Anaphylaxis following atropine administration during general anesthesia: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Anaphylaxis is an acute, potentially lethal, multisystem syndrome resulting from the sudden release of mast-cell- and basophile-derived mediators into the circulation. Common manifestations of anaphylactic reactions include urticaria, angioedema, nausea, vomiting, hypotension and cardiovascular collapse. Cardiovascular collapse is the first detected manifestation in up to 50% of cases in perioperative anaphylaxis, because patients are anesthetized and unable to report symptoms. A 25-year-old male presented with severe hypotension and erythema after intravenous atropine administration during general anesthesia. Postoperative laboratory findings demonstrated elevated serum tryptase and total immunoglobulin E. An intradermal test showed atropine sensitivity. Although atropine is used widely as a perioperative anticholinergic agent, it is a potential risk factor for a severe anaphylactic reaction. Therefore, prompt recognition and adequate therapeutic measures are necessary to avoid fatal consequences.

Recent findings on the use of hydroxyethyl starch

There has long been a controversy on the use of colloids. Many developments have now been made in the theological aspects. The new glycocalyx model and other related studies have shown that the volume expansion effect of colloids is not so superior to crystalloids in many situations. Moreover, the results from several multicenter studies on septic shock patients indicated that hydroxyethyl starch did not improve clinical outcome, but instead, increased the number of serious complications such as death and renal failure. Accordingly, this long debate has been concluded, at least about the use of hydroxyethyl starch colloid on patients with septic shock. Although there is still a lack of studies on perioperative patients, care is also needed when using colloids in their treatment.

Massive Thromboembolism Owing to the Left Ventricular Thrombus Associated with the Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

A 39-year-old man presented with cough, chest discomfort, and weight loss. On the basis of the patient history and laboratory findings, he was diagnosed with the hypereosinophilic syndrome. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large thrombus in the left ventricle. Medical treatment with anticoagulation and immunosuppression was commenced immediately. Fourteen days after the initial diagnosis, the patient presented with acute pain in his right leg. Computed tomographic angiogram showed embolic occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and bilateral iliac (including common, external, and internal iliac) arteries. Emergent thromboembolectomy and left ventricular thrombectomy were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient has undergone follow-up for 2 months without any evidence of recurrence of thromboembolism.

Torsade de pointes in liver transplantation recipient after induction of general anesthesia: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Torsade de pointes (TdP) is an uncommon and specific form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, associated with a prolonged QT interval. Prolongation of the QT interval is the most widely recognized electrophysiological abnormality in patients with liver cirrhosis. We observed a case of TdP leading to cardiopulmonary resuscitation after the induction of general anesthesia, in a patient with liver cirrhosis scheduled for emergency cadaveric donor liver transplantation. The patient had mild QT prolongation on preoperative electrocardiography with a corrected QT (QTc) interval of 455 ms. Drugs used in the preoperative period can elongate cardiac repolarization. Sevoflurane and 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonists such as palonsetron, used during general anesthesia may have triggered further QT prolongation, producing a fatal condition such as TdP. More caution and consideration in selecting drugs for anesthetic management are necessary for liver cirrhosis patients, especially in patients with preoperative QT prolongation.

Hemodynamic effect of full flexion of the hips and knees in the supine position: a comparison with straight leg raising / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Straight raising of the legs in the supine position or Trendelenburg positioning has been used to treat hypotension or shock, but the advantages of these positions are not clear and under debate. We performed a crossover study to evaluate the circulatory effect of full flexion of the hips and knees in the supine position (exaggerated lithotomy), and compare it with straight leg raising. METHODS: This study was a prospective randomized crossover study from the tertiary care unit at our university hospital. Twenty-two patients scheduled for off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery were enrolled. Induction and maintenance of anesthesia were standardized. Exaggerated lithotomy position or straight leg raising were randomly selected in the supine position. Hemodynamic variables were measured in the following sequence: 10 min after induction, 1, 5, and 10 min following the designated position, and 1 and 5 min after returning to the supine position. Ten min later, the other position was applied to measure the same hemodynamic variables. RESULTS: During the exaggerated lithotomy position, cerebral and coronary perfusion pressure increased significantly (P < 0.01) without a change in cardiac output. During straight leg raising, cardiac output increased at 5 min (P < 0.05) and cerebral and coronary perfusion pressures did not increase except for cerebral perfusion pressure at 1 min. However, the difference between the two groups at each time point in terms of cerebral perfusion pressure was clinically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Full flexion of the hips and knees in the supine position did not increase cardiac output but may be more beneficial than straight leg raising in terms of coronary perfusion pressure.

Comparison of cardioprotection between sevoflurane-remifentanil and midazolam-sufentanil total intravenous anesthesia during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

BACKGROUND: Volatile agents have been reported to protect myocardium against ischemia. But, there were a few clinical reports about the myocardial protection of inhalation agents. So we investigated the cardiac protection of sevoflurane in comparison with total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). The study is a retrospective unrandomized study via the medical record review. METHODS: The records of 102 patients who received off-pump CABG were reviewed. One patient group received TIVA by midazolam and sufentanil continuous infusion (TIVA group, n = 68), and the other patient group received an inhalational anesthesia by sevoflurane (sevoflurane group, n = 34). Except maintenance of anesthesia, two groups of patients received an identical surgical, anesthetical, and postoperative care. At arrival in the intensive care unit, and after 1, 2, 3 and 5 days, serum cardiac enzyme levels were measured. RESULTS: All the median values of cardiac enzyme concentrations were lower in the sevoflurane group than TIVA group. Moreover, there were the significant differences between groups at the immediate postoperative CK-MB (median 4.7 ng/ml versus 5.9 ng/ml (P = 0.049)), 1-5 days postoperative LD (1 day 271.5 U/L versus 292 U/L (P = 0.045), 2 day 227.5 U/L versus 270 U/L (P = 0.009), 3 day 215 U/L versus 250 U/L (P = 0.030), 5 day 218 U/L versus 231 U/L (P = 0.005)), and 1, 3 postoperative troponin I level (0.485 ng/ml versus 1.12 ng/ml [P = 0.029], 0.090 ng/ml versus 0.235 ng/ml [P = 0.047] respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane lowered cardiac enzyme levels in comparison with TIVA after off-pump CABG anesthesia. These data suggest a cardioprotective effect of sevoflurane during CABG.

One-lung ventilation with a bronchial blocker through a single-lumen endotracheal tube in a small woman: A case report

One-lung ventilation with a double-lumen endotracheal tube or a Univent(R) tube may be difficult or dangerous in small patients, children, and patients with anatomic abnormalities of the airway. The use of a bronchial blocker through a single-lumen endotracheal tube has been used successfully in such situations. A 69-year-old woman was scheduled for Ivor-Lewis operation and right upper lobectomy. She could not be intubated with a internal diameter 6.0 mm Univent(R) tube owing to narrow diameter of the vocal cord. We report a successful one-lung ventilation using a Uniblocker(R) through an adult-size single-lumen endotracheal tube in a small woman, who needed postoperative ventilator care.

Spreading pattern of contrast medium in the high thoracic epidural space in rabbits: the effect of neck flexion and extension / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Neck flexion has been shown to increase cranial spread of contrast agent when a small fixed volume was injected into the high thoracic epidural space. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of volume of contrast medium on its distribution through the high thoracic epidural space during neck extension and flexion using the rabbit model. METHODS: An epidural catheter was introduced into the epidural space of New Zealand white rabbits with the tip located at the T3-4 intervertebral level. The neck was extended or flexed (n = 8 for each group), and the contrast medium was injected with the volume increasing by increments of 0.1 ml/kg, up to 0.3 ml/kg. The spread of contrast medium was determined by counting the number of vertebral body units using lateral epidurographic images. RESULTS: In both groups, the total spread of contrast medium was similar, increasing continuously with injected volume. The cranial spread was greater in the flexion group than the extension group. However, the caudal spread was greater in the extension than in the flexion group. In the extension group, the contrast medium spread caudally about twice as far as it spread cranially, but there was no statistically significant difference between cranial and caudal spread in the flexion group. CONCLUSIONS: In the high thoracic epidural space of rabbit, the contrast medium of varying doses showed limited cranial spread. The flexion of the neck increased cranial spread and extension of the neck increased caudal spread.

Preoperative platelet response to collagen is associated with myocardial injury after off-pump coronary bypass graft in patients taking aspirin / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that, even in patients taking aspirin, the variance of preoperative platelet response to collagen might be associated with myocardial injury during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between preoperative whole-blood aggregometry (WBA) by collagen and the postoperative myocardial injuries. METHODS: For 44 patients who were scheduled for elective off-pump CABG and taking aspirin, WBA was measured by the impedance method in the presence of collagen (2 mg/ml or 5 mg/ml) as stimulatory agents. After CABG, myocardial injury was evaluated by analysis of the creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LD), and by electrocardiography. RESULTS: High response group (n = 13) on preoperative WBA with collagen (2 and 5 mg/ml) showed significantly higher postoperative cardiac enzyme levels (CK, CK-MB and LD) than those of low response group (n = 31). CONCLUSIONS: In patients who take aspirin and undergoing off-pump CABG, the preoperative platelet response to collagen is correlated with postoperative myocardial injury.

Effect of vasopressin on survival of Purkinje neurons in rat cerebellar slices after an in vitro simulated ischemia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is frequently used in patients under the risk of brain injury. It has been shown to induce brain injury after ischemia and reperfusion in in vivo animal models. We determined the effect of vasopressin on the brain injury after ischemia-reperfusion using in vitro model. METHODS: Cerebellar brain slices were prepared from adult Sprague-Dawley rats. They were then subjected to simulated ischemia (oxygen-glucose deprivation) for 20 min in the absence (control) or presence of vasopressin (5, 10, 50, 100, 500 pg/ml). After being recovered in oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid for 5 h, they were fixed for morphologic examination to determine the percentage of live Purkinje cells. RESULTS: There were no differences in the survival rate of Purkinje cells among the control and vasopressin groups. CONCLUSIONS: Vasopressin at concentrations studied has no direct effect on brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Perioperative cerebral infarct during cardiac surgery and changes in jugular venous O2 saturation and cerebral oximetry using near-infrared spectroscopy: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Despite reductions in surgical mortality, neurologic sequelae remain a devastating complication after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Neurologic complications may be induced by a massive air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass, even with extensive monitoring. This report describes a patient who had a fatal cerebral infarct during aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement surgery. We monitored jugular venous O2 saturation (SjvO2) and cerebral oximetry using near-infrared spectroscopy in the perioperative period. The operation and anesthesia were uneventful until the deep hypothermic total arrest for the replacement of the ascending aorta. However, restarting the cardiopulmonary bypass after deep hypothermic total arrest produced a brief (less than 10 seconds) but large amount of air in the root cannula. At this time, although cerebral oximetry did not show any changes, the SjvO2 decreased to 21% for about 3 minutes and then normalized. At 8 hours after surgery, the patient showed seizures and severe edema in both cerebral hemispheres on the MRI. The patient died 21 days after surgery.

Use of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation device during bilateral sequential lung transplantation: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 51-year-old man with dermatomyositis and severe interstitial pulmonary disease was planed for bilateral sequential lung transplantation under general anesthesia. He was supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) because of respiratory failure in the preoperative period. ECMO was used during induction and maintenance of anesthesia. After the reperfusion, ECMO was successfully weaned. Postoperatively, the patient was transferred to intensive care unit and discharged without serious complications.

Left Ventricular Rupture Immediately after Mitral Valve Replacement: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Rupture of the left ventricle is a dreadful complication after mitral valve replacement.It is infrequent but potentially lethal. We have experienced a case of sudden hemorrhagic shock immediately after arriving at intensive care unit postoperatively and revealed left ventricle rupture on resternotomy.The possible mechanism and surgical maneuver are reviewed and the preventive measures in aspect of anesthetic management are discussed.

Anaphylaxis by atracurium on a cardiac surgery patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Effective treatment of hypotension during induction of general anesthesia depends onhow well the many causes of the hypotension are understood. However, differential diagnosis of hypotension is by no means easy, especially when the prevalenceof hypotension is low or when the patient is asymptomatic. A 75 year-old female, upon induction of general anesthesia for open thoracic surgery, became hypotensive and showed generalized erythematous papules, therefore having to postpone the surgery. Upon further evaluation through skin prick tests, the hypotensive event was concluded to be caused by anaphylactic side effects of atracurium. Hence, atracurium was avoided and the surgery was successfully performed.

Perioperative Hypotension due to Systolic Anterior Motion of the Mitral Valve with Left Ventricular Outflow Track Obstruction during Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM) is well known in the concentric left ventricular hypertrophy or post mitral valvuloplasty. However, SAM has not been reported in Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). Preoperatively, SAM in combination with a left ventricular outflow tract obstruction leads to severe cardiovascular destabilization. Moreover, a diagnosis of SAM is very important because the administration of conventional therapy to hypotension can aggravate SAM. We report a patient with un-identified left ventricular wall hypertrophy or mitral valve regurgitation, who was diagnosed with SAM by TEE during OPCAB. This report describes the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the perioperative management of SAM.

Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia during Continuous Veno-Venous Hemodiafiltration after Total Aortic Arch Replacement: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immunologically mediated complication of heparin therapy resulting in the consumption of platelets and a catastrophic thromboembolism. Both the clinical and laboratory features are important for a diagnosis of HIT. There have been 3 case reports of suspected HIT in Korea. However none have satisfied the laboratory features. We experienced a case of HIT, which satisfied both clinical and laboratory features, in a patient who received heparin during continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHD) used to treat acute renal failure that developed after a total aortic arch replacement with a cardiopulmonary bypass. The decreased platelet count and obstruction of extracorporeal filter of CVVHD by the blood clot was observed while receiving unfractionated heparin. The serum from the patient contained the anti heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody, and the condition was thus diagnosed as HIT. Argatroban, which is a direct thrombin inhibitor, was used to treat the thrombosis.

The Impact of Cardiac Surgery with Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest on Systemic Inflammatory Response and Postoperative Morbidity in Adults

BACKGROUND: The inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery is believed to play an important role in the end organ dysfunction after open heart surgery. The effect of temperature on the post-bypass inflammatory response has been studied in normothermic and hypothermic patients. This study compared the influence on the systemic inflammatory response and postoperative morbidity in hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass patients with those in patients in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing elective redo-valvular replacement or double valve replacement using a hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (26-28oC, H Group) and 9 patients undergoing an elective ascending aortic aneurysm replacement using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (16oC, D Group) were prospectively investigated. The serum samples were collected to estimate the interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels immediately after induction, 30 min after the initiation of the CPB, 30 min after weaning from the CPB, 2 hours after the CPB, 24 hours after the CPB. RESULTS: Patients preoperative and intraoperative characteristics (age, gender, aortic cross clamping time, cardiopulmonary bypass time) were not similar in the two groups. The serum level of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were also similar in the two groups. There were no statistical differences in the intubation time, ICU stay and oxygenation index (arterial PO2/inspired fraction of oxygen). There were also no statistical differences in the incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and the APACHE II scores. CONCLUSIONS: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was not shown to produce a more profound inflammatory response or influence the postoperative morbidity than a hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting under Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia in the Awake Patient: Initial Experiences of 12 Cases / 대한마취과학회지

.7 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience confirms the feasibility of performing ACAB under TEA. However, high rate of conversion to general anesthesia and development of pneumotorax should be considered. Therefore, the actual and potential risks of ACAB under TEA should not be underestimated.

Anesthetic Management of Endovascular Stent Graft Placement for Thoracic Aortic Diseases: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Endovascular aortic repair is a new alternative to conventional surgical repair of aortic pathology. It is a less invasive technique and gives less hemodynamic stress to the patients who may have concomitant systemic diseases, compared with open aortic reconstruction. We report 2 cases of patients with thoracic aortic diseases, who underwent endovascular stent graft placement under general anesthesia. We also include a review of the literature about anesthetic management of endovascular aortic repair and present our opinions about the need to choose a suitable anesthetic technique for each patient, the method to recognize and handle the possible complications and hemodynamic changes to which we have to pay attention during procedures.

Novel Self-inflating Resuscitators Maintaining High FiO2 with High Minute Ventilation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Self inflating resuscitators are widely used for the patients who need positive pressure ventilation during transport. During self inflating resuscitator ventilation, the FiO2 may decreases even with the use of the oxygen reservoir. Such phenomenon may increase the difficulty and risk of transport of the critically ill patients. Twin self inflating resuscitator was assembled by being modified from two conventional ones to achieve more stable FiO2. METHODS: The twin self inflating resuscitator and one conventional adult self inflating resuscitator were tested on a test lung. In the twin resuscitator, two adult self inflating resuscitators were connected serially without distal unidirectional valve plate. The resuscitators were compressed at variable tidal volumes, respiratory rates and oxygen flow rates, guided by the monitor. RESULTS: With conventional self inflating resuscitator ventilation, the FiO2 was maintained over 95% until minute ventilation of 7,500, 1,4000, 17,500 ml at respectively 5, 10, 15 L/min oxygen flow rate. With serial type, the FiO2 started to decrease with the minute ventilation over 12,500, 24,000, 28,000 ml at 5, 10, 15 L/min oxygen flow rate. CONCLUSIONS: By simple connection of two self inflating resuscitators, the FiO2 during self inflating resuscitator ventilation could be maintained during almost two times of minute ventilation compared to conventional ones.