Predictive Factors for Muscle Injury After Posterior Lumbar Spinal Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the risk factors for muscle injury in patients undergoing posterior lumbar spinal surgery and the clearance of postoperative biochemical changes following lumbar fusion and secondarily to evaluate the timing for monitoring postoperative biochemical serum levels and potential clinical correlation. METHODS: The study prospectively enrolled 39 patients with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Biochemical markers (creatine phosphokinase [CPK], creatinine, and hemoglobin) were analyzed in 5 predefined stages. All relevant clinical data were collected. Rhabdomyolysis (RML) was defined as a postoperative 5-fold increase of the baseline CPK value. RESULTS: Patients from the lumbar fusion group had the highest postoperative CPK ratio. Overall, the rate of RML was 43.6%. CPK and creatinine activity reached their maximum on the first postoperative day in 69.2% and 87.5% of patients, respectively. Lumbar fusion (P = 0.005), surgical time >270 minutes (P = 0.028), and fall in hemoglobin levels >3 g/dL (P = 0.034) were identified as independent factors associated with higher risk of RML. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of RML increases with prolonged and invasive surgery with higher bleeding potential. Knowing the clearance of postoperative biochemical changes permits a standardized strategy with measurements in precise intervals, thereby avoiding unnecessary costs. The clinical significance is still undetermined.

The Anaesthesiologist and Palliative Care in a Newborn with the Adam "Sequence".

Reports focusing on biomedical principlism and the role of anaesthesiologists in palliative care are rare. We present the case of a newborn with multiple craniofacial anomalies and a diagnosis of ADAM "sequence," in which surgical removal of placental adhesions to the dura mater and the correction of meningocele was not indicated due to the very short life expectancy. After 48 hours, the odor from the placenta indicted a necrotic process, which prevented the parents from being close to the child and increased his isolation. Urgent surgery was performed, after which the newborn was transported to the ICU and intubated under controlled mechanical ventilation. The patient died a week later. The principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and respect for autonomy are simultaneously an inspiratory and regulatory framework for clinical practice. Although only necessary procedures are defended, which suggests a position contrary to invasive interventions at the end of life, sometimes they are the best palliative measures that can be taken in cases like the one described here.

Double Invasive Blood Pressure Monitoring for Cesarean Delivery in a Pregnant Woman With Aortic Coarctation.

Aortic coarctation is a discrete narrowing of the proximal thoracic aorta. It is poorly tolerated during pregnancy because of its association with hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, and aortic rupture. We report a case of severe uncorrected congenital aortic coarctation in a 31-year-old symptomatic pregnant woman at 29 weeks of gestation who underwent successful cesarean delivery with an epidural anesthetic technique. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a gradient of 75 mm Hg. To avoid undiagnosed arterial hypotension and inadequate uteroplacental flow distal to the coarctation, double (radial and femoral) invasive arterial blood pressure measurement was used to monitor both pre- and postcoarctation arterial blood pressure.

Anesthesia in patient with lead poisoning: case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lead poisoning, also Saturnism, results from chronic lead poisoning, common after occupational exposure. Projectiles retained in the body may result in increased levels of plasma lead with numerous clinical implications, particularly neurological. We report a case of a symptomatic patient, undiagnosed, whose diagnosis was made during the preanesthesia evaluation. CASE REPORT: The patient was attended at our hospital to remove a bullet lodged in his left knee 14 years ago, presenting with polyneuropathy without investigation. During the preanesthetic visit, saturnism was hypothesized and confirmed by high plasma lead levels (129 µg.dL(-1)). Surgery was performed under general anesthesia before starting lead chelation. During anesthesia, the patient developed apnea, without chest-wall rigidity after administration of fentanyl (50 µg). CONCLUSION: Lead poisoning interferes with the function of various organs and systems, alters oxidative metabolism and intracellular signaling mechanisms. Neurological involvement, with reduced neural conduction, deserves special attention from anesthesiologists.

