Anesthetic considerations for abdominal wall reconstructive surgery.

Anesthesia considerations for abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) are numerous and depend upon the medical status of the patient and the projected procedure. Obesity, sleep apnea, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease are not uncommon in patients with abdominal wall defects; pulmonary functions and cardiac output can be affected by the surgical procedure. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are also at a higher risk of coughing during the postoperative awakening process, which can compromise the reconstruction of the fascia. Given the increased complexity of the patients presenting for AWR, and the importance of the anesthesia for these specific procedures, it is important that surgeons are aware of the challenges that anesthesiologists face when treating these patients. Some of these challenges and their resolution are reviewed here.

Death of a 6-month-old due to a tracheal bronchus.

The death of an infant younger than 1 year requires a thorough scene investigation and autopsy. Most infant deaths investigated by forensic pathologists can be placed into 2 general categories: sudden infant death syndrome and accidental asphyxial deaths. Despite the fact that most infant deaths occur within these 2 categories, it is important to remember that other entities may be responsible for death. In this report, we present a developmental pulmonary abnormality that was ultimately responsible for the death of an infant. A 6-month-old male infant with a prior history of pneumonia was brought to an emergency department for evaluation of fever. Antibiotics were prescribed, and the child was discharged and sent home with instructions to his mother to follow up with his pediatrician. Later that evening, the infant seemed to be in respiratory distress. His mother again transported him to the emergency department, where, on arrival, he became apneic. Despite vigorous resuscitative efforts, the infant died. Of note at autopsy was the presence of low-set abnormal ears and bilateral inward-turning ankles. Internally, an abnormality of the tracheobronchial tree was evident, with the right upper lobe bronchus arising from the distal trachea, proximal to the carina. In addition, the right upper lobe was discolored and firm. Microscopically, pneumonia was present. The cause of death was pneumonia due to a right tracheal bronchus. Childhood pneumonia is a known cause of childhood hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Identifying the causes of recurrent pneumonia, be it structural, metabolic, or syndromic, aids in preventing recurrent infections and reducing the incidence of childhood mortality. A tracheal bronchus, also known as bronchus suis or "pig bronchus," is an anatomic variant of the tracheobronchial tree in which a bronchus arises proximal to the carina, most commonly on the right and predominantly in males. The incidence is around 0.2%. Although the tracheal bronchus is sometimes a clinically silent entity, some patients may exhibit certain signs and symptoms, including hemoptysis, coughing, stridor, wheezing, and pain. The typical consequences of the tracheal bronchus are recurrent pneumonias. The recurrent pneumonia is thought to be due to a stasis of secretions and an abnormal pulmonary clearing mechanism. Treatment for the condition varies, based on symptoms. For asymptomatic patients, conservative management is adequate. For symptomatic patients with persistent atelectasis or right upper lobe consolidation, surgical excision is advised.

Substance abuse and diagnosis of cervical spine injuries: policy consideration.

BACKGROUND: Cervical spine injury occurs in 2% to 6% of patients with blunt injury. Standard cervical radiographs are widely accepted as a primary screen, but may miss injuries. Diagnoses are further confounded by patients' use of alcohol or drugs, which may delay diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of incomplete cervical radiographs and to compare the sensitivity of cervical radiographs and neck computed tomography (CT) in patients with cervical spine injury, with and without substance abuse. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review. SETTING: A community teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-five high-severity trauma cases between 6/1/03 and 5/28/05. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of cervical spine imaging studies, alcohol levels, toxicology screens and clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Cervical radiographs generated false negatives or incomplete studies in all injured patients with significant levels of alcohol (> or = 80 mg/ dL) or drugs detected on toxicology screens. Cervical CT produced no false negatives. CONCLUSIONS: Drug and alcohol screens are important adjunct studies to identify patients with substance abuse who are more prone to sustain cervical spine injury that is likely to be missed by plain cervical radiographs. Cervical CT maybe a better primary imaging study for detection of cervical spine injury in trauma patients with suspected substance abuse.