Negative pressure pulmonary edema after reversing rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade by sugammadex.

Negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) is a rare complication that accompanies general anesthesia, especially after extubation. We experienced a case of negative pressure pulmonary edema after tracheal extubation following reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade by sugammadex. In this case, the contribution of residual muscular block on the upper airway muscle as well as large inspiratory forces created by the respiratory muscle which has a low response to muscle relaxants, is suspected as the cause.

[Suspected case of peripartum cardiomyopathy developed during elective cesarean section].

A 35-year-old primigravida with twin gestation was admitted for elective cesarean section. She had no preoperative systemic diseases including heart disease. At 37 weeks of gestation, elective cesarean section was performed under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Anesthetic course was uneventful until the delivery when the patient started to cough and complained of dyspnea. At the same time, Spo2 started to decline to reach 95% despite the oxygen supplement. Pleural effusion was observed on the chest X-ray on postoperative day 2. An echocardiography showed diffuse hypokinesis of the left ventricle with ejection fraction (EF) of 36%. Peripartum cardiomyopathy was strongly suspected. Symptoms of heart failure were alleviated by water restriction and furosemide by the 9th POD. The EF increased to 50% on the 15th POD.

Low-dose intravenous ketamine potentiates epidural analgesia after thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Ketamine potentiates intravenous or epidural morphine analgesia. The authors hypothesized that very-low-dose ketamine infusion reduces acute and long-term postthoracotomy pain. METHODS: Forty-nine patients scheduled to undergo open thoracotomy were randomly assigned to receive one of two anesthesia regimens: continuous epidural infusion of ropivacaine and morphine, along with intravenous infusion of ketamine (0.05 mg . kg(-1) . h(-1) [approximately 3 mg/h], ketamine group, n = 24) or placebo (saline, control group, n = 25). Epidural analgesia was continued for 2 days after surgery, and infusion of ketamine or placebo was continued for 3 days. Pain was assessed at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery. Patients were asked about their pain, abnormal sensation on the wound, and inconvenience in daily life at 7 days and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: The visual analog scale scores for pain at rest and on coughing 24 and 48 h after thoracotomy were lower in the ketamine group than in the control group (pain at rest, 9 +/- 11 vs. 25 +/- 20 and 9 +/- 11 vs. 18 +/- 13; pain on coughing, 26 +/- 16 vs. 50 +/- 17 and 30 +/- 18 vs. 43 +/- 18, mean +/- SD; P = 0.002 and P = 0.01, P < 0.0001 and P = 0.02, respectively). The numerical rating scale scores for baseline pain 1 and 3 months after thoracotomy were significantly lower in the ketamine group (0.5 [0-4] vs. 2 [0-5] and 0 [0-5] vs. 1.5 [0-6], median [range], respectively; P = 0.02). Three months after surgery, a higher number of control patients were taking pain medication (2 vs. 9; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Very-low-dose ketamine (0.05 mg . kg(-1) . h(-1)) potentiated morphine-ropivacaine analgesia and reduced postthoracotomy pain.

[Effects of methylergometrine and oxytocin on blood loss and uterine contraction during cesarean section].

BACKGROUND: The effects of intravenous oxytocics on blood loss and uterine contraction during cesarean section were studied in 136 parturients. METHODS: The subjects were randomized to receive either methylergometrine 0.2 mg bolus (MEM group; n = 34), oxytocin 10 IU over 30 seconds (OX 30 s group; n = 34), oxytocin 10 IU over 5 minutes (OX 5 m group; n = 34) or oxytocin 10 IU over 15 minutes (OX 15 m group; n = 34). The subjects received spinal anesthesia with 11-12 mg of intrathecal isobaric bupivacaine (0.5%). Additional intramyometrial prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) was administered when obstetrician diagnosed uterine atony. We analyzed total amount of blood loss including amniotic fluid and number of parturients that received additional intramyometrial PGF2alpha to evaluate uterine contraction. RESULTS: The amounts of blood loss in the OX 30 s and OX 5 m groups were significantly lower than in the MEM group, and the numbers of parturients received additional PGF2alpha in all the oxytocin treat ment groups were significantly lower than in the MEM group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in blood loss and uterine contractior among the oxytocin treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous oxytocin 10 IU over 30 seconds to 15 minutes was effective to decrease blood loss and uterine contraction than intravenous methylergometrine 0.2 mg bolus.

