Hemolytic reaction in the washed salvaged blood of a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

BACKGROUND: In patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), the membrane-attack complex (MAC) formed on red blood cells (RBCs) causes hemolysis due to the patient's own activated complement system by an infection, inflammation, or surgical stress. The efficacy of transfusion therapy for patients with PNH has been documented, but no studies have focused on the perioperative use of salvaged autologous blood in patients with PNH. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old man underwent total hip replacement surgery. An autologous blood salvage device was put in place due to the large bleeding volume and the existence of an irregular antibody. The potassium concentration in the transfer bag of salvaged RBCs after the wash process was high at 6.2 mmol/L, although the washing generally removes > 90% of the potassium from the blood. This may have been caused by continued hemolysis even after the wash process. Once activated, the complement in patients with PNH forms the MAC on the RBCs, and the hemolytic reaction may not be stopped even with RBC washing. CONCLUSIONS: Packed RBCs, instead of salvaged autologous RBCs, should be used for transfusions in patients with PNH. The use of salvaged autologous RBCs in patients with PNH should be limited to critical situations, such as massive bleeding. Physicians should note that the hemolytic reaction may be present inside the transfer bag even after the wash process.

Ultrasonographic Diagnosis for Dysfunction of the Diaphragm After Iatrogenic Tension Pneumoperitoneum by a Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Procedure: A Case Report.

There are various causes of dysfunction of the diaphragm. We present a case of diaphragm dysfunction caused by an excessive pneumoperitoneum in a 65-year-old woman. Her abdomen became distended during endoscopic investigation and circulatory failure occurred. A computed tomography scan revealed excessive pneumoperitoneum. Urgent laparotomy was performed to repair gastric perforation. Tracheal extubation was successfully performed in the intensive care unit. After extubation, a paradoxical breathing pattern appeared in addition to tachypnea. A diagnosis of dysfunction of the bilateral diaphragm was made by ultrasonography. Although nasal high-flow cannula therapy was required for several days, she was discharged from our hospital 2 weeks after surgery without any further complications. We should keep in mind that diaphragm dysfunction after excessive abdominal extension can be a cause of respiratory failure.

AKI after pediatric cardiac surgery for congenital heart diseases-recent developments in diagnostic criteria and early diagnosis by biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease is a common complication. AKI is also associated with high morbidity and mortality. The Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria for AKI classification are now widely used for the definition of AKI. It is noteworthy that a statement about children was added to the criteria. Many studies aimed at finding useful biomarkers are now being performed by using these criteria. Clinicians should be aware of the recent progress in understanding AKI in children. MAIN CONTENTS: Unlike adult patients, young age is one of the major risk factors for AKI in pediatric cardiac surgery. The mechanism of the development of AKI in children might be different from that in adults because the surgical procedure and CPB technique in pediatric patients are greatly different from those in adult patients. There are many biomarkers for early detection of AKI, and some of them are widely used in hospitals. One of the major benefits of such biomarkers is the rapidness of expression for detecting increases in their expression levels. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, kidney injury molecule-1, cystatin C, and albumin have been investigated in some studies, and the usefulness of these biomarkers for detection of AKI and diagnosis of disease severity has been shown. Although there are many interventions for preventing and treating AKI after cardiac surgery in children, there is still no specific effective treatment. Peritoneal dialysis is effective for only maintaining a negative fluid balance early after cardiac surgery. The long-term prognosis of AKI is an issue of interest. Although mortality and morbidity of AKI in the acute phase of disease remain high, the long-term condition in pediatric patients is relatively acceptable unlike in adults. CONCLUSIONS: KDIGO criteria are advocated as a diagnostic tool for common perception. Early recognition and intervention for AKI can be achieved by using several biomarkers. Further studies are needed to establish effective treatment for AKI.

