Neumoencéfalo a tensión tras cirugía intracraneal en posición supina / Tension pneumocephalus after intracraneal surgery in the supine position

El neumoencéfalo a tensión es una complicación grave, poco frecuente, que aparece tras cirugía de la fosa posterior con pacientes en posición sentada. Esta complicación puede amenazar la vida del paciente y requerir tratamiento inmediato. Sin embargo, el neumoencéfalo a tensión tras cirugía intracraneal en posición supina se ha publicado en raras ocasiones. Presentamos un caso de neumoencéfalo a tensión tras una craneotomía para la exéresis de un proceso expansivo frontotemporal izquierdo realizada en posición supina (AU)

Tension pneumocephalus is a rare and severe com¬plication appearing after posterior fossa procedures in the sitting position. This complication may endanger the pacientes life and require immediate treatment. However, tension pneumocephalus after neurosurgical procedure in the supine position have been scarcely reported. We report such a complication occurring in a 14-year-old girl submitted to a frontotemporal cra¬niotomy for removal of an astrocytome performed with the patient supine. We discuss ethiopathogenesis and management of this complication (AU)

[Precurarization with rocuronium prevents fasciculations and biochemical changes after succinylcholine administration]. / La precurarización con rocuronio previene las fasciculaciones y los cambios bioquímicos tras la administración de succinilcolina.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of rocuronium to prevent fasciculations and biochemical changes after succinylcholine administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective, randomized double-blind trial enrolling 60 ASA I-II patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were assigned to 2 groups to receive either 0.06 mg x Kg(-1) of rocuronium or physiological saline solution 90 seconds before administration of 1.5 mg x Kg(-1) of succinylcholine. The incidence and severity of fasciculations and serum concentrations of potassium before anesthesia and 3, 5, and 20 minutes after succinylcholine administration were recorded. Other serum concentrations recorded were myoglobin, creatinine phosphokinase and lactate before anesthesia and 20 minutes after succinylcholine administration. RESULTS: The increases in potassium levels at 3 and 5 minutes (0.3 +/- 0.3 and 0.2 +/- 0.4 mmol x L(-1)) and in myoglobin levels at 20 minutes (38.9 +/- 31.7 ng x mL(-1)) were attenuated by precurarization with rocuronium. The incidence of fasciculations was significantly lower (p<0.001) and their severity significantly less (p<0.001) in patients who received rocuronium before administration of succinylcholine. CONCLUSIONS: Precurarization with rocuronium 90 seconds before succinylcholine administration reduces the incidence and severity of fasciculations and prevents increases in serum potassium and myoglobin concentrations.

[Effects of sevoflurane on mid-latency auditory evoked potentials and the 95% spectral frequency limit]. / Efectos del sevoflurano sobre los potenciales evocados auditivos de latencia media y límite de frecuencia espectral 95%.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of sevoflurane on mid-latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP) and compare them to changes in the encephalographic 95% spectral edge frequency (SEF95). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The effect of sevoflurane on MLAEP and SEF95 was studied in 15 patients. Anesthetic induction was carried out with propofol, remifentanil, and cisatracurium. After anesthetic induction, the patients were ventilated to achieve different expired concentrations of sevoflurane (1%, 1.5%, and 2%) during 3 consecutive 10-minute periods before the start of surgery. SEF95 and the amplitude and latency of the Na, Pa and Nb MLAEP waves were recorded. All the parameters were measured at baseline and during the different expired fractions of sevoflurane. RESULTS: The increase in sevoflurane concentration was accompanied by a significant decrease in amplitude and a statistically significant increase in latency of the Na, Pa and Nb waves. Likewise, SEF95 decreased significantly. A linear relation was demonstrated between sevoflurane concentration and the variables Na, Pa, Nb and SEF95. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the effect of sevoflurane on the MLEAP of Na, Pa and Nb is similar to that of other anesthetic gases. Even though the amplitude of the Na, Pa and Nb waves decreased in a dose-dependent way, SEF95 correlated more strongly with sevoflurane concentration.

La precurarización con rocuronio previene las fasciculaciones y los cambios bioquímicos tras la administración de succinilcolina / Precurarization with rocuronium prevents fasciculations and biochemical changes after succinylcholine administration

OBJETIVO: El propósito del presente estudio es determinar la eficacia del rocuronio en la prevención de las fasciculaciones y de los cambios bioquímicos que aparecen tras la administración de succinilcolina. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo, aleatorio y doble ciego sobre 60 pacientes ASA I-II programados para cirugía electiva bajo anestesia general, distribuidos en 2 grupos según recibieran 0,06 mg-Kg-1 de rocuronio o suero fisiológico 90 segundos antes de la administración de 1,5 mg-Kg-1 de succinilcolina. Se registraron en ambos grupos la incidencia y severidad de las fasciculaciones y las concentraciones séricas de potasio previo a la anestesia y a los 3, 5 y 20 minutos de la administración de succinilcolina. Así mismo, se registraron las concentraciones séricas de mioglobina, creatininfosfoquinasa y lactato antes de la anestesia y a los 20 minutos de la administración de succinilcolina. RESULTADOS: El aumento del potasio a los 3 y 5 minutos (0,3 ñ 0,3 y 0,2 ñ 0,4 mmol-l-1) y de los niveles de mioglobina a los 20 minutos (38,9 ñ 31,7 ng-ml-1), fueron atenuados por la precurarización con rocuronio. La incidencia (p < 0,001) y severidad de las fasciculaciones (p < 0,001) fueron significativamente menores en los pacientes que recibieron rocuronio antes de la administración de succinilcolina. CONCLUSIONES: La precurarización con rocuronio, 90 segundos antes de la administración de succinilcolina, reduce la incidencia y severidad de las fasciculaciones y previene el aumento del potasio y de la mioglobina sérica (AU)

[Tension pneumocephalus after intracranial surgery in the supine position]. / Neumoencéfalo a tensión tras cirugía intracraneal en posición supina.

Tension pneumocephalus is a rare and severe complication appearing after posterior fossa procedures in the sitting position. This complication may endanger the patient's life and require immediate treatment. However, tension pneumocephalus after neurosurgical procedure in the supine position have been scarcely reported. We report such a complication occurring in a 14-year-old girl submitted to a frontotemporal craniotomy for removal of an astrocytome performed with the patient supine. We discuss ethiopathogenesis and management of this complication.