ABSTRACT
Persistence of the buccopharyngeal membrane (BPM) also called the oropharyngeal membrane is a rare congenital oropharyngeal anomaly. We report a case of an adult aboriginal male patient with a membrane that closed his oropharyngeal isthmus except for a 2 cm diameter central perforation. The patient had no symptoms related to this membrane and no other congenital anomalies were found. This finding has not previously been reported in an adult. The embryology and management of this rare condition is discussed.
Subject(s)
Mouth Abnormalities/embryology , Oropharynx/abnormalities , Adult , Deglutition Disorders/embryology , Humans , Male , Oropharynx/embryologyABSTRACT
A case is reported of pneumoencephalus occurring after an accidental dural puncture during a cervical epidural puncture using the loss of resistance technique. Six ml of air were injected intrathecally. The patient recovered spontaneously within five days. This complication may occur more frequently than commonly admitted. It may be difficult to differentiate between headache due to pneumoencephalus and that by stretching of the meninges due to cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Only a CT scan can help to answer this question.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Epidural/adverse effects , Pneumocephalus/etiology , Anesthesia, Epidural/methods , Anesthesia, General , Cervical Vertebrae , Headache/etiology , Humans , Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Pneumocephalus/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Open cholecystectomy is associated with characteristic changes in pulmonary function showing a restrictive pattern. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy without opening of the peritoneal cavity could be an alternative in reducing postoperative respiratory dysfunction. Having given their informed consent, 13 healthy ASA1 patients (age: 41 +/- 18 yrs) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in this study, in order to assess their postoperative pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity [FRC], forced expiratory volume [FEV1], functional residual capacity [FRC]) before operation (T0) and 4 h (T4), 24 h (T24), 48 h (T48) after surgery. Anaesthesia technique was the same associating propofol-atracurium-fentanyl, 50% N2O/O2. Ventilation was adapted to maintain end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure up to 30-35 mmHg. Postoperative analgesic regimen consisted of paracetamol-ketoprofen. Mean length of surgery was 84 +/- 15 min; mean duration of anaesthesia was 110 +/- 24 min. An immediate and harmonious restrictive breathing pattern developed postoperatively. Postoperative FVC measured 65% (T4), 63% (T24), 72% (T48) of preoperative function (p < 0.025); postoperative FEV1 measured respectively 60, 66 and 75% of preoperative function (p > 0.001), without change in FEV1/CV and FRC; a significant hypoxia occurred (T0: 86 mmHg, T4: 80 mmHg, T24: 75 mmHg, T48: 81 mmHg [p < 0.05]). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy resulted in less postoperative respiratory dysfunction than conventional cholecystectomy, as previously reported; this restrictive pattern observed without changes in FRC was similar to that following lower abdominal surgery.
Subject(s)
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic , Respiration , Adult , Anesthesia, General/methods , Blood Gas Analysis , Cholecystectomy/adverse effects , Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Period , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
Chronic microaspiration through a tracheal cuff is the main culprit in the penetration and colonization of the lower respiratory tract. A total of 145 patients intubated for more than 3 days were randomly assigned to a double nosocomial pneumonia (NP) prevention: 1--Prevention of aspiration by hourly subglottic secretion drainage (SSD) with a specific endotracheal tube (HI-LO Evac tube, Mallinckrodt); 2--Prevention of gastric colonization using either sucralfate or antacids. Four random groups were defined, similar in age and severity of illness. Subglottic secretion drainage treatment was associated with: a) a twice lower incidence of NP (no-SSD: 29.1%, SSD: 13%); b) a prolonged time of onset of NP (no-SSD: 8.3 +/- 5 days, SSD: 16.2 +/- 11 days); c) a decrease in the colonization rate from admission to end-point day in tracheal aspirates (no-SSD: +21.3%, SSD: +6.6%) and in subglottic secretions (no-SSD: +33.4%, SSD: +2.1%). Sucralfate was not associated with a significantly lower incidence of NP (antacids: 23.6%, sucralfate: 17.8%), but with a lower increase in the colonization rate in subglottic and gastric aspirates, from admission to end-point day.
