Unforeseen Rupture of Pseudoaneurysm of Common Carotid Artery: An Arduous Anesthetic Challenge

Pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery (CCA) is exceptionally unstable and unpredictable; it mandates quick medical attention in order to circumvent neurologic sequelae or hemorrhage. Unanticipated rupture is extremely lethal and a potential provocation for the anesthesia caregiver. It is an arduous challenge for an anesthetist to establish emergency airway when a huge bleeding pseudoaneurysm is compressing and deviating the trachea, securing invasive lines in collapsing vessels, volume and vasopressor resuscitation in deteriorating hemodynamics in order to maintain cerebral perfusion without compromising other vital organs, arranging huge amount of blood and blood products in a short span of time, and transferring an exsanguinating patient for the rapid institution of cardiopulmonary bypass. Not only preoperatively it also necessitates appropriate neuromonitoring and neuroprotection during and after surgery. The association of unforeseen rupture of common carotid artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to the tubercular spine and lifesaving management by the rapid institution of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a rare occasion. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is not any similar case in the peer?reviewed literature. Therefore, the authors enumerate the clinical experience of an unexpected rupture of CCA pseudoaneurysm requiring lifesaving CPB and emphasize the “Timely Teamed Effort Approach” that can sustain a life in such an inevitable situation.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction following aortic valve replacement: A review of risk factors, mechanism, and management

The presence of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) can complicate the postoperative course of patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). The phenomenon of LVOTO is a consequence of an interplay of various pathoanatomic mechanisms. The prevailing cardiovascular milieu dictates the hemodynamic significance of the resultant LVOTO in addition to the anatomical risk factors. A thorough understanding of the predisposing factors, mechanism, and hemodynamic sequel of the obstruction is pivotal in managing these cases. A comprehensive echocardiographic examination aids in risk prediction, diagnosis, severity characterization, and follow-up of management efficacy in the setting of postoperative LVOTO. The armamentarium of management modalities includes conservative (medical) and surgical options. A stepwise approach should be formulated based on the physiological and anatomical substrates predisposing to LVOTO. The index phenomenon occurs more frequently than appreciated and should be considered when the post-AVR patients exhibit hemodynamic instability unresponsive to conventional supportive measures. The present article provides an overview of various peculiarities of this under-recognized phenomenon in the context of the perioperative management of patients undergoing AVR.

Effect of preoperative statin therapy on early postoperative memory impairment after off‑pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Context: Frequent incidence of early postoperative memory impairment (POMI) after cardiac surgery remains a concern because of associated morbidity, impaired quality of life, and increased health care cost. Aim: To assess the effect of preoperative statin therapy on POMI in patients undergoing off‑pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. Setting and Design: Prospective observational study in a tertiary level hospital. Methods: Sixty patients aged 45–65 years undergoing OPCAB surgery were allocated into two groups of 30 each. Group A patients were receiving statin and Group B patients were not receiving statins. All patients underwent memory function assessment preoperatively after admission to hospital and on the 6th postoperative day using postgraduate institute memory scale. Statistical Analysis: Appropriate tests were applied with SPSS 20 to compare both groups. The value P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Multiple regression analysis was performed with confounding factors to determine the effect on memory impairment. Results: Patients in Group A showed significant postoperative deterioration in 6 of the 10 functions and in Group B showed deterioration in 9 of 10 functions tested compared to preoperative scores. Intergroup comparison detected less POMI in Group A compared to Group B and was statistically significant in 8 memory functions. Multiple regression analysis detected statin as an independent factor in preventing memory impairment. Conclusions: Preoperative statin therapy attenuates the early POMI in patients undergoing OPCAB. Future long‑term studies will define the efficacy of statin on POMI.

Double aortic arch as a source of airway obstruction in a child.

Double aortic arch (DAA) is a congenital vascular anomaly. The diagnosis was difficult till the child was symptomatic, and other causes were ruled out. We present the interesting images of a child of respiratory distress because of tracheal compression from DAA.

Effect of single intraoperative dose of amiodarone in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) is superior to rate control in atrial fibrillation (AF). In order to achieve SR, we administered single-dose intravenous amiodarone intraoperatively and evaluated its effect on conversion of rheumatic AF to SR in patients undergoing valvular heart surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to amiodarone (n = 42) or control (n = 40) group in a double blind manner. The amiodarone group received amiodarone (3 mg/kg) intravenously prior to the institution of cardiopulmonary bypass and the control group received the same volume of normal saline. In the amiodarone group, the initial rhythm after the release of aortic cross clamp was noted to be AF in 14.3% (n = 6) and remained so in 9.5% (n = 4) of patients till the end of surgery. In the control group, the rhythm soon after the release of aortic cross clamp was AF in 37.5% (n = 15) (p = 0.035) and remained so in 32.5% (n = 13) of patients till the end of surgery (p = 0.01). At the end of first post-operative day 21.4% (n = 9) of patients in amiodarone group and 55% (n = 22) of patients in control group were in AF (p = 0.002). The requirement of cardioversion/defibrillation was 1.5 (+/-0.54) in amiodarone group and 2.26 (+/-0.73) in the control group (p = 0.014), and the energy needed was 22.5 (+/-8.86) joules in the amiodarone group and 40.53 (+/-16.5) in the control group (p = 0.008). A single intraoperative dose of intravenous amiodarone increased the conversion rate of AF to normal sinus rhythm, reduced the need and energy required for cardioversion/defibrillation and reduced the recurrence of AF within one day.