A&A Practice

Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Brachial Plexus for Intractable Phantom Pain of the Upper Extremity: A Case Report Phantom limb pain is a common condition occurring after amputations. Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been reported to provide analgesia for established lower extremity phantom pain. However, this modality has never been applied to upper extremity phantom pain. A patient presented with acute exacerbation of established upper extremity phantom pain 2 years following forequarter amputation. A percutaneous PNS lead placed adjacent to the patient's brachial plexus under ultrasound guidance provided analgesia of the phantom pain for several weeks. PNS of the brachial plexus may provide analgesia for patients with upper extremity phantom pain.

Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Awake Breast Surgery: A Case Report Thoracic fascial blocks have been included in multimodal analgesia for breast surgery. Fewer studies demonstrate its use as a regional anesthesia technique. The serratus anterior plane (SAP) block provides anesthesia to the lateral thoracic wall and the axilla, the surgical area of some breast surgeries, with a single injection.

Intraoperative Management of Carotid Endarterectomy in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices—The Challenge of Continuous Flow: A Case Report Symptomatic carotid artery disease stenosis warrants open surgical carotid endarterectomy (CEA). However, patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) present unique challenges when vasopressors and volume are used to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure after carotid cross-clamping. This report describes patients with CF-LVADs who underwent CEA. We identify how preload, contractility, afterload, pump speed, mean arterial pressure, and anticoagulation should be addressed to maintain CF-LVAD outflow and cerebral perfusion during the procedure. Anesthesiologists can combine an understanding of continuous-flow physiology with invasive monitors to optimize cardiac output and cerebral blood flow during CEA procedures.

Intraoperative Hemostatic Management of a Cardiohepatic Transplant With Rotational Thromboelastometry: A Case Report Cardiohepatic transplantation represents a double hemostatic challenge. Given the absence of specific guidelines and current evidence, we designed a 5-step approach based on rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). A 60-year-old male patient with cirrhosis and myocarditis underwent a 9-hour transplantation. Bleeding occurred after weaning from extracorporeal circulation. Evidence of reduced clot strength triggered fibrinogen and platelet replacement therapy. During liver transplant, only hemoglobin optimization was necessary. In conclusion, hemostatic management protocols for cardiohepatic transplants should consider the specific coagulopathy mechanisms underlying each surgical phase. Because whole blood testing is essential for their diagnosis, we recommend using ROTEM for optimal coagulation management.

High-Frequency Jet Ventilation for a Patient With Tracheomediastinal Fistula, Tension Pneumomediastinum, and Pneumothorax: A Case Report Tracheomediastinal fistula (TMF) is an uncommon condition and carries a high mortality. We report the anesthetic management of a patient with TMF using stent insertion via rigid bronchoscopy. The TMF was a complication of double-lumen endotracheal tube insertion resulting in a tension pneumomediastinum. Initial intraoperative attempts to ventilate the lungs and overcome the air leak with high gas flow of 45 L/min via the side port of the bronchoscope resulted in a pneumothorax. This case report demonstrates that high-frequency jet ventilation can minimize the air leak and avoid barotrauma during anesthesia for TMF repair.

Misinterpreting Paced Heart Rhythms: A Case Report We describe 2 cases in which failure to properly interpret paced heart rhythms in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) undergoing surgery resulted in adverse consequences including unnecessary invasive procedures, surgical delays, and patient dissatisfaction. Both cases occurred even though experienced clinicians were involved, and all perioperative recommendations were followed. Although it is sometimes argued that anesthesiologists are not directly responsible for CIED management, they are often held accountable when problems arise. These cases reinforce the need for anesthesiologists to not only adhere to all key practice recommendations but to also understand CIED functions and common pitfalls.

Scapular Block: An Innovative Procedure-Specific Regional Anesthesia Technique for Scapula Surgery—A Case Report A 40-year-old healthy male patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation with screws and plate for a comminuted fracture of the right scapula under ultrasound-guided "scapular block" with optimal sedation. We coined the term "scapular block" for an innovative combination of previously described regional anesthesia techniques to cover all dermatomes, myotomes, and osteotomes involved in scapula surgery. It is a combination of 5 target blocks (selective superior trunk block, selective supraclavicular nerve block, subclavian perivascular block, suprascapular nerve block, and erector spinae plane block) via 3 approaches (interscalene, supraclavicular, and paraspinal).

Two-Stage Fiberoptic Intubation in an Infant With a Rare Congenital Laryngopharyngo-Cutaneous Fistula: A Case Report Branchial arches represent embryological precursors of the face, neck, and pharynx, and developmental abnormalities of these branchial arch derivatives can lead to airway anomalies. We report definitive repair of the fistula in an infant with a rare congenital laryngopharyngo-cutaneous fistula. This is the first report that describes a 2-stage fiberoptic intubation, a challenging technique performed for airway management of the aforementioned fistula in a patient with a difficult airway.

Right Ventricular Epicardial Pacing Postcardiac Surgery Can Cause Dynamic Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction: A Case Report Dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction is rare in the cardiac surgical population. Significant obstruction developing in the perioperative period can contribute to systemic hemodynamic instability. We describe 2 cases of dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction that developed immediately after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass, due to temporary right ventricular epicardial pacing. Both patients had systemic hypotension which improved once ventricular pacing was discontinued. We discuss the recognition of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction as a contributing factor to hemodynamic instability, as well as the importance of identifying the underlying cause such as to institute appropriate management in these patients.

Retrospective Analysis of Peri-Intubation Hypoxemia During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Epidemic Using a Protocol for Modified Airway Management This single-center retrospective study evaluated a protocol for the intubation of patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Twenty-one patients were intubated, 9 of whom were found to have COVID-19. Adherence to the airway management protocol was high. COVID-19 patients had lower peripheral capillary oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (Spo2) nadirs during intubation (Spo2, 73% [72%–77%] vs 89% [86%–94%], P = .024), and a greater percentage experienced severe hypoxemia defined as Spo2 ≤80% (89% vs 25%, P = .008). The incidence of severe hypoxemia in COVID-19 patients should be considered in the development of guidelines that incorporate high-flow nasal cannula and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.

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Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182,00306932607174,alsfakia@gmail.com,

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