[Ropivacaine-induced late-onset systemic toxicity after transversus abdominis plane block under general anesthesia: successful reversal with 20% lipid emulsion].

We report a case of late-onset systemic toxicity due to ropivacaine over dose, and its successful reversal with 20% lipid emulsion (20% Intralipos). A 40-year-old woman, 40 kg, ASA-I, was scheduled for laparoscopy-assisted myomectomy of the uterus in which 40 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine was injected for bilateral US guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPblock) under general anesthesia. Anesthesia proceeded uneventfully and she could go back to the ward 15 min later, but 3 hours after TAPblock, her blood pressure dropped to seventies and she became unresponsive. She also displayed clonic seizure/twitching of limbs. Immediately after diazepam 2 mg injection, clonic seizure disappeared and she could obey verbal commands. Within a few minutes clonic seizure was noted again, and she was hypotensive despite administration of vasopressors. A presumptive diagnosis of local anesthetic toxicity was made, and she received 100 ml bolus of 20% Intralipos. She regained consciousness with spontaneous return of blood pressure. She received a total of 230 ml 20% Intralipos, which was discontinued due to her rapid emergence with no further seizure episodes. This case suggests that early and sufficient use of lipid emulsion may lead to a good outcome. We recommend the immediate availability of lipid emulsion along with other emergency therapeutics at the ward after TAPblock.

[Reaction to blood transfusion recognized by sudden onset of red urine during operation].

A 54-year-old woman was scheduled for the total hip replacement. She was anesthetized with continuous epidural blockade combined with general anesthesia using oxygen, sevoflurane, and propofol. When she received her autologous blood transfusion, we noticed the obstruction of the venous line, and pushed 30 ml of blood with 10 ml syringe. However, it was difficult to return her blood through the venous line. At that time, a sudden onset of red urine without any special symptom occurred. We investigated the cause of the red urine, whether this urine is attributable to hemoglobinuria, myoglobinuria, or porphyria. According to the patient's symptoms during and after the operation, and blood as well as urine examination, a microfilter in the venous line might have led to red blood cell destruction. The filter-induced hemolysis can be life-threatening especially in a child. We conclude that the early recognition and management of reactions associated with blood transfusion is essential during the operation.

[Anesthetic management of a patient with squeezed heart by huge sternal tumor].

We experienced perioperative management for excision of a huge sternal chondrosarcoma squeezing the heart. A 46-year-old woman could not sleep due to dyspnea for 6 months. Dyspnea increased in the right decubitus and disappeared in the left decubitus. This suggested that the heart was squeezing the tumor. MRI and echocardiography revealed no invasion to the heart. Surgical removal was proposed. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and fentanyl. As this tumor composed of bone-like tissue and was tightly connected with thoracic cage, we thought that the use of muscle relaxant at the induction of anesthesia would not cause cardiovascular collapse and ventilation insufficiency even if the tumor was huge. Vecuronium was administered to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Hemodynamic variables were stable and mask ventilation was uneventful. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol, sevoflurane, supplemental dose of fentanyl and epidural anesthesia. The tumor had invaded the myocardium and was successfully flaked off from the myocardium without using any assisted devices. The tumor was excised including thoracic wall (sternum and parts of 3rd to 12th ribs, 20 cm in diameter). Thoracoplasty was performed using Marlex Mesh. Muscle relaxant was reversed after the end of the operation. Respiration was stable without flail chest. Endotracheal tube was successfully removed in the operation room. The postoperative course was uneventful.

[Prophylactic strategies for perioperative pulmonary embolism].

BACKGROUND: Incidence of perioperative pulmonary embolism (PE) has increased in Japan probably due to the modernized life style. As the mortality rate of PE is very high, its prophylaxis is important. Therefore, prophylactic strategies for PE were instituted in the entire hospital. METHODS: Elastic stockings (ES) for preventing perioperative deep vein thrombosis in lower extremities were worn from the morning of the operation until the beginning of ambulation. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) apparatuses were used in combination with ES. IPC apparatus was employed right after induction of anesthesia until leaving postanesthetic care unit (PACU). Seventy percent of patients stayed in PACU until the morning after the operation and the other patients for a few hours after the end of surgery. RESULTS: We managed 4,200 patients with this method. We experienced one symptomatic deep vein thrombosis but not severe or moderately severe PE. However, it is difficult to evaluate the incidence of mild PE because it is usual that symptom such as chest discomfort is thought as an indefinite complaint and its cause is not investigated further. CONCLUSIONS: Our preventive strategies seem to be useful to decrease the incidence and severity of perioperative PE.

[A successfully treated case of intraoperative latex anaphylaxis during abdominal aorta aneurysm resection].