Perioperative Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients: Its Association With Postoperative Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perioperative brain natriuretic peptide levels and the incidence of postoperative serious adverse events (SAEs) in pediatric cardiac patients. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: A single-institution university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Children under 15 years old who underwent cardiac surgery that required cardiopulmonary bypass from December 21, 2012 to February 26, 2014. The Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 category less than 1 was excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were measured preoperatively (BNPpre) and on postoperative day 1 (BNPPOD1) and postoperative day 3 (BNPPOD3). METHODS AND RESULTS: Primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative SAEs; (1) death in the intensive care unit, (2) requirement of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, (3) cardiac arrest, and (4) requirement of reoperation for hemodynamic instability. The authors included 71 patients in this study. There were 8 patients (11%) who had at least 1 SAE. Median preoperative BNP level in patients with SAEs was significantly higher than in those without SAEs (1,541 pg/mL [IQR: 121-5,962] v 122 pg/mL [QR: 34-342], p = 0.01). From the receiver operating characteristic curve of BNPpre for the incidence of SAEs, an area under the curve was 0.77 (95%CI 0.55-0.91). The best cutoff BNPpre number was 1,000 pg/mL. From the multivariate logistic regression model, BNPpre>1,000 pg/mL was associated independently with risk of SAEs (adjusted odds ratio = 8.5, 95% CI [1.3, 59.3], p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the authors' study showed that increased preoperative brain natriuretic peptide concentration, especially a concentration of more than 1,000 pg/mL, was associated with risk of SAEs in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.

Storage duration of transfused red blood cells is not significantly associated with postoperative adverse events in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of storage duration of transfused red blood cells with the risk of postoperative serious adverse events in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. We studied 517 patients and found that 22 patients (4.3%) had at least one serious adverse event. The maximum and mean storage duration of transfused red blood cells did not differ significantly between patients with and without serious adverse events (maximum, p = 0.89; mean, p = 0.81). In our study of pediatric cardiac surgery patients, the storage duration of transfused red blood cells was not significantly associated with the risk of serious adverse events.

Urinary Albumin Levels Predict Development of Acute Kidney Injury After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: Mortality and morbidity of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery still remain high. The authors undertook the present study to evaluate the utility of early postoperative urinary albumin (uAlb) as a diagnostic marker for predicting occurrence of AKI and its severity in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: A single-institution university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All patients<18 years of age who underwent repair of congenital heart disease with cardiopulmonary bypass between July 2010 and July 2012 were included in the study. Neonates age<1 month were excluded from the study population. INTERVENTIONS: The association between uAlb and occurrence of AKI within 3 days after admission to the intensive care unit was investigated. Criteria from pediatric-modified Risk Injury Failure Loss and End-stage kidney disease (pRIFLE) were used to determine the occurrence of AKI. The value of uAlb was measured at intensive care unit admission immediately after cardiac surgery in all participants from whom a 5-mL urine sample was obtained. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 376 patients, AKI assessed by pRIFLE was identified in 243 (64.6%): 172 for risk (R; 45.7%), 44 for injury (I; 11.7%), and 27 for failure (F; 7.2%). One hundred thirty-three patients (35.4%) were classified as being without AKI (normal [N]) by pRIFLE. The concentration of uAlb was significantly higher in AKI patients than in non-AKI patients (median [interquartile range]): uAlb (µg/mL): 13.5 (6.4-39.6) v 6.0 (3.4-16), p<0.001; uAlb/Cr (mg/gCr): 325 (138-760) v 121 (53-269), p< 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The utility of uAlb for prompt diagnosis of AKI was shown. Obtaining uAlb measurements early after pediatric cardiac surgery may be useful for predicting the occurrence and severity of AKI.

Intraoperative change of lactate level is associated with postoperative outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery patients: retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: A change of serum lactate concentrations appeared to be useful for predicting outcomes in various acute ill settings. However, there is little information on intraoperative change of lactate level in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 459 children who received pediatric cardiac surgery to determine the association between change of lactate level after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and patient prognosis (length of ICU stay and incidence of postoperative serious adverse events (SAEs)). We defined change of lactate level after CPB (LAC⊿) as (final lactate level measurement in the operating room) - (lactate level measured at the end of CPB). To study the independent association of LAC⊿ with length of ICU stay, we used linear regression model. RESULTS: There were 1145 lactate measurements after CPB in this study cohort. After weaning from CPB, the serum lactate levels significantly increased from 2.1 mmol/L to 2.5 mmol/L (p < 0.001). Patients with higher LAC⊿ had significantly longer stay in ICU (p = 0.017) and higher incidence of SAEs (p = 0.002). In multivariate linear regression analysis, higher LAC⊿ showed a significant independent association with longer length of ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Increased lactate level after CPB was associated with the longer duration of ICU stay and increased risk of postoperative SAEs in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. Future studies should be conducted to determine the clinical utility of intraoperative trend of lactate levels.

