (P=0.043 for an acute infarction and P=0.024 for a chronic infarction, both adjusted for age and shunt amount). The degree of right-to-left shunting was not associated with infarct patterns, but with the posterior location of acute infarcts (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Left atrial enlargement was associated with embolic stroke in subjects with PFO. Left atrial physiology might contribute to the development of PFO-related stroke and need to be taken into consideration for optimal prevention of PFO-related stroke.

Successful Hysterectomy and Therapeutic Hypothermia Following Cardiac Arrest due to Postpartum Hemorrhage / 대한중환자의학회지

Postpartum hemorrhage is a common cause of maternal mortality; its main cause is placenta accreta. Therapeutic hypothermia is a generally accepted means of improving clinical signs in postcardiopulmonary resuscitation patients. A 41-year-old pregnant woman underwent a cesarean section under general anesthesia at 37 weeks of gestation. After the cesarean section, the patient experienced massive postpartum bleeding, which led to cardiac arrest. Once spontaneous circulation returned, the patient underwent an emergency hysterectomy and was placed under therapeutic hypothermia management. The patient recovered without neurological complications.

Vertebroplasty of compression fracture with prevertebral hematoma during treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: A case report

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and vertebral compression fracture (VCF) are common causes of chronic pain in the elderly population. Careful history taking and imaging studies are needed for diagnosis when both diseases coexist. Vertebroplasty is a clinically efficient surgical treatment of VCF, while nerve block and/or medications are the mainstay of PHN pain control. The most serious complications of vertebroplasty are pulmonary embolism or neurologic deficit due to cement leakage. An 80-year-old female patient was diagnosed with PHN of the right L1 dermatome; however, her pain expanded to the midback and subcostal area. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging and abdominal computed tomography revealed recent L2 compression fracture with prevertebral hematoma caused by cortical bone defect of the L2 body. Even though the risk of cement leakage was high, L2 vertebral body augmentation was performed using a bone filler device and high-viscosity cement; this treatment was successful, without cement leakage or any other complications.

Clinical performance comparison of I-gel insertion by anesthesiology residents versus novice clinicians

BACKGROUND: I-gel is a recently developed supraglottic airway device with many advantages. Like laryngeal mask airway (LMA), I-gel is an easier and quicker intubation alternative to endotracheal intubation in certain situations. In this study, we assessed the ease of I-gel insertion and compared the clinical performance of anesthetsiology residents (group R) experienced in endotracheal intubation versus that of interns (group I) with little intubation experience. METHODS: This prospective and randomized study included 60 patients. The ease of insertion, number of I-gel insertion attempts, presence of air leakage, and postoperative complications such as bleeding, dental trauma, hoarseness, and sore throat were evaluated in each group. RESULTS: Insertion was successful on the initial attempt in 29 of 30 cases in group R. In group I, 24 initial insertions were successful. The mean insertion times were 12.5 +/- 4.8 and 27.9 +/- 12.5 seconds for group R and group I, respectively (P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding postintubational air leakage. Regarding complications, two cases of bleeding, one case of dental trauma, and two cases of sore throat were recorded. No significant differences were observed between the two groups for any of the complications examined. CONCLUSIONS: I-gel is a suitable alternative insertion device that enables rapid and easy intubation by physicians who are experienced with endotracheal intubation. Moreover, this device also enables efficient and safe insertion during emergent situations for novice clinicians, even those who have little experience in intubation.

Autogenous tooth bone graft block for sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant installation: a technical note

In cases of severe alveolar bone atrophy in the posterior maxillary area, which has only a thin sinus floor, the autogenous tooth bone graft block (ABTB) was used to wrap the implant to enhance its primary stability and osseointegration in the sinus. These cases with four years of clinical follow-up demonstrate the applicability of the ABTB in maxillary sinus membrane elevation to improve the outcomes of implant placement.

Acute ureteral obstruction following superior hypogastric plexus block: A case report

Pelvic visceral pain associated with both cancer and chronic benign conditions may be alleviated by superior hypogastric plexus block (SHPB). The complications of SHPB include infection, bleeding, or intravascular injection because of the adjacent location of the iliac vessel to the route of needle insertion, and pelvic visceral damage. However, acute ureteral obstruction leading to acute renal failure (ARF) as a complication of SHPB has not been reported to date in the literature. We report a patient with ARF that resulted from acute ureteral obstruction following SHPB performed for the relief of lower abdominal pain and tenesmus in metastatic ureter cancer.

Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System Diagnosed by High-Resolution Vessel Wall MRI

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a poorly understood form of vascular inflammatory disease that is restricted to the brain and spinal cord. A 38-year-old woman presented with severe headache and transient aphasia. Her cerebrospinal fluid exhibited aseptic meningitis, and high-resolution vessel-wall MRI (HRVW-MRI) revealed narrowing of multiple intracranial vessels with concentric wall thickening and diffuse enhancement, suggestive of PACNS. High-dose steroid and azathioprine therapy resulted in a significant improvement in vessel wall thickening, and enhancement was observed on the follow-up HRVW-MRI.

A failure of internal jugular vein catheterization caused by the internal jugular vein occlusion / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Ankle-brachial blood pressure differences before and during anesthesia

BACKGROUND: In surgeries involving the upper extremities and breast, the blood pressure is frequently measured at the ankles. As the blood pressure is used as a pain indicator in the full surgical anesthesia, the ankle blood pressure higher than the brachial blood pressure may be misinterpreted by the anesthesiologist, in determining the depth of the anesthesia. This paper investigated whether the ankle blood pressure is significantly higher than the brachial blood pressure before the anesthesia induction, during induction, and after tracheal intubation. METHODS: Two hundred seventeen patients requiring general anesthesia for elective surgery were included in this study. Ankle and brachial blood pressure were simultaneously measured before the anesthesia induction, during induction, and after tracheal intubation. RESULTS: The ankle blood pressure was higher than the brachial blood pressure before induction, during induction, and after tracheal intubation. Ankle-brachial blood pressure differences were significantly higher before induction and after intubation as compared to that during induction. The correlation coefficient between the systolic ankle-brachial blood pressure difference before induction and that after tracheal intubation was 0.623. In 33 child patients with an ankle-brachial blood pressure index > or =1 before induction, there were no significant differences in the ankle-brachial blood pressure during induction. The brachial systolic blood pressure could be predicted by simple and multiple regression equations (R2 = 0.349-0.828). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that the anesthesiologists need to consider the ankle-brachial blood pressure differences in monitoring the anesthesia, in cases where the brachial blood pressure cannot be measured during surgery.