Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a patient on simvastatin : Delayed recovery from neuromuscular blockade.

Delayed recovery from anesthesia remains a very challenging subject for anesthesiologists. This case report describes the clinical course of delayed recovery from neuromuscular blockade after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a patient on simvastatin. The patient was hypertensive on regular treatment with oral captopril 25 mg twice daily and amlodipine 5 mg once daily and hypercholesterolemic on regular simvastatin 40 mg once daily with a normal electrocardiogram (ECG). All preoperative laboratory findings were within normal ranges. The patient was premedicated with midazolam 1 mg and general anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2 µg/kg body weight, propofol 2 mg/kg and rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg/kg to facilitate tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with inhalation of isoflurane 1.0-1.5 % in 40 % oxygen-enriched air and 25 µg boluses of fentanyl. The patient did not require any additional rocuronium throughout surgery which was finished after 4 h. The patient most probably had preoperative simvastatin-induced myotoxicity. This potentiated the muscle relaxant effect of rocuronium bromide and was the reason for patient unresponsiveness and delayed postoperative recovery. We can conclude that anesthesiologists should preoperatively identify statin myotoxicity and to avoid neuromuscular blocking drugs for statin-treated patients. Also, preoperative adjustment of statin dosage may be recommended.

Optimizing the modified laparoscopic Vecchietti procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To enhance the modified laparoscopic Vecchietti procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case series of five women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia underwent the modified laparoscopic Vecchietti procedure with intraperitoneal placement of sutures. This involved perforation of the vaginal dimple by a straight thread guide with two threads attached to the olive followed by pulling the two threads intra-peritoneally and through the abdominal wall to the traction device by grasping instruments under laparoscopic control. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal placement of the sutures was easily done without complications in all five women. The operative time was 50 ± 10 (mean ± SD) minutes. After five postoperative days, the average vaginal length was seven to 7.5 cm. Two women were able to have vaginal intercourse without problems. After six months to one year of follow up, the vaginal length was at least ten cm and no postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal placement of sutures makes the modified laparoscopic Vecchietti procedure easy and appealing. Furthermore, it avoids potential damage to the vital structures at the pelvic side walls.

Lidocaine vs. magnesium: effect on analgesia after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: This double-blinded study aimed at evaluating and comparing the effects of magnesium and lidocaine on pain, analgesic requirements, bowel function, and quality of sleep in patients undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: Patients were randomized into three groups (n=40 each). Group M received magnesium sulfate 50 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.), followed by 25 mg/kg/h i.v., group L received lidocaine 2 mg/kg i.v., followed by 2 mg/kg/h i.v., and group P received saline i.v. Bolus doses were given over 15 min before induction of anesthesia, followed by an i.v. infusion through the end of surgery. Intraoperative fentanyl consumption and averaged end-tidal sevoflurane concentration were recorded. Abdominal and shoulder pain were evaluated up to 24 h using a visual analog scale (VAS). Morphine consumption was recorded at 2 and 24 h, together with quality of sleep and time of first flatus. RESULTS: Lidocaine or magnesium reduced anesthetic requirements (P<0.01), pain scores (P<0.05), and morphine consumption (P<0.001) relative to the control group. Lidocaine resulted in lower morphine consumption at 2 h [4.9 + or - 2.3 vs. 6.8 + or - 2.8 (P<0.05)] and lower abdominal VAS scores compared with magnesium (1.8 + or - 0.8 vs. 3.2 + or - 0.9, 2.2 + or - 1 vs. 3.6 + or - 1.6, and 2.1 + or - 1.4 vs. 3.3 + or - 1.9) at 2, 6, and 12 h, respectively (P<0.05). Lidocaine was associated with earlier return of bowel function and magnesium was associated with better sleep quality (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: I.v. lidocaine and magnesium improved post-operative analgesia and reduced intraoperative and post-operative opioid requirements in patients undergoing LC. The improvement of quality of recovery might facilitate rapid hospital discharge.

Effect of intrathecal tramadol administration on postoperative pain after transurethral resection of prostate.

