Assessment of Perioperative Atelectasis Using Lung Ultrasonography in Patients Undergoing Pneumoperitoneum Surgery in the Trendelenburg Position: Aspects of Differences according to Ventilatory Mode

Background@#During robotic gynecologic pneumoperitoneum surgery in the Trendelenburg position, aeration loss leads to perioperative atelectasis. Recently developed ventilator mode pressure-controlled ventilation volume-guaranteed (PCV-VG) mode could provide adequate ventilation with lower inspiratory pressure compared to volume-controlled ventilation (VCV); we hypothesized that PCV-VG mode may be beneficial in reducing perioperative atelectasis via low tidal volume (VT ) of 6 mL/kg ventilation during robotic gynecologic pneumoperitoneum surgery in the Trendelenburg position. We applied lung ultrasound score (LUS) for detecting perioperative atelectasis. We aimed to compare perioperative atelectasis between VCV and PCV-VG with a low VT of 6 mL/kg during pneumoperitoneum surgery in the Trendelenburg position using LUS. @*Methods@#Patients scheduled for robotic gynecologic surgery were randomly allocated to the VCV (n = 41) or PCV-VG group (n = 41). LUS, ventilatory, and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated at T1 (before induction), T2 (10 minutes after induction in the supine position), T3 (10 minutes after desufflation of CO2 in the supine position), and T4 (30 minutes after emergence from anesthesia in the recovery room). @*Results@#Eighty patients (40 with PCV-VG and 40 with VCV) were included. Demographic data showed no significant differences between the groups. The total LUS has changed from baseline to T4, 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32, 0.94) to 1.77 (95% CI, 1.42, 2.21) in the VCV group and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.56, 1.16) to 1.43 (95% CI, 1.08, 1.78) in the PCV-VG group (P = 0.170). In both groups, total LUS increased significantly compared to the baseline values. @*Conclusion@#Using a low VT of 6 mL/kg during pneumoperitoneum surgery in the Trendelenburg position, our study showed no evidence that PCV-VG ventilation was superior to VCV in terms of perioperative atelectasis.

Optic nerve sheath diameter changes during gynecologic surgery in the Trendelenburg position: comparison of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia and sevoflurane anesthesia

BACKGROUND: Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), a disadvantage of laparoscopic or robotic surgery, is caused by the steep angle of the Trendelenburg position and the CO₂ pneumoperitoneum. Recently, sonographically measured optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) was suggested as a simple and non-invasive method for detecting increased ICP. This study aimed to explore the changes in ONSD in relation to different anesthetic agents used in gynecologic surgery.METHODS: Fifty patients were randomly allocated to two groups, sevoflurane (group SEV, n = 25) and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) group (group TIVA, n = 25). The ONSD was measured at five time points (T0–T4): T0 was measured 5 min after induction of anesthesia in the supine position; T1, T2, and T3 were measured at 5, 15, and 30 min after CO₂ pneumoperitoneum induction in the Trendelenburg position; and T4 was measured at 5 min after discontinuation of CO₂ pneumoperitoneum in the supine position. Respiratory and hemodynamic variables were also recorded.RESULTS: The intra-group changes in mean ONSD in the Trendelenburg position were significantly increased in both groups. However, inter-group changes in mean ONSD were not significantly different at T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4. Heart rates in group TIVA were significantly lower than those in group SEV at points T1–T4.CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the ONSD between the two groups until 30 min into the gynecologic surgery with CO₂ pneumoperitoneum in the Trendelenburg position. This study suggests that there is no difference in the ONSD between the two anesthetic methods.

The Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block on Breast Cancer-Related Infectious Lymphedema / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most intractable complications after surgery. Patients suffer from physical impairment, as well as psychological depression. Moreover, a recent study revealed that cellulitis significantly increased the risk of BCRL, and cellulitis has been suggested as a risk factor of BCRL development. We describe a patient treated with stellate ganglion blocks (SGBs) without steroid for relief of symptoms and reduction of the arm circumference of breast cancer-related infectious lymphedema in a month. We measured the arm circumference at four locations; 10 cm and 5 cm above and below the elbow crease, numeric rating scale (NRS) score, lymphedema and breast cancer questionnaire (LBCQ) score on every visit to the pain clinic. A serial decrease of the arm circumference and pain score were observed after second injection. In the middle of the process, cellulitis recurred, we performed successive SGBs to treat infectious lymphedema. The patient was satisfied with the relieved pain and swelling, especially with improved shoulder range of motion as it contributes to better quality of life. This case describes the effects of SGB for infectious BCRL patients. SGB could be an alternative or ancillary treatment for infectious BCRL patients.