Intraspinal haematoma following lumbar epidural anaesthesia in a neonate.

A neonate with chromosomal 9 abnormality and omphalocele received a lumbar epidural catheter after laparotomy. Several attempts were needed to establish this catheter. Bleeding occurred from the operative wound after surgery. Using an epidural infusion with ropivacaine 0.1% for 48 h postoperative pain relief was sufficient. Four days after epidural catheter removal, dysfunction of the sacral parasympathetic nerves was noted. Motor and sensor function of the lower limbs were unaffected. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a localized intraspinal haematoma in the lower lumbar region.

[Continuous intrathecal administration of baclofen in severe tetanus]. / Kontinuierliche intrathekale Verabreichung von Baclofen bei generalisiertem Tetanus.

This is a case report involving a 71 year old man with generalized tetanus. The patient was initially treated conservatively with sedatives and muscle relaxants, which necessitated intubation and mechanical ventilation. After intrathecal administration of baclofen all cramps and spasms subsided and the patient could be weaned from the respirator and subsequently discharged from the intensive care unit.

Anaesthetic management of liver haemorrhage during laparotomy in a premature infant with necrotizing enterocolitis.

The case of a 680 g premature baby who developed massive spontaneous liver haemorrhage during laparotomy for necrotizing enterocolitis is reported. The infant survived due to rapid and massive fluid administration, including transfusion of large volumes of blood and blood products, in combination with high dose inotropic support and the surgical use of packing with thrombostatic sponges. Good venous access, including two central venous lines, turned out to be very useful.

Can a dose of 2microg.kg(-1) caudal clonidine cause respiratory depression in neonates?

A case of multiple life-threatening postoperative apnoeas in a term neonate undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy and orchidopexy who received light inhalation anaesthesia combined with caudal block with 1 ml.kg-1 ropivacaine 0.2% plus 2 microg.kg-1 clonidine is reported. The patient showed no apparent risk factors for postanaesthetic apnoea. Oxycardiorespirography five days after surgery only showed minor abnormalities. Clonidine though administered caudally in the usual dose of 2 microg.kg-1 appeared to be the most likely cause for postanaesthetic apnoea in this neonate.

[Randomized, double-blind study with ketoprofen in gynecologic patients. Preemptive analgesia study following the Brevik-Stubhaug design]. / Randomisierte, doppelblinde Studie mit Ketoprofen bei gynäkologischen Eingriffen. Präemptive Analgesiestudie nach dem Design Breivik/Stubhaug.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The clinical effect of ketoprofen is based not only on the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Ketoprofen also acts through kynurenic acid as a central antagonist on the NMDA receptor. Due to this central analgesic mechanism of ketoprofen, we expected an analgesic preemptive effect. This study was carried out following the Breivik/Stubhaug preemptive effect study design. METHODS: In 81 patients scheduled for gynaecological surgery a randomized double-blind study was performed. Three groups were studied: Group I received preoperative ketoprofen 100 mg i.v., 12 mg/h during surgery and for 48 hours afterwards. Group II received 100 mg ketoprofen as a bolus injection before the end of surgery, thereafter 12 mg/h ketoprofen continuously for 48 hours. Group III received a placebo during surgery and for 48 hours after surgery. The effects were measured postoperatively using a visual analog scale (VAS; at rest and on exertion) and the total analgesic consumption (PCA piritramide) within the first 48 hours after surgery. Furthermore, the time to first analgesic request was recorded. The vital signs and side effects were documented. RESULTS: The time to first analgesic request in group I was significantly longer than in groups II and III. In addition, the cumulative postoperative analgesic consumption during the first 24 hours after surgery was significantly lower in group I than in group III. Furthermore, the combination of an opioid with a non-opioid led to a lower pain score (VAS) at rest and on exertion. CONCLUSIONS: We showed a preemptive effect with ketoprofen, which was expressed significantly both in terms of the time to first analgesic request and by the lower analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery.

[The preemptive action of ketoprofen. Randomized, double-blind study with gynecologic operations]. / Zur präemptiven Wirkung von Ketoprofen. Randomisierte, doppelblinde Studie bei gynäkologischen Operationen.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Ketoprofen exerts its clinical effect by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, but also acts as an NMDA-receptor antagonist by means of the kynurenic acid. Based on ketoprofen's supposed central mechanism of analgesia, we expected a preemptive effect, which was assessed by the present study. METHODS: In a prospective, randomised, double-blind investigation of 48 patients undergoing gynaecological procedures (laparotomy, pelvioscopy), the first group received ketoprofen 2 mg/kg body weight i.v. 20 min before the beginning of surgery and placebo i.v. at the end of surgery. In the second group, placebo was administered first and ketoprofen at the end of surgery. Premedication and anaesthesia were standardised by protocol. The postoperative analgesic patient-controlled analgesia consumption by was also standardised (piritramide). Efficacy was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and total requirement of analgesics within the first 24 postoperative hours. The time to the first request for postoperative analgesics was also recorded. Safety was assessed by continuous monitoring of vital parameters such as respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. The incidence and severity of adverse events was documented. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups in demographic data or type or duration of surgery. The time to the first request for analgesic, VAS pain intensity, and analgesic consumption in the first 24 h post-surgery were not significantly different between the groups (t-test). CONCLUSION: Ketoprofen is an effective post-operative analgesic in combination with an opioid, but has no preemptive effect according to the results of this study.

[Acute spinal subdural hematoma after attempted spinal anesthesia]. / Akutes spinales Subduralhämatom nach Spinalanästhesieversuch.

This is a report of a case of a subdural haematoma with resulting paraplegia after attempted spinal anaesthesia. Epidural and subdural haematomas are rare complications after central neural blockade. The complication described here was the result of an unsuccessful attempt to puncture the spinal channel. The patient was a 72-year-old woman with a fracture of the left femoral neck, which it was intended to stabilize operatively. Findings that made lumbar spinal puncture difficult were severe overweight, and lordosis and scoliosis of the lumbar spine resulting from degenerative changes. Spinal anaesthesia was suggested because the patient had eaten shortly before and because she suffered from asthma. From the aspect of haemostasis no contraindications were present, and the anaesthesist was experienced in spinal anaesthesia even under difficult anatomical conditions. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to puncture the lumbar spinal channel while the patient was lying on her right side. It was also impossible to reach the spinal channel from a median or left paramedian approach. We used atraumatic pencil-point needles (Sprotte gauge 24, 90 mm). No blood was aspirated during any of the attempts. The surgical intervention was finally performed under a general anaesthetic in view of the urgency. No significant complications occurred during the operation, and no neurological abnormalities were observed immediately after or in the next 8 h after the operation. At 12 h after the operation a paraparesis was found caudal to L3. After this had been verified by radiological and neurological tests, neurosurgical decompression was carried out as quickly as possible. During the operation a distinct subdural haematoma without any detectable source of bleeding was discovered. Even after surgical revision and evacuation of the remaining haematoma it was not possible to reverse the paraplegia, in spite of rehabilitation measures. Despite a certain fragility of the vessel and pretreatment with pentoxifylline and thromboembolic prophylaxis with low-molecular heparin starting postoperatively, it must be assumed that a vessel accompanying one of the spinal nerves was punctured, possibly, the radiculomedullary vessel of Adamkiewicz. A similar case was published in 1988 by Parker. In the present case it must be assumed that the vessel was punctured during a paramedian approach in the area of the foramen intervertebrale, as the spinal channel was definitely not entered. Although this is an extremely rare complication, we conclude that close neurological controls are essential at least during the first 24 h after surgery, even after an unsuccessful attempt at central neural blockade.