[Opioid combination of transdermal fentanyl and oral oxycodone for pain in a patient with giant-cell tumor of the sacrum].

We describe successful pain control in a patient suffering from severe pain, using an opioid combination of transdermal fentanyl and oral oxycodone. A woman in her 40s with a giant-cell tumor of the sacrum suffered from refractory 4-5/5 pain on the Wong-Baker faces pain rating scale in her sacrum, feet and legs. Despite administration of fentanyl (2,520 microg day(-1)), she could not sleep in the supine position due to pain and dysesthesia. We gradually changed her medication from transdermal fentanyl to oral oxycodone. However, the patient complained of constant drowsiness after the complete switch to oral oxycodone (120 mg x day(-1)). Hence, we reduced the oral oxycodone dose and began a combination of transdermal fentanyl and oral oxycodone in addition to increasing doses of pregabalin. With the combination of transdermal fentanyl (25 microg x hr(-1)) and oral oxycodone (60 mg x day(-1)) her pain decreased to 1-3/5 on the faces pain rating scale. Our experience suggests that an opioid combination may provide favorable pain control in patients with severe pain, while minimizing the side effects of each drug.

Pre-existing cerebral infarcts as a risk factor for delirium after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Delirium is a common and critical clinical syndrome in older patients. We examined whether abnormalities in the brain that could be assessed by magnetic resonance imaging predisposed patients to develop delirium after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. We also analysed the association between delirium and cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively on 153 patients aged 60 years or older who consecutively underwent elective isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery. All patients were assessed for prior cerebral infarctions and craniocervical artery stenosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography of their brains. Atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta was examined by epiaortic ultrasound at the time of surgery. Individual cognitive status was measured using four tests in all the patients before surgery and on the seventh postoperative day. A single psychiatrist diagnosed delirium using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition IV criteria. RESULTS: Postoperative delirium occurred in 16 patients (10.5%). Compared with patients who did not develop postoperative delirium, delirious patients had significantly higher rates of peripheral artery disease, preoperative decline in global cognitive function and pre-existing multiple cerebral infarctions on MRI. In addition, 9 (56%) of the delirious patients suffered postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Stepwise logistic regression analysis found significant independent predictors of postoperative delirium to be preoperative cerebral infarcts on MRI (odds ratio [OR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-4.78), preoperative decline in global cognitive function (OR 4.54; 95% CI 1.21-16.51) and atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.03-5.62). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that postoperative delirium was associated with pre-existing multiple cerebral infarctions on MRI, preoperative decline in global cognitive function and ascending aortic atherosclerosis in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery and increased risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Impaired cognition preceding cardiac surgery is related to cerebral ischemic lesions.

PURPOSE: Cognitive dysfunction is more frequent after cardiac surgery. However, the preoperative cognitive state is seldom assessed when the effects of cardiac surgery on cognition are investigated. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction may be associated with the preoperative cognitive state and the existence of cerebral ischemic lesions in patients who undergo cardiac surgery. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively on 362 consecutive patients scheduled to undergo elective cardiac surgery. The brains of all patients were imaged by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess prior cerebral infarctions, carotid artery stenosis and intracranial arterial stenosis, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was used to assess acute cerebral ischemia. Patients were classified with impaired cognitive function prior to surgery if their score on the Hasegawa dementia rating scale was <24. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction from baseline was determined using four neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: Prior to surgery 40 patients (11%) were assessed with impaired cognition. Relative to the other patients, these patients were older and less well educated, and they had significantly higher rates of peripheral vascular disease, white matter lesions, cerebral infarction on MRI, carotid artery stenosis and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Of these 40 cognitively impaired patients, seven (18%) had cerebral ischemia, based on DWI images before surgery; in comparison, nine of the 322 patients (3%) without preoperative cognitive impairment were found to have abnormalities on the DWI images (P < 0.001). An analysis by stepwise logistic regression demonstrated that the significant risks for preoperative cognitive impairment were advanced age, lower attained level of education, peripheral artery disease, prior cerebral infarctions, and abnormalities on DWI images. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that preoperative cognitive impairment associated with cerebral ischemic lesions and an increased risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction existed in our patient cohort undergoing cardiac surgery.

[A case of Vibrio vulnificus infection presenting with invagination].

A 73-year-old man with advanced lung cancer ate raw fish the day before being admitted to our hospital with severe abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. Soon afterward he fell into shock and disseminated intravenous coagulation. A CT scan revealed invagination and emergency surgery was performed. On the first day after surgery, Vibrio vulnificus was cultured from his ascites and blood. The infection was controlled by antibiotic treatment and he was discharged 23 days after the surgery. Vibrio vulnificus infection is an opportunistic infection that develops mostly in patients with liver cirrhosis within two days after eating raw seafood or having the injured skin exposed to sea water in the summer. Mortality is 70%, and more than half of these patients die within 72 hours of onset. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. In addition, the public should be educated to protect immuno-compromised individuals from this infection.