The association of plasma gamma-aminobutyric acid concentration with postoperative delirium in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: Delirium is a common complication in postoperative, critically ill patients. The mechanism of postoperative delirium is not well understood but many studies have shown significant associations between benzodiazepine use, alcohol withdrawal and cirrhosis, and an increased risk of delirium. We aimed to investigate a possible link with alterations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective observational investigation of 40 patients > 20 years old who had undergone elective surgery with general anaesthesia and were expected to need postoperative intensive care for more than 48 hours. We assessed postoperative delirium using the confusion assessment method in the intensive care unit at 1 hour after the operation and on postoperative Day (POD) 1 and POD 2. We collected blood samples for measurement of plasma GABA concentrations before the operation and on POD 1 and 2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative delirium and perioperative plasma GABA concentrations in patients with and without delirium. RESULTS: Postoperative delirium occurred in 13 of the patients. Patients with delirium had significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores than patients without delirium. The mean plasma GABA concentration on POD 2 was significantly lower in patients with delirium than in those without delirium. After adjustment of relevant variables, plasma GABA concentration on POD 2 was independently associated with postoperative delirium. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma GABA level on POD 2 has a significant independent association with postoperative delirium.

Living will interest and preferred end-of-life care and death locations among Japanese adults 50 and over: a population-based survey.

The main purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between Japanese individuals' interest in living wills and their preferred end-of-life care and death locations. Questionnaires were mailed to 1,000 individuals aged >50 to measure these 2 factors. We examined the associations between the respondents' characteristics and their preferred care and death locations by using multinomial logistic regression models. The response rate was 74%. Home was the most frequently preferred place for end-of-life care (64%), and a palliative care unit (PCU) was the most commonly preferred place to die (51%). Living will interest was associated with a preference for care (odds ratio [OR] 4.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95-12.1) and death (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.70-4.47) in a PCU rather than a hospital, but it was not associated with the choice between receiving care or dying at home instead of a hospital. We must consider why Japanese people think home death is impracticable. The Japanese palliative care system should be expanded to meet patients' end-of-life needs, and this includes not only facilitating home care but also increasing access to PCU care.

Induction of hepatic Bach1 mRNA expression by carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats.

Hepatic oxidative stress is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of several acute liver diseases. Diagnostic markers of hepatic oxidative stress may facilitate early detection and intervention. Bach1 is an oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor that represses heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of heme, a potent pro-oxidant. We previously demonstrated that carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) causes oxidative hepatic injury in rats, exacerbated by free heme, suggesting that CCl4 may affect Bach1 gene expression. In the present study, we used northern blot analysis to measure Bach1, HO-1 and δ-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS1; a heme biosynthesis enzyme) mRNA expression levels during acute hepatic injury induced by CCl4 (at doses of 0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 ml/kg body weight). Oxidative injury was assessed by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) content. Treatment with CCl4 induced a significant dose-dependent increase in Bach1 mRNA 1-3 h after administration. Bach1 mRNA peaked at 6 h after CCl4 treatment (1 ml/kg), followed by a rapid decrease and gradual return to baseline by 12 h after treatment. The timecourse of transient Bach1 mRNA induction roughly mirrored that of HO-1 mRNA, while ALAS1 mRNA was inversely downregulated. Serum ALT levels and hepatic MDA concentration were significantly increased at 24 h after CCl4 treatment, while the hepatic GSH content was significantly reduced within 3 h of treatment. Serum ALT levels were positively correlated with Bach1 mRNA levels. These findings indicate that Bach1 mRNA is transiently induced in rat liver by CCl4, possibly as a regulatory mechanism to restore HO-1 to baseline following free heme catabolism. Our findings also suggest that Bach1 mRNA expression may be a novel indicator of the extent of oxidative hepatic injury caused by free heme.

[Acoustic respiratory rate monitoring in a patient with a tracheostomy: a case report].