BACKGROUND: Tramadol administered epidurally has been demonstrated to decrease postoperative analgesic requirements. However, its effect on postoperative analgesia after intrathecal administration has not yet been studied. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effect of intrathecal tramadol administration on pain control after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was studied. METHODS: Sixty-four patients undergoing TURP were randomized to receive bupivacaine 0.5% 3 ml intrathecally premixed with either tramadol 25 mg or saline 0.5 ml. After operation, morphine 5 mg i.m. every 3 h was administered as needed for analgesia. Postoperative morphine requirements, visual analogue scale for pain at rest (VAS) and sedation scores, times to first analgesic and hospital lengths of stay were recorded by a blinded observer. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups with regard to postoperative morphine requirements (mean (SD): 10.6 (7.9) vs 9.1 (5.5) mg, P=0.38), VAS (1.6 (1.2) vs 1.2 (0.8), P=0.18) and sedation scores (1.2 (0.3) vs 1.2 (0.2), P=0.89). Times to first analgesic (6.3 (6.3) vs 7.6 (6.2) h, P=0.42) and length of hospital stay (4.7 (2.8) vs 4.4 (2.2) days, P=0.66) were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal tramadol was not different from saline in its effect on postoperative morphine requirements after TURP.

Inguinal paravascular (lumbar plexus) neurolytic block--description of a catheter technique: case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We provided care for a 47-year-old female with a history of lung carcinoma and bony metastases who sustained a pathologic fracture of the right acetabulum causing severe and uncontrolled pain in the right groin. Her pain was rated as 8-10 on a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Her terminal disease and poor surgical risk precluded therapeutic operative intervention. Consequently, a neurolytic block of the lumbar plexus was performed as a palliative measure. METHODS: A modified inguinal paravascular (lumbar plexus) block technique was used. A 17-gauge Tuohy needle was inserted in the groin area just lateral to femoral artery and 1 cm below the inguinal ligament. A guide wire was threaded through the needle and subsequently an angiogram catheter was introduced over the wire into the psoas muscle. Radiographic confirmation of the position was obtained, and the catheter was secured in place. A prognostic block using an infusion of 0.25% bupivacaine at 5 mL/h was initiated for the first 2 days. On the third day a neurolytic block with 6% phenol was performed. RESULTS: Marked pain relief was experienced by the patient (VAS: 0-1). Sensory block in the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and obturator nerve distributions was elicited. Motor weakness in the femoral nerve was demonstrated. Narcotic use was markedly reduced, and the patient was discharged to home in a pain-free state. CONCLUSIONS: This case report supports the feasibility of placing a catheter via a modified anterior inguinal paravascular block technique and its subsequent use for both local anesthetic infusion and neurolytic block of the lumbar plexus.

Airway and respiratory management following non-lethal hanging.

PURPOSE: To review the literature on airway and respiratory management following non-lethal (suicidal) hanging and to describe the anatomy, injury and pathophysiological sequelae and their impact on patient care. SOURCE: A Medline literature search of English-language and English-abstracted papers for 1990-96. Keywords were hanging; strangulation; airway obstruction; pulmonary oedema. Filters were applied to limit the search to relevant citations. (i.e., keywords = pulmonary oedema; filters = postobstructive, neurogenic). Citations were then hand-culled to obtain current and relevant papers about an unusual cohort of patients. A hand search of the bibliographies of relevant papers supplemented the Medline search. A review of our experience at the University of Ottawa adult hospitals over the last decade was also undertaken to determine the relevance of the literature to our clinical experiences. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Most victims are young men and survivors are uncommon. Laryngo-tracheal injuries, although reported in 20-50% of postmortem examinations, are infrequent in survivors and have little impact on airway management. Spinal injuries are rare in survivors but should be excluded. Pulmonary complications including pulmonary oedema and bronchopneumonia are implicated in most in-hospital deaths. Pulmonary oedema is likely due to neurogenic factors or negative intrathoracic pressure. Although neurological injury determines outcome following hanging, initial neurological presentation is of limited prognostic value: a poor initial condition does not exclude a good recovery. CONCLUSION: Airway injuries severe enough to interfere with airway management are uncommon after attempted suicide by hanging. Irrespective of the initial neurological assessment, aggressive and early resuscitation to optimize cerebral oxygenation is recommended.