[Intraoperative, salvaged, autologous blood transfusion in oncologic surgery].

Intraoperative, salvaged, autologous blood transfusions carried out with autotransfusion devices are commonly used for cardiovascular surgery, and also enable the treatment of massive hemorrhage in orthopedic and gynecologic surgeries to prevent potential complications of homologous blood transfusions, such as transmission of infection, immune reactions, and blood type incompatibility. Transfusion of salvaged blood in oncologic surgery may cause hematogenous metastasis and dissemination of malignant tumor cells. However, some investigators have reported that blood irradiation or filtration using leukocyte reduction filters can prevent contamination by malignant tumor cells. Intraoperative autotransfusion with the combination of blood irradiation and leukocyte reduction filters could be therefore a promising technique for the treatment of profuse hemorrhage in oncologic surgery.

[The effect of repeated sevoflurane anesthesia on hepatic function and immunological system].

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane is known as a useful and safe anesthetic because of its properties of fast uptake and elimination at the lungs and of no effects on hepatic function. In this study we examined the effect of repeated sevoflurane anesthesia on hepatic function and immunological system. METHODS: Eight patients (ASA, PS 2 or 3) received sevoflurane anesthesia three times in 6 months. Six patients had emergency operation for injuries. Aspirate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and complements (CH50, C3, C4) were measured prior to anesthesia, and 1, 7 and 14 days after anesthesia. RESULTS: The values of AST and ALT were high prior to anesthesia at the first anesthesia. However, these were of no significant changes. CH50, C3, C4 increased significantly after the first anesthesia. However, there were no significant changes of these complements after the second and the third anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that sevoflurane is not likely to provide adverse effects on the liver and to suppress the production of complements accompanied by the surgical stress.

[Anesthetic management of a pediatric patient with a laryngeal foreign body].

Laryngeal foreign bodies in children are less common than bronchial foreign bodies, but are more dangerous. We report an 8-month-old boy who accidentally inhaled an open safety pin into his larynx. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane, oxygen. No muscle relaxant was administered during operation. The open safety pin was removed with Jackson's esophagoscope. No complications were observed during the operation.

[Anesthetic management of a patient with Young-Simpson syndrome].

Young-Simpson syndrome (YSS) is a rare malformation syndrome characterized peculiar facies, congenital hypothyroidism, congenital heart disease, and postnatal growth deficiency. A 3-year-old boy with YSS underwent tracheostomy for respiratory failure under general anesthesia using sevoflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen. Although he was assumed to be difficult for intubation due to micrognathia and macroglossia, tracheal intubation was done without difficulty. No complications were observed during the 40 minutes of the operation.