Abnormalities in the brain before elective cardiac surgery detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) has found ischemic lesions in the brain after cardiac surgery. However, preoperative cerebral injury has not been studied closely. In this study, we used DWI to assess the prevalence of abnormalities in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. METHODS: We used conventional magnetic resonance imaging and DWI to study 247 consecutive patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery. Clinical characteristics, neuropsychological test performance, and radiographic data were collected and compared with a group of patients who had normal findings on DWI. RESULTS: Eleven of the 247 patients (4.5%) had cerebral ischemic lesions on DWI before surgery. Compared with patients who had normal findings on DWI, patients who had abnormalities had significantly higher rates of history of cerebrovascular disease (64% versus 12%), cardiac catheterization within 14 days before DWI (91% versus 54%), preoperative cerebral infarctions (45% versus 5%), carotid artery stenosis (36% versus 5%), and preoperative cognitive impairment (55% versus 9%). Of the 11 patients with DWI abnormalities, 5 had delayed elective surgery and follow-up image studies; of these 5, 4 showed no relevant ischemic lesion on preoperative follow-up imaging. Among the other 6 patients, 1 had an infarction due to expansion of the same lesion that was detected on the preoperative DWI. There was no significant difference with regard to the incidence of postoperative stroke and cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: In all, 4.5% of cardiac surgery patients had existing cerebral ischemic lesions on DWI without obvious neurologic defects. Further studies are required to determine whether the lesions are associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction or stroke.

[Well leg compartment syndrome during prolonged surgery in the lithotomy position].

We experienced a case of the well leg compartment syndrome (WLCS) during total pelvic exenteration in a 54-year-old woman. She was placed in the head down-lithotomy position and her both lower legs were attached with elastic stocking and intermittent pneumatic compression for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. The surgery lasted for 13 hr and 15 min. Her vital signs stayed stable during the procedure. After emergence from anesthesia, she complained of severe bilateral crural pain. We found that her calves were swollen and rigid. Creatinin kinase increased to 40120 U x l(-1) the following morning. She was diagnosed as WLCS, and the left fibula paralysis remained as legacy of WLCS. WLCS during surgery is caused by inappropriate positioning of the lower limbs, in contrast to a compartment syndrome caused by trauma or injury. Its etiology consists of multi-factors e.g., prolonged surgery in the lithotomy position and hypo-perfusion. We emphasize the importance of both prevention and early treatment of WLCS. All anesthesiologists should pay attention to WLCS.

Rapidly induced hypothermia with extracorporeal lung and heart assist (ECLHA) improves the neurological outcome after prolonged cardiac arrest in dogs.

PURPOSE: We reported previously that therapeutic hypothermia with extracorporeal lung and heart assist (ECLHA) improved neurological outcome after 15 min cardiac arrest (CA) in dogs, although 45 min was needed to achieve hypothermia. We now investigate whether rapidly induced hypothermia with ECLHA (RHE) would result in a better outcome than slowly induced hypothermia with ECLHA (SHE) in dogs. METHODS: Fifteen mongrel female dogs were divided into two groups: an RHE (n = 7) and an SHE (n = 8) group. Normothermic ventricular fibrillation was induced for 15 min and the animals were resuscitated by ECLHA. Rapid hypothermia was induced with a heat exchanger added to the ECLHA circuit in the RHE group, and by immersing the drainage tube of the ECLHA circuit in an ice water bath in the SHE group. Hypothermia (33 degrees C) was maintained for 20 h. The dogs were weaned from ECLHA at 24 h after resuscitation and treated for 96 h; neurological deficit scores (NDS) were measured throughout this period. RESULTS: It took 1.6+/-0.8 min to reach 33 degrees C in the RHE group and 49.5+/-12.1 min to reach 33 degrees C in the SHE group. There was no difference in survival rate between the two groups. The NDS at 96 h in the RHE group was better than that in the SHE group (26% (range: 10-28%) versus 32% (26-37%); p < 0.05) although there was no significant difference in NDS between the two groups until 72 h. CONCLUSION: Rapid hypothermic induction might be an important factor to improve neurological outcomes in prolonged CA models.

[Perioperative mangement of surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease].

