Independent lung ventilation combined with HFOV for a patient suffering from tracheo-gastric roll fistula.

This case report describes the difficult respiratory management of an esophageal cancer patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) caused by a postoperative tracheogastric roll fistula. A single-lumen tracheal tube could not seal the fistula, and therefore a double-lumen tracheal tube (DLT) for the left side was used. Although the proximal cuff of the DLT failed to seal the fistula, independent lung ventilation (ILV) improved blood gas levels. During right thoracotomy, the left lung was ventilated conventionally with 5 cmH2O positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and in addition, high-frequency oscillation ventilation (HFOV) to the right lung was employed. This combination allowed the maintenance of adequate oxygenation, and the HFOV to the right lung decreased the PaCO2 level during surgery without interruption of the surgical field. These techniques provided the opportunity to successfully remove a necrotic gastric roll and achieve closure of the fistula using an intercostal muscle flap. This report documents and discusses the difficulty of performing appropriate anesthetic management of a patient with these complex complications after esophageal surgery.

[Perioperative heart rate control with landiolol for a patient with rapid atrial fibrillation complicated with low cardiac function].

A 62-year-old man complicated with old antero-septal wall myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation suffered from lung and pancreas cancer. He underwent gastro-duodenum bypass surgery under epidural combined with general anesthesia. His ECG and echocardiogram revealed atrial fibrillation and his left ventricular ejection fraction was 35%. After the start of surgery under general anesthesia, EHR was stable between 80-100 beats x min(-1) but rapid atrial fibrillation developed with a rate of over 140 beats x min(-1) after epidural injection of 0.375% ropivacaine 3 ml. Treatment including continuous intravenous diltiazem and several bolus intravenous injections of verapamil failed to decrease the heart rate. Therefore we used landiolol, a short-acting beta blocker, to control heart rate. HR decreased without decreasing his blood pressure. Continuous landiolol infusion was maintained for 3 hours and 30 minutes in the ICU. After finishing infusion, his heart rhythm never became rapid atrial fibrillation. We conclude that landiolol is useful for heart rate control of rapid atrial fibrillation.