Acoustic respiratory rate (RRa) monitoring has been validated for patients after general anesthesia and has been shown to be a useful technique. However, its feasibility in patients with a tracheostomy has not been assessed yet. Successful monitoring of RRa in a patient with a tracheostomy is described in this case report. A 56-year-old male patient was scheduled for cranioplasty after severe subarachnoidal hemorrhage under general anesthesia. A tracheostomy tube had been placed in the patient because of airway obstruction and altered spontaneous breathing. The acoustic sensor was placed at the usual position and RRa was successfully monitored by Rad 87 (Masimo Corp., Irvine). Statistical analysis was made for comparison of respiratory rate determined by RRa monitoring with respiratory rate visually counted by intensive care nurses. There was no statistically significant difference between the two respiratory rates (P = 0.82). RRa monitoring is useful even in patients with a tracheostomy.

[Increase in serum vecuronium concentration following sugammadex administration in a pediatric patient after prolonged sedation].

It is known that blood concentration of rocuronium increases after administration of sugammadex, but this is not clear in the case of vecuronium. We report a pediatric case in which serum vecuronium concentration increased following sugammadex administration after prolonged sedation using vecuronium. A 19-month-old girl weighing 7.8 kg had a history of aortic valvuloplasty at 4 months of age due to truncus arteriosus. She presented again to our hospital due to aortic regurgitation. She underwent aortic valvuloplasty and then aortic valve replacement. The postoperative course was complicated with severe heart failure and acute kidney injury requiring peritoneal dialysis. For that reason she required long-term sedation including administration of a large amount of muscle relaxant due to severe low cardiac output syndrome after aortic valvuloplasty. A total of 615 mg (79 mg x kg(-1)) of vecuronium was administered over a period of 24 days. On weaning from mechanical ventilation, 125 mg (16 mg x kg(-1)) of sugammadex was given. Vecuronium concentration measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was 5.03 ng x ml(-1) before sugammadex administration and increase to 13.98 ng x ml(-1) after that. However, blood concentration of metabolic products of vecuronium did not exceed the lower limits of measurement in each sample. She was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation without recurarizarion. Serum concentration of vecuronium increased after administration of sugammadex because extravascular vecuronium was redistributed to intravascular space according to the concentration gradient induced by binding and clathration of vecuronium. The measured values of vecuronium after sugammadex administration on HPLC represented the total amount of free vecuronium and vecuronium combined with sugammadex. Recurarization might occur after sugammadex reversal in patients after long-term administration of vecuronium, especially if relatively smaller doses of sugammadex were given. We experienced a pediatric case in which serum vecuronium concentration increased following sugammadex administration after prolonged sedation using vecuronium. There is a risk of recurarization after sugammadex reversal in patients after long-term administration of vecuronium.

Perioperative plasma melatonin concentration in postoperative critically ill patients: its association with delirium.

PURPOSE: Delirium is a common complication in postoperative critically ill patients. Although abnormal melatonin metabolism is thought to be one of the mechanisms of delirium, there have been few studies in which the association between alteration of perioperative plasma melatonin concentration and postoperative delirium was assessed. MATERIALS: We conducted a prospective observational study to assess the association of perioperative alteration of plasma melatonin concentration with delirium in 40 postoperative patients who required intensive care for more than 48 hours. We diagnosed postoperative delirium using Confusion Assessment Method for the intensive care unit and measured melatonin concentration 4 times (before the operation as the preoperative value, 1 hour after the operation, postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2). RESULTS: Postoperative delirium occurred in 13 (33%) of the patients. Although there was no significant difference in preoperative melatonin concentration, Δ melatonin concentration at 1 hour after the operation was significantly lower in patients with delirium than in those without delirium (-1.1 vs 0 pg/mL, P = .036). After adjustment of relevant confounders, Δ melatonin concentration was independently associated with risk of delirium (odds ratio, 0.50; P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: Delta melatonin concentration at 1 hour after the operation has a significant independent association with risk of postoperative delirium.

[Pacing lead extraction using an excimer laser sheath under general anesthesia].

An excimer laser sheath has recently been used for extraction of pacing and ICD leads. By using this technique, leads are removed more easily and it has to take a shorter time to extract leads. Although lead extraction with this method can cause fatal complications such as large vessel injury, little has been reported regarding anesthetic management during the lead extraction. We experienced two cases of pacing lead extraction using an excimer laser sheath under general anesthesia. The procedures were mainly performed by cardiologists in the operating theater. A wide area was prepared with sterile drapes as for cardiac surgery with cardiovascular surgeons standing by. Vascular access catheters were placed in the right femoral artery as well as vein, and in the right internal jugular vein so that immediate PCPS introduction could be performed in case of sudden hemodynamic collapse by massive bleeding. In the first case, lead extraction was completed without any complication, but in the second case sternotomy was performed by cardiac surgeons for safe separation of leads from vessels. There were also no bleeding episodes in the second case. Preparation for bleeding and cooperation among cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, medical engineers and anesthesiologists are necessary from the safety point of view of this procedure under general anesthesia.

Incidence and risk factors for mortality in paediatric severe sepsis: results from the national paediatric intensive care registry in Japan.

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence, background, outcome and risk factors for death of severe sepsis in Japanese paediatric intensive care units (PICUs). METHODS: A data analysis of a prospective, multicentre, 3-year case registry from nine medical-surgical Japanese PICUs. Children with severe sepsis, aged 0-15 years, who were consecutively admitted to the participating PICUs from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009 were enrolled. The incidence, background, causative pathogens or infective foci, outcome and risk factors for death caused by severe sepsis were analysed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one cases were registered. After the exclusion of 14 patients because of incomplete data or inappropriate entry, 127 patients were eligible for the analysis. There were 60 boys and 67 girls, aged 23 [5-68] (median [IQR]) months and weighed 10 [5.5-16.5] kg. The incidence was 1.4 % of total PICU admissions. Sepsis was community-acquired in 35 %, PICU-acquired in 37 % and acquired in hospital general wards in 28 %. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen. The crude 28-day mortality was 18.9 %, comparable to the mean PIM-2 predicted mortality (17.7 %). The mortality rate in patients with shock was significantly increased to 28 % compared to those without shock (5 %). The presences of existing haematological disorders (OR 8.97, 95 % CI, 1.56-51.60) and shock (OR 5.35, 1.04-27.44) were significant factors associated with mortality by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality from severe sepsis/septic shock in Japanese PICUs was ~19 %. Haematological disorders and presence of shock were associated with death.

[General anesthesia for pediatric cardiac catheterization--effects of anesthetics on blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and carbon dioxide].

BACKGROUND: There are limited data about the correlations between amount of anesthetics and variations in vital signs during pediatric cardiac catheterization. METHODS: Data in 80 children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization with/without interventional cardiology in 2004 were examined in this retrospective cohort study. Data on blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, partial tension in end tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2), and total amount of anesthetics given during general anesthesia were obtained from anesthetic charts. The correlations between amount of anesthetics and those vital signs were analyzed. RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 14 months and median body weight was 8.8 kg. Median rates of variation in heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and PET(CO2) were 22.8%, 29.3%, 5.9% and 10.8%, respectively. Although there were no statistical correlations between those vital signs and amounts of anesthetics such as fentanyl, vecuronium and sevoflurane, rates of variation in heart rate was smaller in patients for whom the amount of fentanyl given was more than 4 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1). CONCLUSIONS: There were no associations between amount of anesthetics and variations in vital signs in pediatric cardiac catheterization.

Effect of tranexamic acid on blood loss in pediatric cardiac surgery: a randomized trial.

PURPOSE: The benefit of tranexamic acid (TXA) in pediatric cardiac surgery on postoperative bleeding has varied among studies. It is also unclear whether the effects of TXA differ between cyanotic patients and acyanotic patients. The aim of this study was to test the benefit of TXA in pediatric cardiac surgery in a well-balanced study population of cyanotic and acyanotic patients. METHODS: A total of 160 pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (81 cyanotic, 79 acyanotic) were included in this single-blinded, randomized trial at a tertiary care university-affiliated teaching hospital. Eighty-one children (41 cyanotic, 40 acyanotic) were randomly assigned to a TXA group, in which they received 50 mg/kg of TXA as a bolus followed by 15 mg/kg/h infusion and another 50 mg/kg into the bypass circuit. The other 79 patients were randomly assigned to a placebo group. The primary end point was the amount of 24-h blood loss. RESULTS: The amount of 24-h blood loss was significantly less in the TXA group than in the placebo group [mean (95% confidence interval): 18.6 (15.8-21.4) vs. 23.5 (19.4-27.5) ml/kg, respectively; mean difference -4.9 (-9.7 to -0.01) ml/kg; p = 0.049]. This effect of TXA was already significant at 6 h [9.5 (7.5-11.5) vs. 13.2 (10.6-15.9) ml/kg, respectively; mean difference -3.47 (-7.0 to -0.4) ml/kg; p = 0.027]. However, there was no significant difference in the amount of blood transfusion between the groups. There was also no statistical difference in the effect of TXA in each cyanotic and acyanotic subgroup. CONCLUSION: TXA can reduce blood loss in pediatric cardiac surgery but not the transfusion requirement (http://ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00994994).

[Postoperative coil embolization of residual MAPCAs greatly improved left heart failure in a patient after corrective surgery for pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect and MAPCAs].

A male child, aged 1 year, with pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect and major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (PA, VSD, MAPCA) underwent corrective surgery including MAPCA ligation uneventfully. A few hours after admission to the ICU, severe heart failure, refractory to aggressive cardiac support including epinephrine infusion, became worse. Emergent cardiac catheterization on postoperative day 5 demonstrated the residual MAPCA and its occlusion by coil embolization dramatically resolved heart failure, indicating that the primary cause of this hemodynamic instability was likely excessive left-to-right shunt due to MAPCA. Residual LR shunt should be kept in mind to be a rare but significant cause of postoperative serious heart failure.

[Successful use of intravenous amiodarone for refractory ventricular fibrillation just after releasing aortic cross-clamp].

Amiodarone is widely used in Europe and the United States for refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) in various situations, such as VF after myocardial infarction or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We report a case of successful treatment with amiodarone of refractory VF immediately after releasing aortic cross-clamp in cardiac surgery. A 66-year-old man suffering from severe aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). General anesthesia was induced with propofol and remifentanil, and subsequently AVR was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Just after releasing aortic cross-clamp, VF occurred, and it continued despite multiple trials of cardioversion with direct current (DC) shocks of 20 J or 30 J. Furthermore, some DC shocks of 30 J or 50 J after administering lidocaine 60 mg and 0.5 mol x l(-1) magnesium sulfate 20 ml were also ineffective. Then, nifekalant 20 mg was administered and DC shocks of 50 J were repeated intermittently, but VF still persisted. Eventually, VF disappeared after a final DC shock of 50 J with intravenous amiodarone 125 mg. Overall duration of VF was 60 minutes. The patient's trachea was extubated three days after the surgery without any complications. Intravenous amiodarone may be one of the most useful remedies for some types of arrhythmias including persistent VE.

[Perioperative management for open balloon atrial septostomy immediately after caesarean section in a baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and intact atrial septum].

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with intact atrial septum (IAS) is an extreme type of single ventricle physiology among congenital heart diseases, in which a baby cannot supply oxygenated blood into systemic circulation without alternative pathway. We report the case of the neonate undergoing open balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) and bilateral pulmonary artery banding (PAB) soon after scheduled caesarean sections (C/S). A 35-year-old female was pregnant and fetal echocardiography at 32 weeks revealed one of the twins as HLHS/IAS. Severe hypoxia soon after birth was suspected. Thus, scheduled C/S followed by open BAS was planned. At 36 weeks of gestation, the mother was anesthetized with spinal bupivacaine and the female baby with HLHS/IAS was delivered. After diagnosed definitely by pediatric cardiologists, her trachea was intubated by anesthegiologists and umbilical catheters were placed by neonatologists. Then the baby was transferred to neighboring operating theater for BAS 68 minutes after the birth, while her Sp(O2) was maintained around 75-85% through serial procedures. Open BAS and PAB were performed under general anesthesia without any hemodynamic instability or severe hypoxia. Cooperation among anesthegiologists, neonatologists, pediatric cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons is mandatory in order to successfully complete such a rushed procedure.