Comparison of two-lung and one-lung ventilation in bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: a retrospective study

Background@#Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease, and early thymectomy is recommended. Since the introduction of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, the safety and effectiveness of carbon dioxide insufflation in the thoracic cavity (capnothorax) has been controversial. This study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of ventilation methods in bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (BVET) with capnothorax. @*Methods@#We retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients with MG who underwent BVET between August 2016 and January 2018. Patients were divided into two groups: group D (n = 26) for one-lung ventilation and group S (n = 28) for two-lung ventilation. We set nine anesthesia time points (T0–T8) and collected respiratory and hemodynamic variables, including arterial O2 index (PaO2/FiO2). @*Results@#SpO2 at T1–T3 and T8 was significantly lower in group D than in group S. The FiO2 in group S was lower than that in group D at all time points. The number of PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 and PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 200 events was significantly higher in group D than in group S. Hemodynamic variables were not significantly different between the two groups at any time point. The duration of surgery and anesthesia was shorter in group S than in group D. @*Conclusions@#This retrospective study suggests that anesthesia using two-lung ventilation during BVET with capnothorax is a safe and effective method to improve lung oxygenation and reduce anesthesia time.

Anaphylactic reaction with hydroxyethyl starch during anesthesia: A case report

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyethyl starch (HES), a class of synthetic colloid solutions, has been widely used to treat perioperative hypovolemia. The use of HES, however, is associated with the risk of allergic reactions.CASE: An 83-year-old man was scheduled to undergo an open reduction and internal fixation of a pertrochanteric fracture under spinal anesthesia. He had no history of allergy. Five minutes after HES administration, hypotension, agitation, and skin rash were developed. HES infusion was terminated due to a suspected anaphylactic reaction. The vital signs recovered following administration of phenylephrine, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone. Serum tryptase and total immunoglobulin E levels were elevated in plasma samples collected following the commencement of the allergic reaction during surgery.CONCLUSIONS: In the present report, the risk of anaphylactic reaction with HES and the laboratory tests needed to support the diagnosis are highlighted.

Hypotension due to compression of the inferior vena cava by intrathoracic herniation of peritoneal fat during laparoscopic surgery: A case report

Vena cava syndrome is caused by central venous obstruction and can be divided into superior vena cava syndrome and inferior vena cava (IVC) syndrome. Symptoms and signs of IVC syndrome vary from no symptoms to lower limb edema, hypotension, and typical venous stasis changes of the lower extremities, such as brownish discoloration of the skin, woody edema, and ulceration. Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum, lithotomy-Trendelenburg position, and abdominal obesity could increase intra-abdominal pressure. We report a patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery who showed intrathoracic herniation of peritoneal fat induced by elevated intra-abdominal pressure due to the reasons mentioned above, resulting in IVC syndrome and hypotension perioperatively. The patient was treated with a conservative approach because he was asymptomatic except for hypotension on the first postoperative day.

Anesthetic management of a patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery: A case report

The authors describe the successful perioperative management of a 3-year-old boy from Dubai with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty for complete right ureteropelvic junction obstruction. G6PD deficiency is a genetic disorder predisposing patients to hemolytic anemia from oxidative stress. Important considerations in anesthetic management include avoiding oxidative stress, which can be caused by various conditions, and monitoring for hypercapnia, which can cause acidosis and hemolysis. Laparoscopic surgery is usually associated with hypercapnia and therefore an increased risk for respiratory acidosis. During surgery in this particular case, efforts were made to avoid carbon dioxide retention and to keep the patient warm. General anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium, rocuronium, and fentanyl, and maintained with sevoflurane. There were no signs of hemolysis in the perioperative period and he was discharged owing to his improved condition.

Intraoperative ventilation and hemodynamic change due to bladder perforation during transurethral resection of a bladder tumor: A case report

Transurethral resection is the most efficacious and safest urologic procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer. Complications of transurethral resection include hemorrhage, infection, transurethral resection syndrome, and bladder perforation. Early detection of bladder perforation is important because it can cause critical ventilation and hemodynamic changes. In this case, we detected bladder perforation as the cause of ventilation and hemodynamic change intraoperatively and treated it by immediate surgical repair.

Intraoperative ventilation and hemodynamic change due to bladder perforation during transurethral resection of a bladder tumor: A case report

Transurethral resection is the most efficacious and safest urologic procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer. Complications of transurethral resection include hemorrhage, infection, transurethral resection syndrome, and bladder perforation. Early detection of bladder perforation is important because it can cause critical ventilation and hemodynamic changes. In this case, we detected bladder perforation as the cause of ventilation and hemodynamic change intraoperatively and treated it by immediate surgical repair.

A pillow of 8 cm height did not improve laryngeal view and alignment of airway axes but increased anesthesiologist discomfort compared to a pillow of 4 cm height during tracheal intubation in adult patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Neck flexion by head elevation using an 8 to 10 cm thick pillow and head extension has been suggested to align the laryngeal, pharyngeal and oral axis and facilitate tracheal intubation. Presently, the laryngeal view and discomfort for tracheal intubation were evaluated according to two different degrees of head elevation in adult patients. METHODS: This prospective randomized, controlled study included 50 adult patients aged 18 to 90 years. After induction of anesthesia, the Cormack Lehane grade was evaluated in 25 patients using a direct laryngoscope while the patient's head was elevated with a 4 cm pillow (4 cm group) and then an 8 cm pillow (8 cm group). In the other 25 patients, the grades were evaluated in the opposite sequence and tracheal intubation was performed. The success rate and anesthesiologist's discomfort score for tracheal intubation, and laryngeal, pharyngeal and oral axes were assessed. RESULTS: There were no differences in the laryngeal view and success rate for tracheal intubation between the two groups. The discomfort score during tracheal intubation was higher in the 8 cm group when the patient's head was elevated 4 cm first and then 8 cm. The alignment of laryngeal, pharyngeal and oral axes were not different between the two degrees of head elevation. CONCLUSIONS: A pillow of 8 cm height did not improve laryngeal view and alignment of airway axes but increased the anesthesiologist discomfort, compared to a pillow of 4 cm height, during tracheal intubation in adult patients.