Delayed Extubation of a Patient With Multiple Sclerosis.

The potential complications associated with gastroparesis in the perioperative setting for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are inadequately recognized. While gastroparesis is commonly associated with diabetes mellitus-induced neuropathy and postsurgical complications, its prevalence and impact on patients with MS are less understood. This is particularly crucial as the systemic autoimmune nature of MS may extend its neurological effects to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In this context, we present a case wherein undiagnosed gastroparesis significantly contributed to postoperative challenges, leading to delayed extubation in a patient with MS. This underscores the importance of considering gastroparesis as a potential differential diagnosis and developing a comprehensive approach to evaluating and managing MS patients, which may help mitigate perioperative complications and inform tailored anesthetic management strategies.

Laparoscopic Extended Left Lateral Sectionectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Patient with Right-Sided Ligamentum Teres: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Right-sided ligamentum teres (RSLT) is a rare anatomic variant in which the fetal umbilical vein connects to the right portal vein. Patients with RSLT frequently have hepatic vasculature and bile duct anomalies, which increase the risk of complications with hepatectomy. Most patients with RSLT undergo open hepatectomy. Herein, we describe a patient with RSLT and hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy. The patient was a 69-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma located in the left liver based on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging also demonstrated RSLT. Three-dimensional CT analysis revealed independent right lateral type anomalies of the portal vein and bile duct. A laparoscopic extended left lateral sectionectomy was performed after careful surgical planning. Ultrasonography was used frequently during surgery to avoid damaging the right hepatic vasculature. The left lateral and partial left median sections were removed as planned. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful. Avoiding injury to the right hepatic vasculature is essential when performing left lobectomy, including left lateral sectionectomy, in patients with RSLT. Laparoscopic hepatectomy can be performed safely in patients with RSLT, provided that careful surgical planning is conducted using preoperative three-dimensional CT analysis and intraoperative ultrasonography.

Ideal endotracheal intubation depth at the vocal-cord level to avoid single-lung intubation using the percentage ratio of the tracheal length to body height.

INTRODUCTION: Our previous study revealed racial differences in the tracheal length of cardiac paediatric patients between Germany and Japan. The current study was conducted in two stages, aiming to determine whether the tracheal length differs between cardiac and non-cardiac paediatric patients and whether the results could also be generalised to adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The first stage was a retrospective observational evaluation of 335 cardiac and 275 non-cardiac paediatric patients in Japan. The tracheal length, the distance between the vocal cords and carina tracheae, was measured on preoperative chest radiographs taken in the supine position. The second stage was a validation process including 308 Japanese patients. Endotracheal intubation was performed based on the results of the first-stage investigation. RESULTS: It was revealed that the tracheal length ranged from 7 to 11% of the body height in both the cardiac and non-cardiac Japanese paediatric patients. None of 308 Japanese paediatric and adult patients underwent single-lung intubation after the endotracheal tube was inserted at a depth of 7% of the body height at the vocal-cord level, corresponding to the minimum tracheal length for Japanese patients. The distance between the endotracheal tube tip and carina tracheae on postoperative chest radiographs was generally less than 4% of the body height across all paediatric and adult Japanese patients. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that endotracheal intubation avoiding single-lung intubation can be achieved by inserting endotracheal tubes to the minimum tracheal length for a specific ethnic group at the vocal-cord level in paediatric patients, including neonates and premature infants, as well as adults.

Regional anesthesia as part of enhanced recovery strategies in pediatric cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review article was to highlight the enhanced recovery protocols in pediatric cardiac surgery, including early extubation, rapid mobilization and recovery, reduction of opioid-related side effects, and length of pediatric ICU and hospital stay, resulting in decreased costs and perioperative morbidity, by introducing recent trends in perioperative anesthesia management combined with peripheral nerve blocks. RECENT FINDINGS: Efficient postoperative pain relief is essential for realizing enhanced recovery strategies, especially in pediatric patients. It has been reported that approaches to perioperative pain management using additional peripheral nerve blocks ensure early extubation and a shorter duration of ICU and hospital stay. This article provides an overview of several feasible musculofascial plane blocks to achieve fast-track anesthesia management for pediatric cardiac surgery. SUMMARY: Recent remarkable advances in combined ultrasound techniques have made it possible to perform various peripheral nerve blocks. The major strategy underlying fast-track anesthesia management is to achieve good analgesia while reducing perioperative opioid use. Furthermore, it is important to consider early extubation not only as a competition for time to extubation but also as the culmination of a qualitative improvement in the outcome of treatment for each patient.

Lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma not associated with Epstein-Barr virus or hepatitis virus: case report and literature review of 100 reported cases.

Lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma (LEL-CC) is a type of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and a rare variant of primary liver tumor. Although it is uncommon and only 100 cases have been reported thus far, the number of reports has increased in recent years. LEL-CC reportedly occurs more frequently in Asian women; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and hepatitis viruses are both strongly associated with tumor development. Here, we describe a 76-year-old woman who exhibited LEL-CC not associated with EBV or hepatitis virus. She was referred to our department with a 3.0-cm × 2.8-cm tumor in the left lobe of the liver. Based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, the tumor was preoperatively diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, we performed extended left hepatectomy with caudal lobectomy. Histopathological examinations revealed columnar tumor cells with atypical nuclei that proliferated in a cord-like or glandular tubular pattern with dense lymphocytic infiltration. Immunohistochemical analysis showed negative HepPar-1 and arginase findings, indicating non-hepatocyte origin; however, the biliary-type cytokeratins CK7 and CK19 were detected. Based on these findings, the tumor was identified as LEL-CC. EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization findings were negative; the patient's clinical characteristics were not suggestive of hepatitis virus infection. In conclusion, we suggest that clinicians consider LEL-CC as a differential diagnosis for liver tumors in Asian women, including patients without EBV or hepatitis virus.

Femoral Artery Cannulation Timing for a Pediatric Aortic Arch Repair.

We have previously introduced a blood delivery method via femoral artery cannulation to provide perfusion to the organs in the lower part of the body during pediatric aortic arch repair surgeries. In the original procedure, the femoral artery cannulation was performed after the patient had been covered with a sterile drape. Here, we suggest that the femoral artery cannulation should be performed before the patient is draped to allow optimal visibility of the target artery and puncture needle via aseptic real-time ultrasound-guided technique by reducing the inclusions between the patient's skin and ultrasound probe which attenuate the ultrasound beam.

Unexpected difficult airway due to an undiagnosed congenital lingual thyroglossal duct cyst in a neonate without stridor: A case report.

Lingual thyroglossal duct cysts can be a rare cause of feeding difficulties in infants. Here, we describe a case of an infant with vomiting and feeding difficulty diagnosed with Hirschsprung's disease. However, she developed an unexpected difficult airway during anesthesia induction due to an undiagnosed lingual thyroglossal duct cyst.

Ideal Depth of Endotracheal Intubation at the Vocal Cord Level in Pediatric Patients Considering Racial Differences in Tracheal Length.

Numerous formulas that can predict endotracheal intubation depth at the corner of the mouth or the nasal wing of patients have been reported, even though the oral and nasal cavity anatomies differ among patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to derive a simple and reliable formula to predict the ideal endotracheal tube insertion depth at the vocal cord level in pediatric patients. The current study was conducted as a retrospective observational study, involving 425 and 335 cardiac pediatric patients in Germany and Japan, respectively, and aimed to determine a formula for predicting tracheal length and ideal depth of endotracheal intubation at the vocal cord level in pediatric patients. The distance between the vocal cords and the carina tracheae was defined as the tracheal length, and was measured on preoperative chest radiographs obtained in the supine position. The tracheal length in cardiac pediatric patients ranged from 6 to 10% of the body height in Germany and from 7 to 11% in Japan. This study revealed racial differences in the tracheal length, that is, in the ideal depth of endotracheal intubation at the vocal cord level. This study suggests that an adequate endotracheal intubation depth can be achieved by inserting endotracheal tubes at the vocal cord level with the minimum tracheal length of each racial group in pediatric patients, for example, 6% and 7% of the body height in Europeans and Asians, respectively. If the endotracheal tube inserted with this method appears to be shallow on chest radiographs, this does not represent an increased risk of accidental extubation, due to an excessively short intubation depth, because the minimum tracheal length for each racial group is considered. That is, it is not due to the endotracheal tube insertion length, but is likely due to the tracheal length of the patient, who has a relatively long tracheal length in the racial group.

Novel Choices of Cannula for Blood Delivery via Femoral Artery in Pediatric Patients.

We previously presented a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) method with blood delivery via femoral artery cannulation for pediatric aortic arch repair operations using the Radifocus Introducer sheath. However, the flow rate with the Radifocus Introducer sheath is limited by accessory parts with the same structure having a smaller inner diameter among different sizes, rather than the sheath body. Therefore, we further devised a combination of the JELCO IV catheter, an extension tube, and a three-way stopcock with a larger opening to obtain more flow rate keeping the CPB circuit pressure significantly lower than when using the Radifocus Introducer sheath successfully.