Anesthesia in a patient with Job's syndrome (hyper IgE). Case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Job's syndrome (JS), one of the presentations of the Hyper IgE Syndrome, is a rare immunodeficiency. It includes cutaneous abscesses, recurring pneumonias, pneumatoceles, eosinophilia, hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (> 2,000 IU.mL(-1)), and craniofacial and bone growth changes. This report describes the disease and its anesthetic management. CASE REPORT: The patient is a 13 year old black male, 40 kg, ASA II, with Job's Syndrome diagnosed 6 months prior to this admission. The patient was admitted for elongation of the right femur. He denied use of drugs and prior surgeries; he presented good cervical mobility, interincisive distance greater than 3 cm, Mallampati II, without signs of infection. Preoperative exams were within normal limits. He was monitored with electrocardioscope, SpO(2), non-invasive blood pressure, and P(ET)CO(2). After pre-oxygenation, general anesthesia was induced and he was maintained with sevoflurane. At the end of the procedure, the patient was extubated after reversal of the neuromuscular blockade, and the patient was transferred to the PACU with Aldrete 9, He was discharged from the hospital 72 hours later, without complications. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of anesthetic technique is guided by rigorous observation among risks and benefits for each patient, according to respiratory sequelae, risk of infection, and surgical site. In the patient described here, we considered that neuroaxis anesthesia could be associated with an increased risk of severe infections due to the patient immunologic background. The procedure was safely performed with general anesthesia.

Neuropathic pain profile: the basic neurological exam of 33 patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Very few texts in the literature approach the neurologic exam of patients with neuropathic pain (NP). The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of patients with NP through the neurological exam. METHODS: This is an observational study that followed-up patients with NP for one year. The neurologic exam was evaluated at the outpatient clinic and through prospective analysis. Patients whose pain severity was equal or greater than six on the Visual Analogue Scale were included in this study. RESULTS: Burning pain predominated, affecting 54.5% of the patients. Unlike multifocal neuropathy (15.15%), distal and symmetrical polyneuropathy was the predominant clinical-topographic pattern (48%). The thermoalgic and tactile modalities of the sensorial exam were affected the most, followed by changes in motor function and deep tendon reflexes, and proprioception. Although NP does not have specific signs and symptoms, burning pain is attributed to the involvement of thin nerve fibers and thermoalgic pain is typical of those changes. CONCLUSIONS: History and physical exam findings are key factors in the diagnosis of NP. The log of changes in the physical exam should emphasize the involvement observed, guiding the diagnostic and therapeutic approach, curative or palliative.

Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in an infant with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. Case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Werdnig-Hoffmann disease is the most common cause of hypotonia in infants and its prognosis is worse if it is present shortly after delivery. Symmetrical muscular weakness, areflexia, and fasciculations of the tongue are characteristic. The majority of the infants die before two years of age as a consequence of respiratory failure. The present report presents a case in which total intravenous anesthesia was used. CASE REPORT: This is a 1 year old white female weighing 10 kg, physical status ASA III, with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease diagnosed at two months of age. The patient was a candidate for open gastrostomy, fundus gastroplication, and tracheostomy. After venoclysis, the patient was monitored with cardioscope, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximeter, precordial stethoscope, and rectal temperature. She was oxygenated and, after bolus administration of atropine (0.3 mg), boluses of remifentanil (20 microg) and propofol (30 mg) were administered for anesthetic induction. After tracheal intubation, she was ventilated with manual controlled system without CO(2) absorber, Baraka (Mapleson D system), FGF of 4 L.min(-1), and FiO(2) 0.5 (O(2)/N(2)O). Anesthesia was maintained with continuous manual infusion of propofol, 250 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), and remifentanil, 0.3 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). The surgery lasted 150 minutes. The patient regained consciousness 8 minutes after the end of the infusion, ventilating spontaneously. Two hours later, she was transferred to the pediatric unit, being discharged from the hospital on the fourth postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of anesthetic technique gives priority to the safety associated with the familiarity of handling available drugs. In children with neuromuscular diseases, due to the extremely short duration, total intravenous anesthesia with remifentanil and propofol in infusion systems can have a favorable influence on disease evolution.