Predictor of postoperative dyspnea for Pierre Robin Sequence infants.

The aim of this retrospective study is to determine the predictive factors of postoperative dyspnea in infants with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). Forty children with PRS, who underwent general anesthesia, were retrospectively analyzed. The patient's physiological status and anesthesiology data were collected accordingly, demographic characteristics including age, gender, height and weight at surgery, weight gain, preoperative airway status, tracheal intubation route, American Society of Anesthesiologists grading and airway Cormack-Lehane classification. Weight gain, dyspnea before the operation, Cormack-Lehane grade distribution showed a significant difference between patients with and without postoperative dyspnea (p = 0.0175, p = 0.0026, and p = 0.0038, respectively). Incompetent weight gain was identified as a predictor (p = 0.0371) of PRS postoperative dyspnea through the binary logistic regression model. In conclusion, this study established an early alerting model by monitoring the weight gain, dyspnea before the operation, Cormack-Lehane grade as potential combinations to predict the risk of postoperative dyspnea for PRS.

Acute Postoperative Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis After Posterior Spinal Correction for Dropped Head Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Acute bilateral vocal fold paralysis is a life-threatening complication that can occur during spinal surgery but has almost exclusively occurred with anterior approaches. Bilateral vocal fold paralysis after posterior spinal surgery has been exceedingly rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a case of acute postoperative dyspnea due to vocal fold paralysis requiring intubation and surgical intervention after posterior spinal correction for the treatment of dropped head syndrome. The patient had had a previous diagnosis of atypical Parkinson disease but was later diagnosed with multiple system atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that multiple system atrophy can result in an increased risk of bilateral vocal fold paralysis during surgical intervention of dropped head syndrome. Thus, our report could be of interest for those who perform spinal surgery in patients with neurological conditions.

Effectiveness of applying continuous positive airway pressure in a patient with paradoxical vocal fold movement after endotracheal extubation: a case report.

Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM) is an uncommon upper airway disorder defined as paradoxical adduction of the vocal folds during inspiration. The etiology and treatment of PVFM are unclear. The physician should manage this condition because of the possibility of near complete airway obstruction in severe case of PVFM. We report a case of successful airway management in a patient with PVFM by applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In this case, PVFM was detected after removing an endotracheal tube from a 67-year-old male who underwent excision of a laryngeal mass. The patient recovered without complications in 1 day with support by CPAP.

Effectiveness of applying continuous positive airway pressure in a patient with paradoxical vocal fold movement after endotracheal extubation: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM) is an uncommon upper airway disorder defined as paradoxical adduction of the vocal folds during inspiration. The etiology and treatment of PVFM are unclear. The physician should manage this condition because of the possibility of near complete airway obstruction in severe case of PVFM. We report a case of successful airway management in a patient with PVFM by applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In this case, PVFM was detected after removing an endotracheal tube from a 67-year-old male who underwent excision of a laryngeal mass. The patient recovered without complications in 1 day with support by CPAP.

Sudden severe postoperative dyspnea following shoulder surgery: Remember inadvertent phrenic nerve block due to interscalene brachial plexus block.

Advanced imaging techniques, improved operative techniques, and instrumentation combined with better patient awareness and expectations have resulted in an exponential increase in upper limb surgical procedures during recent times. Surgical teams expect superior analgesia and regional blocks have matched these expectations quite often resulting in improved patient satisfaction and early rehabilitation to achieve best results. Ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is commonly used to provide analgesia for procedures involving shoulder girdle. We report a case of symptomatic hemi-diaphragmatic paresis (HDP) due to the phrenic nerve block following ISB for arthroscopic sub-acromial decompression of the shoulder presenting as severe postoperative dyspnea. There is strong evidence of HDP following ISB in anesthetic literature, but not reported in related surgical specialties such as orthopedics. We wish to inform upper-limb surgeons and educate junior doctors and other ancillary staff working in upper-limb units to be aware of this serious but reversible complication.