A Case of Hypoxic Encephalopathy Following Anesthesia for a Patient with Ludwig`s Angina / 대한마취과학회지

Ludwig's Angina is the term given to the symptoms resulting from infection of the submandibular space and is characterized especially by extreme edema of the floor of the mouth. Airway obstruction and respiratory difficulty is common due to edema of the mouth, tongue, and the glottis, from mediastinitis due to spread, or from septicemia or pneumonia. Thus it is necessary for the anesthetist to attend to specific management of airway maintenance. A 49 year old male had an operation for incision and drainage under balanced anesthesia. After the operation, posthypoxic myoclonus due to anoxia for three minutes appeared while in the recovery room. The patient, controlled by oxygen supply and diazepam and antiepileptics, has recovered from the seizures, but has not recovered from intention myoclonus and speech disturbance, which are slowly improving. This report describes this case of posthypoxic myoclonus following anesthesia and reviews the literatures.

Pulmonary Edema during General Anesthesia for Cesarean Seetion of Pre-eclampsia Patient / 대한마취과학회지

Our hospital has been experienced pulmonary edema during general anesthesia for cesarean section of pre-eclampsia. But, the patient recovered rapidly without complication. Therefore, we think that before anesthesia, accurate laboratory data and careful attention are needed for general anesthesia of pre-eclamsia.

The Study of the Liver Function Test after Halothane Anesthesis - for Biliary System Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

Since it's introduction in 1956 as a general anesthetic agent, halothane has enjoyed worldwide acceptance as a relatively safe and useful inhalational anesthetic. It is described as a universal anesthetic agent by Johnstone, but the question of its potential hepatotoxicity has not been definitely established. At our hospital, the patient whose liver function was in normal limit and had no history of the hepatitis, jaundice, exposing to hepatotoxic drug or alcoholism, and have received general anesthesia with halothane for biliary surgery as first operation from June 1979 to August 1980 were studied to evaluate the change of the liver function before and after kalothane anesthesia. The results were as follows; 1) In two cases, the liver funtion test showed the evidence of the hepatic damage. 2) The change of SGOT and bilirubin was statistically significant, but there was no significant change of SGOT, alkaline phosphatase and T.T.T. 3) We thought that the changes of liver function test were due not only to halothane but also to the other factors. So, it may be good that repeated exposure to halothane is avoided.