The Effects of Preventive PEEP on Perioperative Pulmonary Functions in Patients Receiving Gastrectomy with a Kent Retractor / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) following upper abdominal surgery are common, and are associated with prolonged hospital stay even for cardiopulmonary healthy patients. The development of atelectasis and the unequal distribution of perfusion-ventilation during anesthesia and surgery, and perhaps the reappearance of these disturbances after surgery, are the main hypotheses used to explain postoperative hypoxemia and pulmonary complications. Atelectasis may be increased by using a Kent retractor, which retracts the abdominal wall and compresses the lung. This study evaluated the effect of preventive intraoperative positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on perioperative oxygenation and complications in patients who receive gastrectomy with a Kent retractor. METHODS: Thirty eight cardiopulmonary healthy patients were randomly allocated to receive 0 (control), 5 or 10 cmH2O of PEEP during surgery. Arterial blood was obtained to evaluate arterial oxygenation and the unequal distribution of perfusion-ventilation by analyzing arterial oxygen tension and alveolar-arterial oxygen tension differences ((A-a)Do2) during the perioperative period. Pulmonary function and complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: Intraoperative arterial oxygenation improved for all patients receiving 5 or 10 cm H2O PEEP. In the control group, there was statistically significant decrease in PaO2 and increase in (A-a)Do2 after Kent retractor was applied, but the others did not show this effect (P<0.05). No differences in postoperative oxygenation, the incidence of pulmonary complications or pulmonary function were observed between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The application of PEEP was effective at improving oxygenation, and at preventing atelectasis and an unequal distribution of perfusion-ventilation during gastrectomy with a Kent retractor. However, the effects of PEEP did not extend beyond surgery.

Radial Nerve Paralysis due to Kent Retractor during Upper Abdominal Opertion / 대한마취과학회지

A 52 year old female patient was operated under the diagnosis of stomach cancer. She was very obese; her body weight and height were 95.5 kg and 161.5 cm, respectively. Radical subtotal gastrectomy was performed and the operation time was 4 hour and 40 minutes. The day following surgery, signs of right radial nerve palsy including wrist drop were noted. Neurologic examination revealed O-l/5 power of the wrist and finger extensor muscles of the right arm with reduced sensation in the radial aspects of the dorsum of the hand. The electromyography & nerve conduction test revealed incomplete right radial nerve injury above elbow level. During surgery, the patient was in the supine position, the right arm fully adducted to the lateral side of the trunk, and the left arm was 90 degree abducted from the trunk. The blood pressure cuff had been applied to the right upper arm and automated sequential blood pressure measurements performed every 5 minutes during the operation. Thirty minutes into the procedure, a Kent retractor had been applied, the side frame of which contacted the patients right upper arm. We hypothesize that firm pressure from the retractor frame against radial nerve where it passes superficially in the upper arm was responsible for the injury. No abnormalities in function of the automatic cuff were discovered. The patient was discharged 19 days after operation with partial recovery of the radial nerve palsy. Two months later the radial nerve palsy had completly resolved.