The “door-to-doctor” time for patients to be seen by a physician is an increasingly studied metric.Hospitals may shorten this time by implementing a triage physician (TP).The exact role of a TP may vary across depar...The “door-to-doctor” time for patients to be seen by a physician is an increasingly studied metric.Hospitals may shorten this time by implementing a triage physician (TP).The exact role of a TP may vary across departments.TPs put in preliminary orders for lab work,imaging,and treatment,and decide treatment location for further evaluation.As the prevalence of TPs grows,its effect on resident education in academic emergency departments (EDs) remains unclear.We implemented a TP in the spring of 2016 and assessed resident physicians before and after implementation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Ureteroneocystostomy(UNC)is considered the gold standard for pediatric vesicoureteral reflux(VUR)treatment.While UNC lowers the likelihood of needing additional VUR procedures within 12 months,patients also...BACKGROUND Ureteroneocystostomy(UNC)is considered the gold standard for pediatric vesicoureteral reflux(VUR)treatment.While UNC lowers the likelihood of needing additional VUR procedures within 12 months,patients also have high 30-day and 90-day readmission rates and emergency department(ED)visits.The most common causes of an ED visit following any urologic procedure are urinary tract infections(UTIs)and catheter/drain concerns.Prior studies are limited in identifying predisposing factors to help mitigate complications of UNC and improve patient outcomes.AIM To identify modifiable characteristics at the time of discharge after UNC that predict subsequent unplanned ED visits.METHODS The 2020 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric data was analyzed for patients undergoing UNC for VUR.A total of 1742 patients were evaluated,with 1495 meeting inclusion criteria.Patients with an ED visit within 30 days following an anti-reflux procedure(n=164)were compared to those who did not return to the ED(n=1331).Basic statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed to find predictive factors associated with postoperative ED visits after UNC.RESULTS Among the 1495 patients,11.0%visited the ED within the 30-day postoperative period.Patients who returned to the ED visit following UNC were more likely to have had a longer mean operative time,surgical site infection,postoperative UTI,postoperative sepsis,history of prior readmission,unplanned reoperation,blood transfusion,or unplanned urinary catheter placement.Multivariate analysis revealed postoperative UTI(P<0.001),superficial surgical site infection(P=0.022),unplanned procedure(P<0.001),unplanned urinary catheter(P<0.001),and prematurity(35-36 weeks gestation)(P=0.004)as independent risk factors for postoperative ED visits.CONCLUSION Utmost caution is needed prior to discharge after UNC to forestall a return to the ED.Postoperative infection remains a primary risk for ED visits in the acute postoperative period.展开更多
BACKGROUND:To describe trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesic prescribing for the treatment of back pain among adults in emergency departments(EDs) in the USA from 2007 to 2018.METHODS:Data were gather...BACKGROUND:To describe trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesic prescribing for the treatment of back pain among adults in emergency departments(EDs) in the USA from 2007 to 2018.METHODS:Data were gathered from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey(NHAMCS) from 2007 to 2018.The study population included individuals of all ages presenting to USA EDs.The NHAMCS reasons for visit and oxycodone drug ID codes were used to isolate patients with back pain.The main outcome was the proportion of oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesics prescribed for back pain in the EDs over the specified time period.RESULTS:There was a relative decrease in the overall administration of oxycodone for back pain in the EDs by 62.3% from 2007(244,000 visits) to 2018(92,000 visits).The proportion of ED patients prescribed with oxycodone-containing analgesics for back pain increased among patients aged 45 years and older(from 43.8% to 57.6%),female patients(from 54.5% to 62.0%),black patients(from 22.5% to 30.4%),and Hispanic/Latino patients(from 9.4% to 19.6%).Oxycodone/acetaminophen was most prescribed and accounted for 90.2% of all oxycodone-containing analgesics in 2007,with a decrease to 68.5% in 2018.Pure oxycodone was the second most prescribed medication,accounting for 6.1% in 2007 and 31.5% in 2018.CONCLUSION:The overall number of oxycodone-containing analgesics decreased significantly from 2007 to 2018.However,that number trended upward in 45-year-old and older,female,black,or Hispanic/Latino patients from 2007 to 2018.The total amount of pure oxycodone increased significantly from 2007 to 2008.展开更多
Trauma is the leading cause of death for all women of childbearing age. Motor vehicle accidents account for almost two-thirds of all maternal non-obstetric, trauma-related deaths, while falls and domestic violence com...Trauma is the leading cause of death for all women of childbearing age. Motor vehicle accidents account for almost two-thirds of all maternal non-obstetric, trauma-related deaths, while falls and domestic violence comprise a large percentage of the rest. The leading causes of obstetric trauma are motor vehicle accidents, falls, assaults, and gunshots, and ensuing injuries are classified as blunt abdominal trauma, pelvic fractures, or penetrating trauma . The causes are different with different life styles and different socio-economic and cultural background. Pregnant trauma victims tend to be younger, less severely injured, and more likely African American or of Hispanic descent compared with nonpregnant victims of trauma. Drugs and alcohol are a factor in about 20 percent of maternal trauma. With pregnancy comes the challenge and responsibility of caring for two patients at once, the mother and the fetus. In general, providing optimal maternal care is the best strategy to optimize fetal survival. Decision-making including the condition of the mother, gestational age, status of the fetus, and interventions are based on these key factors. Many providers are involved in the care of the pregnant patient: at the trauma scene, in the emergency department, and in the operating room. The anesthesiologist plays a key role in the care and management of the pregnant trauma patient. All anesthesiologists have ample training in obstetric anesthesia during their residency and frequently cover obstetric units in hospitals where pregnant patients are cared for. On the other hand, most