Ensure an "Ultrasound Window" on the Patient's Neck to Evaluate Cerebral Blood Flow!

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) does not provide information about changes in oxygenation in whole-brain areas. Although the branching vessels of the aortic arch are not always easy to identify using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the blood flow status of cervical arteries can always be assessed by applying an ultrasound probe via the "ultrasound window" on the patient's neck, which can be ensured by devising alternative insertion approaches of the central venous catheter. This method is very simple but compensates for the limitations of the combination of NIRS and TEE, especially during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass management using selective cerebral perfusion.

Paradoxical Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome Induced by Patent Foramen Ovale and Highly Tortuous Descending Thoracic Aorta: A Case Report.

Perioperative hypoxemia is common in patients with aortic dissection. Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS), in which hypoxemia in the upright position improves with relocating to a recumbent position, can be a rare cause of hypoxemia. This syndrome is more likely to occur in patients with an intracardiac shunt and aortic malformation. Hypoxemic symptoms present in our patient were paradoxical to those of common POS due to the highly tortuous descending thoracic aorta (DTA) and Eustachian valve. Therefore, establishing the diagnosis was difficult. POS should be suspected when patients with high tortuosity and curvature of DTA show hypoxemia.

A real-time ultrasound-guided supraclavicular approach to the brachiocephalic vein to prevent Hickman catheter bending and occlusion.

The infraclavicular approach (subclavian approach) to the central vein is most often selected for implantation of a tunnelled Hickman/Broviac cathe­ter because central venous catheter (CVC) insertion into the upper body is optimal considering patient comfort as well as the risk of infection [1] and intravenous thrombosis [2, 3]. How­ever, the actual puncture site for a real-time ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary vein approach is at the level of the axillary vein in a much more lateral location than that for the traditional landmark infraclavicular approach to the subclavian vein. This is because an optimal view of the subclavian vein is difficult to obtain with a real-time ultrasound-guided technique, as the ultrasound beam is restricted by the clavicle [4]; the younger the patient, the greater would be its influence because of the width of the ultrasound probe. As a result, Hickman/Broviac catheter bending due to a sharply curved angle in the subcutaneous tunnel may occur when the subcutaneous tunnel exit needs to be created inside the patient's nipple to obtain sufficient tunnel length, especially in young paediatric patients. When the internal jugular vein is chosen as an alternative puncture site, adverse events of catheter bending and occlusion may occur because the puncture direction to the target vein and the direction of the subcutaneous tunnel become very steep [5].

Precaution: Oximetry central venous catheter shaft is no longer waterproof when cut.

his letter discusses precautions regarding the waterproof structure of the oximetry central venous catheter (CVC) shaft and the risk of blood reflux and leakage that can occur when the catheter shaft is cut. To assess oxygen supply-demand balance [1] and haemodynamics [2], the Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter has been used for perioperative and postoperative management and treatment of critically ill patients for a half a century. In current clinical practice, haemodynamic parameters such as stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), as well as central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), can be measured continuously using a combination of FloTrac Sensor (Edwards Lifesciences Japan Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) [3], Edwards PreSep Oximetry Catheter (Edwards Lifesciences Japan Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) [4], and EV1000 Clinical Platform (Edwards Lifesciences Japan Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) or Vigileo Monitor (Edwards Lifesciences Japan Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) [5, 6]. These methods are less invasive than the Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter, and the changes in the parameter values can be used as an index for perioperative management in both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular surgeries. In addition, they can be used for the treatment of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, enabling proactive determination of an appropriate therapy [7]. Compared to intermittent sampling and traditional vital signs alone, continuous ScvO2 monitoring is a more sensitive indicator of tissue perfusion because it reveals the true adequacy of tissue oxygenation, enabling early detection and assessment of clinical response to intervention [7, 8].

Congenital Tracheal Aplasia Without Prenatal Diagnosis Masked by Maternal Obesity and Gestational Diabetes: A Case Report.

This case report describes a neonate with tracheal aplasia first diagnosed after birth due to the presentation of respiratory distress, absence of crying, and unsuccessful tracheal intubation. The most common finding with tracheal aplasia is polyhydramnios. However, diagnosis remains challenging in the prenatal period. In this case, maternal obesity and gestational diabetes made diagnosis more difficult. The only lifesaving treatment available is ventilation through esophageal intubation or tracheostomy. However, in some cases, tracheostomy is not an option.