[Bilateral tension pneumothorax after retrieval of transtracheal jet ventilation catheter]. / Pneumothorax bilatéral au retrait du cathéter de jet ventilation à haute fréquence.

We report a bilateral tension pneumothorax which occurred in a 36-year-old man after high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) for panendoscopy. The patient had been treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy two years ago for an oropharyngeal adenocarcinoma, and by surgery for a recurrence. The incident occurred after a cough episode triggered by the withdrawal of the Ravussin transtracheal catheter. We are discussing the risk factors and the mechanisms of pneumothorax during HFJV with special emphasis on trapping and lung fibrosis.

Remifentanil-propofol vs. sufentanil-propofol: optimal combinations in clinical anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Two opioid regimens, computer-simulated to provide optimal general anesthesia in combination with propofol, were compared using clinical criteria. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing thyroid surgery were blindly, prospectively and randomly allocated to receive either (a) i.v. remifentanil (1.5 micro g kg-1, followed by 0.2 micro g kg-1 min-1) or (b) i.v. sufentanil (0.2 micro g kg-1 followed by 0.2 micro g kg-1 h-1). Remifentanil infusion was stopped at the last skin suture. Sufentanil infusion was stopped 30 min before the end of surgery. Intravenous propofol was titrated to keep BIS at 50+/-5. Remifentanil and sufentanil groups were compared with regards to (a) propofol delivery, (b) hemodynamic and recovery variables, and (c) effect-site propofol levels during a steady-state period for effect-site remifentanil and sufentanil levels. P<0.05 was significant. RESULTS: Groups were similar in demographic data; types and durations of surgery; total propofol consumption; and response, extubation and emergence times. During the steady-state period for the opioid delivery, the remifentanil and sufentanil effect-site levels were 5.3 ng ml-1 and 0.18 ng ml-1, respectively (potency ratio=30). In both opioid groups, in accordance with previous computer-simulations, the effect-site propofol concentrations remained (a) within a narrow range unaffected by surgical stimuli, (b) significantly smaller in the remifentanil group than in the sufentanil group, but (c) smaller than expected from previous computer-simulations. More patients required ephedrine following induction of anesthesia in the remifentanil compared with the sufentanil group. CONCLUSIONS: The present clinical trial conducted in thyroid surgery is consistent with previous computer-simulated opioid-propofol combinations with respect to intraoperative and recovery variables. Effect-site propofol ranges were, however, lower than expected.

[Carbon dioxide embolism during hysteroscopy followed by transient blindness]. / Embolie de CO2 lors d'une hystéroscopie suivie de cécité transitoire.

A 43 year-old woman, with uterine bleeding and right ovary cyst, was scheduled for hysteroscopy-curettage and laparoscopy. Her history was unremarkable. After induction of general anaesthesia and tracheal intubation (propofol, fentanyl, vecuronium), anesthesia was maintained with N2O/O2 (60%/40%) and isoflurane 1 vol %. The patient was placed in the dorsal lithotomy position. Two minutes after the beginning of CO2 insufflation for hysteroscopy, a ventricular tachycardia with a circulatory arrest suddenly occurred. Insufflation was stopped, cardiopulmonary resuscitation started and lignocaine 100 mg iv administered. The haemodynamic status improved rapidly with a return to sinusal rhythm and stable blood pressure within two minutes. In the recovery room, the patient was restless and experienced blindness for 3 hours. Physical examination and all investigations (EEG, brain CT scan, carotid Doppler and transoesophageal echocardiography) were normal. The most probable diagnosis was a CO2 venous embolism associated with an arterial paradoxal embolism responsible for the temporary blindness.