Left atrial appendage thrombus detected by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with acute small bowel infarction: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Acute mesenteric ischemia and infarction is an emergent situation associated with high mortality, commonly due to emboli or thrombosis of the mesenteric arteries. Embolism to the mesenteric arteries is most frequently due to a dislodged thrombus from the left atrium, left ventricle, or cardiac valves. We report a case of 70-year-old female patient with an acute small bowel infarction due to a mesenteric artery embolism dislodged from a left atrial appendage detected by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and followed by anticoagulation therapy.

A comparative study on the analgesic effect of continuous intraarticular infusion with ropivacaine, ropivacaine/fentanyl and ropivacaine/fentanyl/ketorolac after arthroscopic shoulder surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery can result in severe postoperative pain. A variety of methods have been used to control pain in postoperative period and the results are variable. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative analgesic efficacies of the postoperative intraarticular infusion of ropivacaine, ropivacaine/fentanyl, and ropivacaine/fentanyl/ketorolac after arthroscopic shoulder surgery. METHODS: Thirty patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to three groups. At the end of surgery, 0.5% ropivacaine 20 ml was infused into the articular space and a continuous infusion catheter was inserted into intraarticular operated site. After surgery, continuous infusion of 0.5% ropivacaine 100 ml (Group 1, n = 10), 0.5% ropivacaine 100 ml including fentanyl 10 microg/kg (Group 2, n = 10), or 0.5% ropivacaine 100 ml including fentanyl 10 microgram/kg and ketorolac 150 mg (Group 3, n = 10) was started through catheter at rate of 2 ml/hr with bolus dose of 0.5 ml with a lock out time of 15 minutes for 2 days. The level of pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) postoperative 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours and the amounts of supplemental analgesics were recorded. RESULTS: The VAS was significantly lower after 2, 6, 12 hours in Group 2 than in Group 1. In Group 3, the VAS was significantly lower all hours than in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of fentanyl and ketorolac with ropivacaine did provide better postoperative analgesia than the other groups after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Propofol-Fentanyl Total Intravenous Anesthesia for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is by definition a technique involving the induction and maintenance of the anesthetic state with intravenous drugs alone. In particular, propofol and opioid and muscle relaxants allow enhanced control of the state of anesthesia for the entire duration of the surgical procedure. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of TIVA with fixed fentanyl concentration 3 ng/ml using isoconcentration nomogram and titrated propofol for coronary artery bypass graft. METHODS: Anesthesia was induced using 1% propofol mixed with lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg and ephedrine 10 mg (150 ml/hr) until loss of consciousness in 19 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft. Infusion rate of propofol was adjusted in response to blood pressure and pulse rate. To achieve constant fentanyl concentration, infusion rate of fentanyl was changed timely according to isoconcentration nomogram. Infusion of propofol and fentanyl was discontinued 15 and 30 min before predictable end of surgery, respectively. Intraoperative hemodynamics, recovery profile and postoperative analgesic requirements were checked. RESULTS: Overall intraoperative hemodynamics including cardiac index and PCWP showed no significant changes compared with preinduction control value except during CPB period. Average flow rate of propofol and fentanyl was 3.4 0.2 mg/kg/hr and 2.8 0.4 g/kg/hr, respectively. Spontaneous eye opening time was 96.4 min after discontinuation of fentanyl. More than 80% (16/19) of patients did not require any analgesic during first postoperative 24hrs for pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: TIVA with propofol and fentanyl (3 ng/ml) could be a suitable and safe anesthetic technique for coronary artery bypass graft.

Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Pheochromocytoma - A case report / 대한마취과학회지

The anesthetic management of patients with pheochromocytoma presents many difficult problems, such as hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypotension. A 21 year-old male underwent resection of pheochromocytoma under general anesthesia with isoflurane and fentanyl. Hypertensive crisis during induction of anesthesia and surgical manipulation of the tumor were managed with phentolamine and sodium nitroprusside drips. Anesthesia was maintained wtih nitrous oxide : oxygen, 50% : 50%, isoflurane, 0.5-2% and supplemented with fractional doses of fentanyl and vecuronium for muscular relaxation. We also used propranolol for the cardiac arrhythmia. An endotracheal semi-closed circle absorption technique with controlled ventilation was employed. Fentanyl does not release histamine, and has stable hemodynamics. Isoflurane has also advocated on the grounds that arrhythmias are less esaily provocated by circulating catecholamines than with other volatile agents, and has been shown to be a satisfactory agent. Vecuronium does not provoke catecholamine release, does not release histamine, has no autonomic effects at clinical plasma concentrations, and is clearly the neuromuscular blocking agent of choice in this case. Optimal pre-operative preparation, smooth induction of anesthesia, adequate alveolar ventilation, proper cardiovascular control, and good communication between surgeon and anesthesiologist are most important for the anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma.