Maintenance of balance between airway pressure and intracranial pressure in a patient with tracheal stenosis undergoing craniotomy: a case report / Manutenção do equilíbrio entre a pressão das vias aéreas e a pressão intracraniana em paciente com estenose traqueal submetido à craniotomia: relato de caso

Abstract Background and objectives: Tracheal stenosis is a rare but a life-threatening condition and anesthesia of a patient with tracheal stenosis is challenging for anesthesiologists. Maintaining stable hemodynamics and ventilation parameters are important issues in neuroanesthesia. Any increase in airway peak pressure and ETCO2 will result in increase in intracranial pressure which must be avoided during craniotomies. Tracheal stenosis could be a reason for increased airway pressure. Case report: We described a patient undergoing craniotomy with tracheal stenosis. Conclusion: Detailed preparation for intubation, to stabilize airway dynamics and to make the right decision for the surgery were important points. To maintain of a good balance between cerebral dynamics and airway dynamics were the pearls of this case.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Estenose traqueal é uma doença rara, mas de risco, e a anestesia em paciente com estenose traqueal é um desafio para os anestesiologistas. Manter os parâmetros hemodinâmicos estáveis e a ventilação são questões importantes em neuroanestesia. Qualquer aumento da pressão de pico das vias aéreas e da ETCO2 resultará em aumento da pressão intracraniana, o que deve ser evitado durante craniotomias. A estenose traqueal pode ser uma razão para o aumento da pressão das vias aéreas. Relato de caso: Descrevemos o caso de um paciente submetido à craniotomia com estenose traqueal. Conclusão: A preparação detalhada para a intubação, estabilizar a dinâmica das vias aéreas e tomar a decisão certa para a cirurgia foram pontos importantes. Manter um bom equilíbrio entre a dinâmica cerebral e a dinâmica das vias aéreas foi a pérola deste caso.

Effect of pipecuronium and pancuronium on intracranial pressure and cardiovascular parameters in patients with supratentorial tumours.

A prospective, randomised, single blind study was conducted to evaluate and compare the intracranial pressure (ICP) and cardiovascular effects of pipecuronium (PPC) and pancuronium (PNC) in 20 patients undergoing supratentorial surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in Group I (n = 10) received pancuronium (0.1 mg kg(-1)) and in Group II (n = 10) pipecuronium (0.07 mg kg(-1)) for intubation. Intracranial pressure (ICP), heart rate (HR), systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures (SAP, DAP, MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), nasopharyngeal temperature and arterial blood gases (ABG) were monitored at the following time periods: before induction (0 minutes); 3 minutes after thiopentone and muscle relaxant; immediately after intubation; and 4, 6, 8, 10, 20 and 30 minutes following intubation. The rise in intracranial pressure at intubation was significantly greater in group I (21.10+/-3.97 torr, 122.59%) when compared to group II patients (1.80+/-0.70 torr, 10.04%) (p<0.0 1). Cardiovascular parameters also showed a significantly greater degree of rise in group I when compared to group II patients. Heart rate increased by 29+/-6.32 beats min(-1) (33.52%) and systolic arterial pressure by 11.60+/-7.37 torr (9.47%) in group I. These parameters did not change significantly in group II. No significant alterations were observed in the other measured parameters in either of the two groups.