Anesthetic Chalenges And Managment In Patient With Ataxia- Telangiectasia.

Louis-Bar Syndrome is a synonym for a very rare complex neurodegenerative disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). This is an autosomal recessive inherited disease that encompasses abnormalities in the cerebellum, multisystem degeneration, immunodeficiency, increased risk for malignancy and consecutive respiratory insufficiency. Most of the patients are radiosensitive and any exposing to ionization may lead to progression of the disease. Potential risks from anesthesia, mechanical ventilation, and postoperative complications in these patients have been insufficiently discussed in the literature. We present a successful anesthetic and respiratory management with one-lung ventilation in a patient with Louis-Bar Syndrome who underwent video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) for recurrent pleural effusion.

Major abdominal surgery for Jehovah's Witnesses: Challenge while practicing bloodless medicine in a middle income country.

We present a 59-year-old female Jehovah's Witness patient transferred from another facility to our tertiary center as an emergency case owing to anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding. A computed tomography scan and gastroscopy confirmed an invasion of the duodenum by a malignant process. The patient underwent a Whipple procedure and a right hemicolectomy refusing blood transfusion. On the 17th postoperative day, the patient was discharged following a successful surgery. This article's objectives are to first highlight the moral and ethical quandary and then share our surgical experiences with this particular patient population. In conclusion, Jehovah's Witnesses' management of major abdominal surgery poses considerable clinical, moral, and legal difficulties. Despite them, doctors must put the patients' needs first while also honoring their religious convictions. However, urgent situations continue to arise, forcing medical professionals to weigh their religious convictions against the need to save a patient's life.

Medium-Flow Oxygenation Through Facial Mask and Nasal Cannula in a Limited Resource Setting.

Introduction: In centers with limited resources, a high flow nasal cannula is not available, thus we assess if preoxygenation with 15L flow of O2 available from anesthesia machines can prolong the safety period of induction of anesthesia before intubation and provide more time for securing the airway. Moreover, we compared the preoxygenation with standard 6L vs. 15L O2 through a facemask or a nasal cannula. Material and methods: Patients were allocated into four groups. Group I patients were preoxygenated with a nasal cannula on 6L of oxygen, patients in group II were preoxygenated with a nasal cannula on 15L of oxygen, patients in group III were preoxygenated with a facemask on 6L of oxygen, and patients in group IV were preoxygenated with a facemask on 15L of oxygen. The primary endpoint was time to desaturation and intubation. The secondary endpoints were PaO2, PaCO2, Sat% and ETCO2. Results: The groups with 15L preoxygenation had a statistically significant prolonged time to desaturation and intubation. Patients allocated to group II have a statistically significant greater PaO2 and lesser ETCO2 compered with group I. However, between patients in group III and IV there is a difference only in PaCO2, and although this effect is significant, both groups have values within the normal range. Conclusion: In centers with limited resources, preoxygenation with the maximum available oxygen flow from anesthesia machines (15L/min) are useful. This prolongs the safety period for securing the airway. We suggest the use of the maximum available amount of oxygen flow from anesthesia machines in clinical settings.

Survey of Current Difficult Airway Management Practice.

BACKGROUND: Even for the most experienced anesthesiologists "can't ventilate can't intubate" scenario in difficult airway management is challenging, and although rare it is life-threatening. AIM: The aim of this survey was to analyse the current practice of difficult airway management at our University teaching hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A ten-question-survey was conducted in the Tertiary University Teaching Hospital "Mother Theresa", Clinic for Anesthesia, Reanimation and Intensive Care. The survey included demographic data, experience in training anaesthesia, practice in management of anticipated and non-anticipated difficult airway scenario, preferable equipment and knowledge of guidelines and protocols. Responses were noted, evaluated and analysed with the SPSS statistical program. RESULTS: The overall response rate was very good; 94.5% answered the survey. During the assessment of the level of comfort with diverse airway equipment, there was diversity of answers due the experience of anaesthesia training, although the most frequent technique among all responders for anticipated difficult intubation was video laryngoscopy (48%). As for non-anticipated difficult intubation when conventional techniques failed to secure the airway most of the responders answered that they used supra-gothic airway device - laryngeal mask (38%) as a rescue measure. CONCLUSION: Airway assessment, adequate training, experience, and availability of essential equipment are the pillars of successful airway management.

Topical anesthetics for pediatric laser treatment.

Topical anesthetic agent causes transient insensibility to pain in a limited area of skin, and provides effective anesthesia in a short onset time, short duration, with seldom local or systemic side effects on intact skin and is simple to use. Topical formulations may offer significant benefits for prevention of procedural pain. Currently, they are considered to be the most effective anesthesia for laser treatments. Unfortunately, there is no standard anesthetic technique for this procedure. Lasers are being widely used in numerous dermatological and esthetics treatments in childhood. The advancement of new knowledge in laser technology have contributed to the development of new lasers that are commonly used in a pediatric population, such as Pulsed Dye, Carbon-dioxide and Nd:YAG laser. The most commonly used topical anesthetics in young patients for minimally or moderately painful laser cutaneous procedures are Lidocaine, Prilocaine, Tetracaine gel and combinations thereof.

