Resistance to rocuronium and cisatracurium in a patient with a spinal injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

PURPOSE: A case of resistance to rocuronium and cisatracurium in a patient with a spinal injury who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is reported. SUMMARY: A 34-year-old, 88-kg Caucasian man with a history of polysubstance abuse fell from a bridge approximately 30-ft high, landing head first in about 2-3 ft of water. The patient sustained anterior subluxation at cervical spine levels C5-C6 and severe spinal canal compromise with cord compression and edema from C5 to C7, resulting in quadriplegia. The patient developed aspiration pneumonia for which he was given vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam. His pneumonia progressed to ARDS, and drug-induced paralysis was attempted to reduce barotrauma and improve ventilation. Rocuronium was initiated, but the patient did not adequately respond to this treatment. Cisatracurium was then initiated, but the patient did not respond. The decision was made to discontinue the cisatracurium infusion at that time and manage the patient's ARDS without a neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA). After several attempts to manage the patient's ARDS by adjusting ventilatory values, the patient required the reinitiation of an NMBA. The decision was made to try cisatracurium again. Cisatracurium was again unsuccessful and therefore discontinued. As a last attempt to improve oxygenation, the patient received nitric oxide and sedation with propofol. The patient died due to his complicated hospital course that included quadriplegia, ARDS, cardiac arrest, and sepsis secondary to a gastric perforation. CONCLUSION: Inadequate paralysis was achieved with rocuronium and cisatracurium in a patient who sustained a significant trauma resulting in quadriplegia.

Recombinant factor VIIa use in patients presenting with intracranial hemorrhage.

Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) can be used for rapid INR normalization in life-threatening hemorrhage in anticoagulated patients. Dosing is unclear and may carry thromboembolic risks. We reviewed the use of rFVIIa at a comprehensive stroke and cerebrovascular center to evaluate dose effectiveness on INR reduction and thromboembolic complications experienced. The primary endpoint was to review the efficacy of rFVIIa in lowering INR. Secondary endpoints included doses used and adverse effects caused by rFVIIa administration. Forty-one percent of patients presented with a subdural hemorrhage. The mean INR prior to rFVIIa administration was 3.5 (0.9-15) and decreased to 1.13 (0.6-2). The mean dose of rFVIIa given was 73 mcg/kg (±24 mcg/kg). Two patients (3%) experienced a thromboembolic event. Recombinant factor VIIa appears to lower INR without significant thromboembolic complications.