Determining the plasma concentration of ketamine that enhances epidural bupivacaine-and-morphine-induced analgesia.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists enhance opioid-induced analgesia. The plasma concentration of ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist that enhances epidural morphine-and-bupivacaine-induced analgesia, is not known. We examined 24 patients with lung carcinoma or metastatic lung tumor who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery in a placebo-controlled, double-blind manner 4 h after emergence from anesthesia. The morphine + ketamine group (n = 8) and morphine + placebo group (n = 8) received 5 mL volume of 2.5 mg morphine and 0.25% bupivacaine and the placebo + ketamine group (n = 8) received 5 mL volume of saline and 0.25% bupivacaine epidurally at the end of skin closure. Four hours after this anesthesia, in the morphine + ketamine and placebo + ketamine groups, ketamine was administered to successively maintain a stable plasma ketamine concentration of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ng/mL by a target-controlled infusion device, and patients assessed the levels of pain at rest, pain on coughing, somnolence (drowsiness), and nausea using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). In the morphine + placebo group, a placebo (saline) was similarly administered instead of ketamine. In the morphine + ketamine group, the VAS scores for pain at rest and pain on coughing significantly decreased on ketamine administration at a plasma concentration of 20 ng/mL or larger compared with the respective baseline VAS scores (P < 0.05 each). In the placebo + ketamine group, the VAS scores for pain at rest and pain on coughing did not significantly change at any plasma concentration of ketamine as compared to the morphine + placebo group. In the morphine + ketamine group, a plasma concentration of ketamine larger than 20 ng/mL did not further reduce VAS scores for pain at rest and pain on coughing. The VAS scores for drowsiness were comparable among the three groups at any plasma concentration of ketamine. Ketamine at a plasma concentration of 20 ng/mL or larger may enhance epidural morphine-and-bupivacaine-induced analgesia. As an adjunct with epidural morphine-and-bupivacaine and considering the safety of small doses, the minimal plasma concentration of ketamine given IV may be approximately 20 ng/mL.

[Time course of thoracic epidural pressure and saphenous venous pressure changes with oxytocics after fetus delivery in parturients undergoing cesarean section].

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of oxytotics administered after fetus delivery on epidural and venous pressures in 40 parturients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: The subjects received 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. An epidural catheter placed at T11-12 and a venous catheter placed at left saphenous vein, were connected to pressure transducers to monitor each pressure. The subjects received intravenous methylergometrine 0.2 mg (methylergometrine group: n=20) or oxytocin 10 IU (oxytocin group: n=20) immediately after fetus delivery. Intramyometrial PGF2alpha was additionally administered from 5 minutes after fetus delivery in case of low uterine tone. Statistic analysis was performed with ANOVA. RESULTS: Epidural pressure in the methylergometrine group increased at placental delivery and the increase continued until 15 minutes after delivery (P<0.05). Epidural pressure in the oxytocin group increased at placental delivery and began to decrease at 5 minutes after delivery (P<0.05). Saphenous venous pressure began to increase at 10 minutes after delivery in the methylergometrine group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in epidural pressure within 5 minutes after fetus delivery would be caused by uterine contraction in both groups. The vasoconstrictive effect in the methylergometrine group is likely to cause the epidural pressure increase after delivery.

Effects of intravenous infusion rate of oxytocin on thoracic epidural pressure in parturients undregoing elective cesarean section.

The effects of intravenous oxytocin on thoracic epidural pressure during cesarean section were studied in 90 parturients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical atatus class I or II) after obtaining informed consent. The subjects were randomized to either a control (control group; n=30), bolus (bolus group; n=30) or drip treatment group (drip group; n=30). The subjects were anesthetized with 11 approximately 12 mg of intrathecal isobaric bupivacaine (0.5%). An epidural catheter placed at Th 11/12 was connected to a pressure transducer to continuously monitor thoracic epidural pressure. Ten units of oxytocin were administered over 30 seconds in the bolus group and over 5 minutes in the drip group after fetus delivery. We analyzed epidural pressure, mean blood pressure, and heart rate, until 5 minutes after fetus delivery. Epidural pressures in both bolus and drip groups increased after fetus delivery compared with control group (P<0.0001). Epidural pressure immediately after placental delivery in the bolus group was higher than in the control group (p<0.0001) and epidural pressure at 5 minutes after fetus delivery in the drip group was higher than in the control group (p=0.0452). There were no significant differences in changes in blood pressure and heart rate among the three groups. We concluded that the increase in epidural pressure with intravenous administration of oxytocin 10 units over 5 minutes was lower than with intravenous administration of oxytocin 10 units over 30 seconds after fetus delivery.

Effects of methylergometrine and oxytocin on thoracic epidural pressure during cesarean section.