Evaluation of factors for poor outcome in preterm newborns with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis.

PURPOSE: Preterm newborns, due to many factors, are at increased risk for poor neural development, intraventricular hemorrhages, infections, and higher rate of mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with poor outcome in preterm neonates with late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) who had posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and underwent neurosurgical procedures for treatment of the hydrocephalus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Preterm neonates who had undergone insertion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt or Ommaya reservoir, during the 10-year period at University Children's Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. According to the presence or absence of LONS, patients were divided into LONS group and non-LONS group. In both groups, we analyzed demographic and clinical data as well as nondependent factors. Additionally, we evaluated the patients who had lethal outcome in respect to all the analyzed factors. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients were included in the study, 35 in LONS group and 39 in control group. Patients in LONS group were born significantly earlier with lower birth weight, needed significantly higher O2 inspiratory concentration, and had longer duration of mechanical ventilation when compared to the nonseptic group. Five patients in LONS group had lethal outcome, and for these patients we identified a grade American Society of Anaesthesiologists score of 4 (P=0.000), ductus arteriosus persistens (P=0.000), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P=0.003), and pneumothorax (P=0.003) as independent preoperative risk factors for lethal outcome. CONCLUSION: Neurosurgical procedures are relatively safe in neonates with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus without LONS after birth. However, if LONS is present, various conditions such as preoperative high grade American Society of Anaesthesiologists score, ductus arteriosus persistens, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and pneumothorax markedly increase the risk for a lethal outcome after the operation.

Myasthenia Gravis and Associated Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by the action of specific antibodies to the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction, leading to impaired neuromuscular transmission. Patients with MG have an increased incidence of other autoimmune diseases. AIM: to determine the presence of other associated diseases in patients with MG. METHOD: A group of 127 patients with MG followed in 10 years period, in which the presence of other associated diseases has been analysed. RESULTS: The sex ratio is in favour of the female sex, the average age of the initial manifestation of the disease is less than 50 years, 65.4% of the patients with MG have another disease. 15.0% patients have associated another autoimmune disease. Thyroid disease is the most common associated with MG, rarely rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. Other diseases include hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, dyslipidemia. 10.2% of the patients are diagnosed with extrathymic tumours of various origins. CONCLUSION: Associated diseases are common in patients with MG, drawing attention to the possible common basis for their coexistence, as well as their impact on the intensity and treatment of the disease.

The Influence of Smoking on the Variations in Carboxyhemoglobin and Methemoglobin During Urologic Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery is supposed to modulate the production of carbon monoxide by the reduction of heme oxygenase activity or transcriptional regulation of inducible heme oxygenase. On the other hand, the inhalation of tobacco smoke can substantially raise the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Furthermore, methemoglobin is maintained at a constant level. However, excessive production of methemoglobin relative to total methemoglobin reductase activity results in methemoglobin increase. AIM: The aim of our study was to investigate the perioperative variations of carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin during urologic surgeries, and at the same time to evaluate the changes in methemoglobin as a possible indicator of nitric oxide generation. Our second aim was to evaluate the effect of preoxygenation on the level of carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin and the influence of blood transfusion on their changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients scheduled for urologic surgery under general endotracheal anesthesia, aged 18-60 years without any history of respiratory disease, divided into two groups. The study group comprised patients who were smoking cigarettes or tobacco pipe, while the control group included non-smokers. In both groups carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) levels were determined preoperatively, after preoxygenation, and postoperatively. RESULTS: COHb levels were decreased postoperatively in both groups. The average values of COHb between the two groups were statistically significantly different (p=0.00). MetHb levels increased postoperatively in the group of smokers and decreased in the group of non-smokers. There were no statistically significant differences in the average postoperative MetHb levels between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Changes in carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin concentrations in arterial blood occur during urologic surgery, although these amplitudes are small when compared with carbon monoxide intoxication and methemoglobinemia. It is likely that organ perfusion and functions are affected by these monoxide gas mediators during urologic surgery.

Impact of Size of the Tumour, Persistence of Estrogen Receptors, Progesterone Receptors, HER2Neu Receptors and Ki67 Values on Positivity of Axillary Lymph Nodes in Patients with Early Breast Cancer with Clinically Negative Axillary Examination.

