Congenital Lobar Emphysema: Anaesthetic Challenges and Review of Literature.

Congenital Lobar Emphysema (CLE) is a developmental anomaly, characterized by hyperinflation of one or more pulmonary lobes. It presents in infancy with variable degree of respiratory distress due to compression atelectasis. It is most often associated with mediastinal shift with subsequent hypoxia. CLE poses a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. We report a case of five-month-old infant of CLE requiring left lobectomy, who was previously being treated for pneumonia which was unresponsive to medical therapy. Anaesthetic challenges experienced during the case and a brief review of literature is presented.

Tube migration during laparoscopic gynecological surgery.

BACKGROUND: The positioning (trendelenburg) and pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic gynecological surgeries may cause cephalad movement of diaphragm and subsequent endobronchial intubation. PATIENTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026; METHODS: 50 ASA I/II patients posted for laparoscopic ligation were included in the study. Standardized anaesthesia technique was employed in all the patients. The distance of endotracheal tube to carina was measured in supine position, trendelenberg position, 5 min and 25 minutes post pneumoperitoneum and after deflation of pneumo-peritoneum. RESULTS: The mean distance from the tip of the ETT to the carina was 3.41± 1.3 cm, 2.96 ± 1.4, 2.0 ± 1.5 and 1.7 ± 1.6 in supine position, trendelenburg position and 5min and 25 min post pneumoperitoneum. (P<0.01) Following deflation the carina moved back to its position to some extent and was 2.5 ± 1.5 from the tip of endotracheal tube.( P< 0.05) CONCLUSION: We conclude that pneumoperitoneum and trendelenburg position during laparoscopic surgeries may lead to cephalad migration of carina.

Can pulse oximetry be used to measure systolic blood pressure?

This study evaluates the use of pulse oximetry to accurately monitor systolic arterial blood pressure in 100 healthy volunteers. Determination of arterial blood pressure using oximetry was made at the disappearance of visual display upon blood pressure cuff inflation, at the reappearance of visual display upon cuff deflation, and by averaging the two. The blood pressures obtained by pulse oximetry were compared with the arterial blood pressures obtained by Korotokoff sounds and noninvasive blood pressure equipment. Good agreement was obtained when the average of oximetry-based systolic blood pressure estimates at the disappearance and reappearance of the waveform were compared with Korotokoff sound pressures and noninvasive equipment pressures. Thus pulse oximetry can be used to measure systolic arterial blood pressure. This technique is specifically important for patients with Takayasu's syndrome (pulseless disease) where conventional techniques often fail to monitor systolic arterial blood pressure.

Nitrobenzene poisoning and spurious pulse oximetry.

The successful management of nitrobenzene poisoning in a 21-year-old patient is presented. We report our experience of ventilatory care with additional intravenous methylene blue and ascorbic acid therapy. Pulse oximeters available at present are not useful in patients treated with methylene blue and should be used cautiously in the presence of cyanosis of unknown aetiology.