Patient repositioning and the amelioration of airway obstruction by an anterior mediastinal tumor during general anesthesia: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

An 18-year-old male with huge anterior mediastinum mass was scheduled for thoracotomic incisional biopsy under general anesthesia after failed fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous needle biopsy. Under propofol and succinylcholine anesthesia, intubation was successfully achieved using a Univent tube. However, when we changed the patient's position from supine to right lateral decubitus, oxygen saturation declined. He was then positioned supine, but hypoxemia did not improve. Because the tumor expanded toward the left thoracic field, we considered that the left lateral decubitus position might help relieve the mass effect on the main bronchus. His position was changed accordingly and soon after, hypoxemia improved and surgery was undertaken under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The biopsy was successfully performed under CPB without complication.

Rupture of external iliac artery during microscopic lumbar disc surgery: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Iatrogenic vascular injury during lumbar disc surgery is a rare but serious complication. This paper reports a patient who sustained an injury to the iliac artery while undergoing intervertebral disc surgery at the lumbar region. He suffered from massive bleeding and shock. An urgent laparatomy was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass, and the vascular injuries were repaired successfully. This case shows that a rapid diagnosis and immediate intervention can result in a favorable outcome.

Recurrent unilateral lung ventilation disorder in a patient that experienced rocuronium-induced anaphylactic bronchospasm during laparoscopic rectal surgery: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Rocuronium is the anesthetic agent most likely to cause anaphylaxis. Immediately after intravenous rocuronium administration, the authors experienced ventilatory impairment due to unilateral bronchospasm (left lung), which was relieved by emergency treatment. However, 80 minutes after beginning laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, the left lung suddenly re-collapsed under pneumoperitoneum in the Trendelenburg position. A postoperative intradermal test revealed that rocuronium, vecuronium, atracurium, succinylcholine, or thiopental could induce anaphylaxis in this patient, but it was not established whether the second incident during surgery was due to endobronchial intubation or anaphylactic bronchospasm. This case cautions that under pneumoperitoneum in the Trendelenburg position, patients suspected of being prone to anaphylactic bronchospasm should also be considered at risk of endobronchial intubation.

Neurogenic-stunned Myocardium and Pulmonary Edema Following a Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm: A Case Report / 대한구급학회지

We report a case of neurogenic cardiopulmonary instability with pulmonary edema occurring after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The patient's pre-operative Glasgow coma scale score was 6 and the PA chest radiograph showed increased diffuse haziness in the right lung field. The patient presented with severe hypotension and low oxygen saturation during surgery. Cardiac damage was documented by increased CK-MB troponin-T levels, and ischemic ECG findings. Reversible cardiac failure associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage may be due to a neurogenic-stunned myocardium. The patient underwent clipping of the aneurysm and recovered with minimal neurologic impairment and normal cardiac function.