AIM: The study aimed to identify factors that influence the positivity of axillary lymph nodes in patients with early breast cancer and clinically negative axillary lymph nodes, who were subjected for modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymphadenectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 81 surgically treated, early breast cancer patients during the period from 08-2015 to 05-2017. All the cases have been analysed by standard histological analysis including macroscopic and microscopic examination by routine H&E staining. For determination of molecular receptors, immunostaining by PT LINK immunoperoxidase has been done for HER2neu, ER, PR, p53 and Ki67. RESULTS: Patients age ranged between 31-73 years, an average of 56.86 years. The mean size of a primary tumour in the surgically treated patient was 20.33 ± 6.0 mm. Axillary dissection revealed from 5 to 32 lymph nodes, with an average of 14. Metastases have been found in 1 to 7 lymph nodes, with an average 0.7. Only 26 (32.1%) of the patients showed metastases in the axillary lymph nodes. The univariant regression analysis showed that the size of a tumour and presence of HER2neu receptors on cancer cells influence the positivity of the axillary lymph nodes. The presence of the estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors have no influence on the positivity for metastatic deposits of lymph nodes. Multivariant model and logistic regression analysis as significant independent factors or predictors of positivity of the axillary lymph nodes are influenced by the tumour size only. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the metastatic involvement of the axillary lymph nodes is mainly influenced by the size of a tumour and presence of HER2neu receptors in the univariant analysis. This point to the important influence of positivity of the axillary lymph nodes but, in multi-variant regressive analysis the lymph node status correlates with the tumour size only.

Evaluation of Anesthesia Profile in Pediatric Patients after Inguinal Hernia Repair with Caudal Block or Local Wound Infiltration.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate anesthesia and recovery profile in pediatric patients after inguinal hernia repair with caudal block or local wound infiltration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective interventional clinical study, the anesthesia and recovery profile was assessed in sixty pediatric patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair. Enrolled children were randomly assigned to either Group Caudal or Group Local infiltration. For caudal blocks, Caudal Group received 1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine; Local Infiltration Group received 0.2 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine. Investigator who was blinded to group allocation provided postoperative care and assessments. Postoperative pain was assessed. Motor functions and sedation were assessed as well. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ in terms of patient characteristic data and surgical profiles and there weren't any hemodynamic changes between groups. Regarding the difference between groups for analgesic requirement there were two major points - on one hand it was statistically significant p < 0.05 whereas on the other hand time to first analgesic administration was not statistically significant p = 0.40. There were significant differences in the incidence of adverse effects in caudal and local group including: vomiting, delirium and urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: Between children undergoing inguinal hernia repair, local wound infiltration insures safety and satisfactory analgesia for surgery. Compared to caudal block it is not overwhelming. Caudal block provides longer analgesia, however complications are rather common.

Insulin Resistance, Glycemia and Cortisol Levels in Surgical Patients who Had Preoperative Caloric Load with Amino Acids.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical stress response, results in elevated levels of anti-insulin hormones and reduced insulin secretion. This hormonal state may be detrimental for surgical patients due to the presence of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Additionally, pre-operative fasting favors this conditions. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of pre-operative caloric load, with 440kJ from amino acid infusions on the levels of glucose, cortisol and insulin resistance in surgical patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 20 female patients scheduled for mastectomy, aged 30-60 years without diabetes and BMI < 30 m(2), divided into two groups. The study group A, the evening before the surgery, received 1000 ml amino acid infusions, while the control group B didn't receive any infusion. In both groups glucose, C-peptide and cortisol levels were determinate preoperatively and postoperatively. From the obtained C-peptide and glucose values, with the help of computer model (HOMA2*), the insulin resistance (IR), functionality of beta cells (BETA) and insulin sensitivity (IS) were calculated. RESULTS: Postoperative values of insulin resistance (0.94 ± 0.12 vs 1.13 ± 0.2; p = 0.02) and glucose (4.79 ± 0.5 vs 5.77 ± 0.6; p = 0.002) were lower in the study group compared to control group. Postoperative cortisol levels in both groups were higher than the preoperative, but no significant difference was found. The study group showed higher values for BETA and IS. Percentage changes between the groups were significant for all parameters. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative caloric load (amino acids) reduces the level of insulin resistance and glucose in the presence of elevated cortisol levels.

Continuous femoral nerve block versus fascia iliaca compartment block as postoperative analgesia in patients with hip fracture.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic postoperative analgesia is inefficient in most patients with hip fracture, which is the reason for pain, especially during leg movement. Peripheral and plexus nerve blocks are an efficient option for postoperative pain relief. The aim of this study was to compare the effect and duration of continuous FNB versus a single FIC block as a postoperative analgesia in patients with hip fracture. METHODS: Sixty patients with hip fracture were included and were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 patients: FNB group - patients with continuous femoral nerve block; and FIC group -patients with a single fascia iliaca compartment block. In all patients, pain intensity was measured at rest and in passive leg movement by using VDS (0-4) at several intervals: 1, 2, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after intervention. The amount of supplemental analgesia was measured, together with the time when the patient needed it for the first time, as well as the side effects. RESULTS: The values of VDS were significantly lower in patients with FNB block versus patients with FIC block in rest and movement at the 24-hour intervals (46.67% vs 0% felt moderate pain), after 36 hours (43.33% vs 0% felt moderate pain) and 48 hours after intervention (46.67% vs 3.33% felt moderate to severe pain) for p < 0.05. Patients with FNB block received a significantly lower amount of supplemental analgesia, 23.3% of the FNB group vs 50% of the FIC group (p < 0.05). Registered side effects were were nausea, dizziness and sedation, and they were statistically significantly more frequent in the FIC group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pain relief in the postoperative period was superior in the FNB group versus the FIC group at rest and in movement in patients with hip fracture.