Comparison of hemodynamic response and postoperative pain score between general anaesthesia with intravenous analgesia versus general anesthesia with caudal analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing open-heart surgery

Context: Regional anesthesia may attenuate adverse physiological stress responses associated with cardiothoracic surgery. In this study, hemodynamic stress response at the different time of surgical stimuli was compared between patients receiving general anesthesia (GA) along with caudal epidural analgesia with GA with intravenous analgesia in pediatric population undergoing open-heart surgery. Aims: This study aims to compare the hemodynamic response at the different time of surgical stimuli and postoperative pain score, in pediatric patients undergoing open-heart procedures. Settings and Design: We designed a prospective randomized controlled trial to study hemodynamic effects between Group I and Group II. Fifty patients were randomly allocated equally into Group I (GA + caudal epidural) and Group II (GA + intravenous analgesia) by sealed envelope technique. Subjects and Methods: After obtaining approval from Institutional Ethical Committee, this prospective study was conducted in 50 American Society of Anesthesiologist Classes II and III pediatric patients aged between 1 and 12 years posted for cardiac surgery in our institution. Statistical Analysis: ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and Student's test. Results: The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure variations were compared between Groups I and II at different time intervals. The variations were found to be significantly higher at the time of skin incision and 2 min after skin incision in Group II as compared to Group I. Pain score was compared between the groups and was found to be significantly lower with Group I (2.5 ± 1.2) as compared to Group II (4.6 ± 1.7), P = (0.004). Conclusions: Caudal analgesia with GA (Group I) was found to have better hemodynamic control and significantly better postoperative pain relief in the first 24 h after awakening.

Perioperative challenges in management of a deaf and dumb patient posted for high‑risk cardiac surgery.

Perioperative management of deaf and dumb patients can be a challenging task. For smooth postoperative recovery, proper care should begin in the preoperative period. Understanding the patients’ needs and training him to follow the instructions requires to involve a communication specialist. Judicious use of sedatives and analgesics is essential to keep the patient pain‑free and comfortable. Postoperatively, the patient should be kept awake, enough to understand the internal need of the body and to make a meaningful response to external stimuli. Adequate preoperative planning and coordinated team efforts with involvement of specialists can help in delivering better postoperative care.

Intractable hyperkalemia due to nicorandil induced potassium channel syndrome.

Nicorandil is a commonly used antianginal agent, which has both nitrate‑like and ATP‑sensitive potassium (KATP) channel activator properties. Activation of potassium channels by nicorandil causes expulsion of potassium ions into the extracellular space leading to membrane hyperpolarization, closure of voltage‑gated calcium channels and finally vasodilatation. However, on the other hand, being an activator of KATP channel, it can expel K+ ions out of the cells and can cause hyperkalemia. Here, we report a case of nicorandil induced hyperkalemia unresponsive to medical treatment in a patient with diabetic nephropathy.

Cardiac surgery in a patient with immunological thrombocytopenic purpura: Complications and precautions.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients are at high-risk for bleeding complications during and after cardiac surgeries involving cardiopulmonary bypass. We report a patient with ITP with severe coronary artery disease and mitral valve regurgitation who underwent uncomplicated coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve replacement. Three weeks later, the patient was readmitted in a very low general condition with signs of pericardial tamponade. We describe our experience of managing the case.

Perioperative challenges in a patient of severe G6PD deficiency undergoing open heart surgery.

We describe a successful perioperative management of a case of 38-year-old male, presented with chronic jaundice with severe mitral stenosis and moderate tricuspid regurgitation; upon evaluation, he was found to have severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Usually, patients deficient in G6PD exhibit increased hemolysis andtherefore increased need for blood transfusion after cardiac surgery as well as impaired oxygenation in the postoperative period leading to prolonged ventilation. On reperfusion after a period of ischemia, the antioxidant system recruits all of its components in an attempt to neutralize the overwhelming oxidative stress of free radicals, as the free radical scavenging system is deficient in these patients, the chances of free-radical-induced injury is more. Our patient underwent mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty under cardiopulmonary bypass with necessary precautions to reduce the formation of free radicals. Treatment was targeted toward theprevention of free radical injuryin the G6PD-deficient patient. He had an uneventful intraoperative and postoperative course.

Iatrogenic hemorrhage from left umbilical vein after cardiac surgery: An unusual complication.

Postoperative bleeding is a concern for all patients undergoing heart surgery, which could be due to surgical causes or coagulation disorder. The patients at risk for coagulopathy include those patients with complex or prolonged procedures, those exposed to preoperative anticoagulants and, to a lesser extent, patients with a preoperatively elevated prothrombin time and activated clotting time. However, intraabdominal bleeding after cardiac surgery is rare (0.3-2%). As the mortality rate of patients exposed to these complications is high (11-59%), timely recognition and prompt management is vital for patient's safety and for avoidance of postoperative complications. Here, we present a case of free intraabdominal hemorrhage as sequelae of pacing wire insertion in open heart surgery and its successful management.