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery are at increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular complications due to underlying coronary artery disease (CAD). We determined retrospectively the incidence of CAD and the influence of coronary revascularization and perioperative cardiovascular complications in patients for AAA surgery. METHODS: Routine coronary angiography (CAG) was performed in 159 patients prior to elective AAA surgery to estimate the presence of CAD. To compare risk factors and perioperative cardiovascular complications the patients were divided at the time of CAG into three groups: previously diagnosed CAD, newly diagnosed CAD and non-CAD. RESULTS: Preoperative CAG found 129 patients (81%) with CAD. Among newly diagnosed patients 82% were asymptomatic of CAD. Forty-four patients (28%) underwent coronary revascularization (17 percutaneous coronary intervention, 3 preoperative coronary artery bypass grafting, and 24 combined coronary artery bypass grafting). Perioperative cardiac complications occurred in 35 patients (22%). No significant difference was found among the three groups in the incidence of perioperative cardiovascular complications. Two patients with severe CAD not treated with coronary revascularization died of cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative management and coronary revascularization should be carried out with more cautions in AAA patients to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular complications after AAA surgery.

Comparison of a new heparin-coated dense membrane lung with nonheparin-coated dense membrane lung for prolonged extracorporeal lung assist in goats.

Thrombosis and bleeding are major complications in cases of prolonged extracorporeal lung assist (ECLA) with an artificial-membrane lung. Antithrombogenic treatment of the artificial-membrane oxygenator and circuits is indispensable for safe ECLA. The efficacy of a new heparin-coated membrane lung with minimal systemic heparinization was evaluated for 7 days and compared with a nonheparin-coated membrane lung in goats. The animals were randomly assigned to either the heparin-coated membrane group (HM group, n = 5) or nonheparin-coated membrane group (NHM group, n = 5). Activated coagulation time (ACT) during ECLA was controlled to below 150 s in the HM group, and to near 200 s in the NHM group. All goats in the HM group were sustained on ECLA for 7 days, but two goats in the NHM group died on the 4th and 6th days, respectively. The mean systemic administration rate of heparin during ECLA was 22.4 +/- 4.4 U/kg/h in the HM group and 39.0 +/- 10.0 U/kg/h in the NHM group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The oxygen transfer rate, the Pco(2) difference, the perfusion resistance, and platelet counts showed no significant changes. There was no plasma leakage from the artificial lung. Although several clots were observed in the stagnant areas of the artificial lung, they did not lead to deterioration of the function of the artificial lung. The excellent antithrombogenicity, gas exchange ability, and durability of this new artificial lung with circuits might contribute to successful prolonged ECLA with minimal systemic heparinization.

[Anesthetic management for a patient with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome].

We experienced anesthetic management for a patient with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. This syndrome is relatively uncommon and accompanies dyspnea and hypoxemia on changing to a sitting or standing from recumbent position. A 75-year-old man with the syndrome underwent atrial septal defect closure on cardiopulmonary bypass. General anesthesia was induced and maintained with midazolam, propofol, fentanyl and vecuronium bromide. During the induction, Spo2 decreased suddenly from 100% to 70%, Spo2, however, recovered to 97% immediately after changing to Trendelenburg position. The perioperative and postoperative course was uneventful, except for hypoxemia during induction. Although the exact mechanisms of platypneaorthodeoxia remains to be solved, right-to-left shunt by an anatomical abnormality and by change of the atrial septum is considered one of the hypoxic mechanisms. We suggest that it is necessary to prevent right-to-left shunt and hypoxemia in anesthetic management of a patient with platypneaorthodeoxia syndrome.

Preliminary experiment with a newly developed double balloon, double lumen catheter for extracorporeal life support vascular access.

