Detection of brachial plexus dysfunction by somatosensory evoked potential monitoring--a report of two cases.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M E Mahla.
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STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare emergence from anesthesia and the hemodynamic and respiratory depressant effects of thiopental sodium infusion plus sufentanil or fentanyl with those of isoflurane as the primary component of a balanced technique for neuroanesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, prospective study. SETTING: University hospital and its affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center. PATIENTS: Thirty patients undergoing elective craniotomy for aneurysm or tumor. INTERVENTIONS: Thiopental with infusion of sufentanil 0.1 microgram/kg/hr, thiopental with infusion of fentanyl 1 microgram/kg/hr, or inhalation of 0.25% to 2% isoflurane as the major component of a balanced anesthesia technique that included nitrous oxide (N2O) and vecuronium (potency ratio of sufentanil to fentanyl, 10:1). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Intraoperative stress response (as indicated by intraoperative hypertension) was said to be the percentage of time the patient required administration of an antihypertensive drug, measuring from the first dose of thiopental to discontinuation of N2O at the end of the procedure, excluding any period of induced hypotension. Rapidity of emergence was measured by the number of minutes from discontinuation of N2O to first opening of the eyes on command. Adequacy of spontaneous ventilation was evaluated by determining partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide 1, 2, and 3 hours after discontinuation of N2O. Extent of vasoactive drug administration for control of intraoperative hypertension (as determined by the clinicians caring for the patients) was described by minutes of vasodilator infusion and milligrams of propranolol or labetalol administered. The frequency of postoperative hypertension was defined as the number of patients in each group who required medication for postoperative hypertension. No significant differences in variables were found for thiopental/sufentanil, thiopental/fentanyl, or isoflurane when these drugs were used with N2O and vecuronium. CONCLUSIONS: Any one of these balanced anesthetic techniques appears appropriate for craniotomy.
A patient with a large airway venous malformation underwent anesthesia for a tooth extraction. The procedure was uneventful until extubation, immediately after which complete airway obstruction resulted. After unsuccessful attempts to relieve the problem, the patient's trachea was reintubated. Laryngoscopy showed that the venous malformation in the airway had enlarged and was responsible for the airway obstruction. Another attempt at extubation after corrective maneuvers was again unsuccessful. A tracheostomy was required, which was eventually removed after a complete recovery. Anesthesiologists must be concerned with any airway vascular abnormality. Most abnormalities involving the airway are either hemangiomas or venous malformations. The anesthesiologist must diagnose the problem correctly because even minor manipulation of a venous malformation may result in exsanguination, or the malformation may become engorged and compromise the airway.