We experienced resuscitation from latex anaphylaxis induced by surgical gloves during elective abdominal aorta aneurysm resection in a low risk adult with latex allergy. The patient developed severe circulatory collapse 10 minutes after the start of surgery. Although administration of dopamine, norepinephrine, and a large amount of fluid could not normalize this circulatory collapse, but addition of famotidine and chlorpheniramine could restore blood pressure. After resuscitation, we decided to postpone the operation. The re-operation was planned in the latex free setting one month later. All products, containing latex, had been excluded from operating room one day before the re-operation, and the patient entered operating room earlier than other patients to avoid latex-polluted powder from surgical gloves of other staffs. Y-shaped graft replacement was performed, and the perioperative course was uneventful. Latex is the second leading cause of intraoperative anaphylaxis, and the high-risk cases could be easily detected through the questionnaires, focusing on latex and other tropical fruits allergy. Moreover, because it is easy to get latex-free products, we recommend that a set of latex free products should be prepared at least for a high-risk case of latex allergy.

[Anesthetic management of two patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy for percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation].

We experienced anesthetic management of two patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) for percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA). PTSMA had been performed more than a year earlier in both cases, and symptoms and exercise tolerance were improved after PTSMA. Laparotomy for suspected ovarian cancer in one patient and thoracotomy for metastatic lung cancer in the other patient were proposed. Preoperative echocardiography showed reduced left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (from 90 mmHg before PTSMA to 10 mmHg and from 81 mmHg to 17 mmHg, respectively) and decreased septal wall thickness. Systolic anterior movement of mitral valve apparatus had disappeared. General anesthesia in the former and general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia in the latter were employed. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and fentanyl. A laryngeal mask was used to minimize hemodynamic fluctuations during induction and emergence in the former. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol, sevoflurane and supplemental fentanyl. Epidural anesthesia was also used to maintain anesthesia in the latter. The postoperative course was uneventful in each case. PTSMA for HOCM might be useful to prevent perioperative cardiac events.

[Evaluation of cardiac load by measuring brain natriuretic peptide after thoracic esophagectomy and gastric tube in place].

A small dose of dopamine has been routinely infused for hemodynamic stabilization and diuresis in patients undergoing esophagectomy and gastric tube in place until the seventh postoperative day in our hospital. The timing of discontinuing infusion of dopamine was determined by our experience. However, there was no rationale to determine the timing of discontinuing it. Therefore, eight patients with ASA physical status I or II, undergoing esophagectomy and gastric tube in place were studied to evaluate postoperative cardiac load using brain natriuretic peptide, which is a biochemical detector of left ventricular dysfunction. There were no hemodynamic and cardiac events including myocardial ischemia and infarction in any patients. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. Serum BNP increased gradually and significantly until the third postoperative day with increasing urine volume. Serum BNP returned to the baseline level on the fourth postoperative day. However, serum BNP was still high in 3 patients on the sixth postoperative day in spite of dopamine. We conclude that cardiac overload was recognized until the third postoperative day.

Continuous epidural, not intravenous, droperidol inhibits pruritus, nausea, and vomiting during epidural morphine analgesia.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether continuous epidural droperidol and intravenous (IV) intraoperative droperidol inhibit pruritus and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) during epidural morphine analgesia. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, controlled study. SETTING: Metropolitan cancer center. PATIENTS: 120 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing thoracic or abdominal surgery with general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received an intraoperative epidural injection of 2 mg morphine hydrochloride, followed postoperatively by a continuous epidural infusion of morphine hydrochloride 4 mg/day for 4 days. Patients were randomly allocated to four groups: Group A = control group, Group B = intraoperative single IV injection of droperidol (2.5 mg), Group C = postoperative continuous epidural droperidol infusion (2.5 mg/day), and Group D = intraoperative IV injection of droperidol (2.5 mg) and postoperative continuous epidural droperidol infusion (2.5 mg/day). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The frequency and severity of pruritus and PONV in each group were evaluated during the postoperative period. Continuous epidural infusion of droperidol significantly reduced the frequency and severity of pruritus and PONV induced by epidural morphine without causing significant side effects. Intraoperative single IV injection of droperidol was effective for PONV (p < 0.05) but not for pruritus. CONCLUSION: Postoperative epidural droperidol infusion significantly decreased both the frequency and severity of pruritus and PONV during postoperative continuous epidural morphine analgesia. IV intraoperative droperidol significantly reduced the frequency and the severity of PONV but not pruritus.

[Anesthesia for partial pulmonary resection in a postpneumonectomy patient].

We experienced anesthesia for partial pulmonary resection in a postpneumonectomy patient. A 59 year-old woman underwent left upper lobectomy 5 years earlier and left lower lobectomy 2 years earlier for lung cancer, respectively. Right segmental pulmonary resection was proposed for lung cancer. Preoperative examinations revealed decreased FVC (1.81 l) and FVC1 (1.57 l), and increased PaCO2 (48.4 mmHg). The patient was monitored with EKG, direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulse oxymetry and expired gas analysis. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental and fentanyl, and maintained with sevoflurane, propofol and supplemental fentanyl after the establishment of epidural anesthesia. Dopamine was continuously infused due to decreased blood pressure. Then hemodynamics was stable. Operative procedure was protective. Therefore SPO2 was kept above 98% during the operation. Partial resection was performed instead of segmental resection to avoid deteriorating the postoperative quality of life. The postoperative course was uneventful.