Recently, venovenous extracorporeal life support (VVECLS) using a double lumen catheter has been clinically used to avoid neurologic complications in the treatment of respiratory failure for neonates. However, recirculation, which is a limiting factor for oxygen delivery, still exists, and thus it does not contribute to oxygenation of the patient. We developed a newly designed double lumen catheter with a double balloon (DBDL) catheter for ECLS vascular access and performed two animal preliminary experiments in normal and hypoxic dog models (normal ventilation and one lung ventilation experiments) to investigate whether the DBDL catheter could prevent recirculation and maintain oxygen delivery to systemic circulation. The DBDL catheter (JCT Co., Hiroshima, Japan) of 15 Fr was fabricated from silicone. It consists of two lumens for drainage and return of blood with two balloons (distal and proximal balloons) that prevent oxygenated blood mixing with unoxygenated blood. VVECLS using a DBDL catheter was performed in 13 mongrel dogs (8 dogs for normal ventilation experiment weighing 12.9 +/- 1.6 kg [mean +/- SD], 5 dogs for one lung ventilation experiment weighing 16.6 +/- 2.5 kg [mean +/- SD]) under anesthesia in the two experiments. The bypass flow ranged from 10-40 ml/kg per minute in the normal ventilation experiment. VVECLS in the one lung ventilation experiment was performed with maximal bypass flow for 6 hours (ranged from 25.2 +/- 8.0-28.3 +/- 8.7 ml/kg per minute at balloon inflation and deflation). Recirculation and oxygen transfer of artificial lung with or without balloon inflation during VVECLS were studied. Recirculation decreased with balloon inflation at varied bypass flows during VVECLS in the normal ventilation experiment (varied from 1.5 +/- 14.6-12.8 +/- 16.7%) and for 6 hours after VVECLS initiation in the one lung ventilation experiment (varied from 12.2 +/- 12.2-19.2 +/- 6.5%). In particular, the values at 3 and 6 hours were significantly lower than that of balloon deflation in the one lung ventilation experiment. The difference in O2 content between inlet and outlet in the artificial lung with balloon inflation was significantly higher than that of balloon deflation (varied from 3.7 +/- 1.8-4.8 +/- 1.9 ml/dl, p < 0.05) at the bypass flow of 10-30 ml/kg per minute in the normal ventilation experiment and at 5 hours after VVECLS initiation in the one lung ventilation experiment (varied from 10.6 +/- 1.6-11.7 +/- 1.8 ml/dl). The blood gas analysis of systemic circulation with balloon inflation revealed that the values of PaO2 (varied from 83.8 +/- 11.4-96.9 +/- 23.4 mm Hg) and PaCO2 (37.7 +/- 9.2-40.4 +/- 11.8 mm Hg) were higher and lower, respectively, compared with balloon deflation. In particular, PaO2 level was significantly higher than that of the preECLS value at the bypass flow of 20-40 ml/kg per minute (varied from 83.8 +/- 11.4-96.9 +/- 23.4 mm Hg, p < 0.05). In the one lung ventilation experiment, systemic PaO2 and PaCO2 levels at balloon inflation were higher and lower, respectively, compared with balloon deflation during VVECLS for 6 hours. At balloon inflation, the value of PaO2 at 6 hours after VVECLS initiation was significantly higher than that at balloon deflation. A newly designed DBDL catheter for ECLS vascular access successfully reduced recirculation and maintained oxygen delivery to systemic circulation during VVECLS. These results suggest that a high bypass flow may not be necessarily required in terms of oxygen delivery to systemic circulation when the DBDL catheter was used as an ECLS vascular access.

[A portable sternal compressor for cardiac massage on a patient carried by a litter--Part 3: Applicability of the device tested by a recording manikin].

Effects of a portable sternal compressor developed by us was examined by 43 medical students (28 males and 15 females) and 9 anesthesia residents using a recording manikin. Compression over a depth of 3.5 to 5.0 cm was classified as adequate. First, the examinee held the device affixed in front of the chest with a belt hanged over the shoulder and pulled the other handle back and forth at a rate of 100 per minute. The male students could perform adequate compression in 92% of the total number of compression in the first one minute, while female students could in 65%. Though the anesthesia residents accomplished 99% of success rate in the first one minute, the rate fell to nearly 80% in the next minute and about 50% thereafter due to fatigue. When one handle was sustained on the floor with its fold-in stand and held between the knees of the examinee sitting on a chair, adequate compression was performed with the success rate of over 80% for 5 minutes. We conclude this device will be useful for cardiac massage on a patient either transported on a litter or lying on a soft bed.

Does veno-arterial bypass without an artificial lung improve the outcome in dogs undergoing cardiac arrest?

We hypothesized that maintaining circulation and blood pressure by veno-arterial bypass (V-A bypass) without oxygenation would improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and survival rates. A total of 32 dogs, divided into four groups, were subjected to normothermic ventricular fibrillation (VF) for 15 min. The method of CPR was the same in the four groups, except for the method and timing of V-A bypass. We attempted to resuscitate the dogs without V-A bypass (control), with V-A bypass not including an artificial lung during VF, with V-A bypass not including an artificial lung during CPR, and with V-A bypass including an artificial lung during CPR. CPR was continued until restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or for 30 min. Although blood pressure was well maintained, severe hypoxemia was observed during V-A bypass without an artificial lung. The resultant hypoxemia was very detrimental. ROSC was achieved more easily in all dogs in the bypass group with an artificial lung. No significant difference in survival rates was demonstrated among the four groups (P = 0.11). We concluded that V-A bypass without oxygenation does not improve the chances for CPR and outcome after cardiac arrest in dogs. Our results suggest that oxygenation is indispensable in CPR.