AIM: The effects of oxytocics on thoracic epidural pressure during cesarean section were studied in 60 parturients, (American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status, class I or II) after obtaining informed consent. METHODS: The subjects were randomized to either a ergometrine (n = 30) or oxytocin treatment group (n = 30). The subjects were anesthetized with 11-12 mg of intrathecal isobaric bupivacaine (0.5%), and an epidural catheter was placed at Th 11/12, and was connected to a pressure transducer to continuously monitor thoracic epidural pressure. We analyzed epidural pressure, blood pressure, and heart rate 5 min after administering intrathecal bupivacaine (SAB5m), immediately before skin incision (pre-incision), immediately after delivery of the placenta (placenta-del), and 5 min after delivery of the fetus (CS5m). RESULTS: In both groups, epidural pressures were found to be elevated after delivery compared with their levels before the skin incisions were made, (P < 0.0001). Epidural pressures at placenta-del (P = 0.0055) and CS5m (P < 0.0001) were higher than at SAB5m in the ergometrine group. Epidural pressures at placenta-del were also higher than at SAB5m in the oxytocin group (P < 0.0001). Epidural pressures at placenta-del were lower in the ergometrine group compared with the oxytocin group (P = 0.0122), but epidural pressures at CS5m were higher in the ergometrine group compared with the oxytocin group (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there is an increase in thoracic epidural pressure after fetal delivery, which appears to be associated with uterine contraction.

[Thoracic epidural pressure and peripheral venous pressure in the lower extremity during supine hypotensive syndrome].

BACKGROUND: After induction of spinal anesthesia, thoracic epidural pressure and left saphenous venous pressure were monitored and recorded during supine hypotensive syndrome in 8 pregnant patients who underwent elective cesarean section. METHODS: A 22 G venous catheter was inserted into the left saphena, and an epidural catheter for 18 G needles was positioned 5 cm cephalad in the epidural space through a Tuohy needle at the T 11-12 intervertebral space. Each catheter was connected to a pressure transducer, and recording was started in a supine position immediately after induction of spinal anesthesia with 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine at the L 3-4 intervertebral space. RESULTS: In all patients, epidural pressure and peripheral venous pressure synchronously increased as soon as they began to recover from hypotension and tachycardia regardless of uterine displacement to the left. CONCLUSIONS: The synchronous increase in both pressures was late after the hypotension probably because sympathetic block with spinal anesthesia inhibited vasoconstriction of the lower extremity, a factor to compensate for supine hypotensive syndrome. Only collateral flow via epidural venous plexus emptying into azygos system could not compensate for decreased venous return to the right atrium from obstructed inferior vena cava, and differences in the degree of compression of the inferior vena cava by gravid uterus would affect the recovery from supine hypotension.

Pregnancy-related increases in sensory perception thresholds are not correlated with serum progesterone levels.

BACKGROUND: Why pregnant women require smaller doses of anesthetic agents still remains speculative. One hypothesis proposes that pregnancy raises sensory perception thresholds, perhaps through a progesterone-mediated effect. This study was undertaken in order to quantify any changes in sensory perception thresholds after parturition and to correlate these changes with the expected decrease in postpartum serum progesterone levels. METHODS: Nineteen gravid women scheduled to undergo an elective Cesarean section consented to participate. Sensory current perception threshold (CPT) testing was performed before and 7 days after an elective Cesarean section. CPT was defined as the minimum amount of constant current stimulation that can be reproducibly detected at a particular frequency. CPT values were determined on the distal phalanx of the nondominant index finger at 2000 Hz, 250 Hz, and 5 Hz monofrequency stimulation. Seven women permitted serum progesterone level determinations at the prepartum and the postpartum CPT testing sessions. RESULTS: Parturition resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the sensory CPT at all 3 frequencies tested, (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the postpartum reduction in serum progesterone levels and the observed postpartum decrease in CPT for any frequency, (r < 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: CPTs are significantly reduced after parturition. However, this reduction does not appear to be significantly correlated with the reduction in serum progesterone levels.

[Three times of anesthetic management in a patient with myotonic dystrophy].

A 38-year-old female, at 38-week gestation, was scheduled for cesarean section under epidural anesthesia. After the delivery, it was found that she had been diagnosed as myotonic dystrophy by the other physician and the neonate was a floppy infant indicating hereditary neuromuscular diseases. In her case, myotonic dystrophy had not been advanced and symptoms had been mild. We previously had given her general anesthesia for two times with nitrous oxide, isoflurane and vecuronium for her to undergo emergency operations, left salpingectomy under laparoscopy due to unruptured tubal pregnancy at 34 years of age and cesarean section due to liver function disorder indicating HELLP syndrome at 36 years of age. Although many problems have been described about the perioperative management in patients with myotonic dystrophy, she was safely managed for each operation.