nonobstetric physicians have little obstetric exposure and may be uncomfortable caring for the pregnant patient because of unfamiliarity with the physiologic changes of pregnancy or the evaluation of fetal well-being. This is not only a source of stress for other trauma providers, but can put maternal well-being at risk. Non-obstetric physicians may hesitate to order necessary diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for fear of doing the “wrong thing,” all because the patient is pregnant. A multidisciplinary approach to the pregnant trauma patient involving trauma surgeons, obstetricians, anesthesiologists, emergency medicine, and other providers, is critical to deliver optimal care and achieve the best outcomes for both the mother and the baby. In summary, a multidisciplinary approach to provide optimal maternal care will facilitate to achieve the best outcomes for the mother and is also the best strategy for optimizing fetal survival. The following is a case report of a pregnant trauma patient who needed immediate intervention because of massive placental abruption when only a minimal workup was completed because of the urgency of the situation.展开更多
Airway management is a skill necessary for healthcare providers who manage patients. Intubation is a skill that both anesthesiologists and intensivists use daily. We present a case of a neonate that developed signific...Airway management is a skill necessary for healthcare providers who manage patients. Intubation is a skill that both anesthesiologists and intensivists use daily. We present a case of a neonate that developed significant worsening stridor after a successful intubation for a hernia repair. After 4 intubation attempts, with easy visualization of the vocal cords and unsuccessful placement of the endotracheal tube, the patient was emergently brought to the operating room for evaluation.展开更多
We present a case of Local Anesthesia Systemic Toxicity (LAST) in a 7-month-old male after a caudal block placement. The patient was a healthy 8.3 kg male without any medical history, surgical history, significant bir...We present a case of Local Anesthesia Systemic Toxicity (LAST) in a 7-month-old male after a caudal block placement. The patient was a healthy 8.3 kg male without any medical history, surgical history, significant birth history or any history of family problems with anesthesia. After induction of general anesthesia, a size 1.5 laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was placed, and an intravenous line with 22 gauge catheter was placed. The patient was positioned in the right lateral decubitus position. The caudal space was located by palpation, and a 22 g angiocath was easily placed through the sacral hiatus. Neither blood nor CSF was aspirated through the catheter and 1 ml test dose containing 0.25% Bupivacaine + 1:200,000 epinephrine was administered. After a full minute of watching for any EKG changes, the remaining 8 ml of 0.25% Bupivacaine + 1:200,000 epinephrine was slowly injected into the caudal space with intermittent aspiration. Several minutes after the injection, there was a sudden prominent change in the EKG with QRS complex widening on the EKG accompanied by a drop in ETCO2. 20% Lipid emulsion was administered immediately and a normal EKG pattern returned with a concomitant increase in ETCO2. The planned procedure was performed, and the patient extubated uneventfully. After being monitored in the PACU for an extended period of time, he was discharged home. Follow-up was unremarkable.展开更多
BACKGROUND Mushroom exposure is a global health issue.The manifestations of mushroom poisoning (MP) may vary.Some species have been reported as rhabdomyolytic,hallucinogenic,or gastrointestinal poisons.Critical or eve...BACKGROUND Mushroom exposure is a global health issue.The manifestations of mushroom poisoning (MP) may vary.Some species have been reported as rhabdomyolytic,hallucinogenic,or gastrointestinal poisons.Critical or even fatal MPs are mostly attributable to Amanita phalloides,with the development of severe liver or renal failure.Myocardial injury and even cases mimicking ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have been previously reported,while cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrest is not commonly seen.CASE SUMMARY We report a 68-year-old woman with MP who suffered from delirium,seizure,long QT syndrome on electrocardiogram (ECG),severe cardiac arrhythmias of multiple origins,and cardiac arrest.She was intubated and put on blood perfusion.Her kidney and liver functions were intact;creatine kinase-MB was mildly elevated,and then fell within normal range during her hospital stay.We sent the mushrooms she left for translation elongation factor subunit 1α,ribosomal RNA gene sequence,and internal transcribed spacer sequence analyses.There were four kinds of mushrooms identified,two of which were found to be toxic.CONCLUSION This is the first time that we found cardiac toxicity caused by Panaeolus subbalteatus and Conocybe lactea,which were believed to be toxic to the liver,kidney,and brain.We suggest that intensive monitoring and ECG follow-up are essential to diagnose prolonged QT interval and different forms of tachycardia in MP patients,even without the development of severe liver or renal failure.The mechanisms need to be further investigated and clarified based on animal experiments and molecular signal pathways.展开更多
Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)has been an attractive target for treatment of epithelial cancers,including colorectal cancer(CRC).Evidence from clinical trials indicates that cetuximab and panitumumab(antiEGFR ...Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)has been an attractive target for treatment of epithelial cancers,including colorectal cancer(CRC).Evidence from clinical trials indicates that cetuximab and panitumumab(antiEGFR monoclonal antibodies)have clinical activity in patients with metastatic CRC.The discovery of intrinsic EGFR blockade resistance in Kirsten RAS(KRAS)-mutant patients led to the restriction of anti-EGFR antibodies to KRAS wild-type patients by Food and Drug Administration and European Medicine Agency.Studies have since focused on the evaluation of biomarkers to identify appropriate patient populations that may benefit from EGFR blockade.Accumulating evidence suggests that patients with mutations in EGFR downstream signaling pathways including KRAS,BRAF,PIK3CA and PTEN could be intrinsically resistant to EGFR blockade.Recent whole genome studies also suggest that dynamic alterations in signaling pathways downstream of EGFR leads to distinct oncogenic signatures and subclones which might have some impact on emerging resistance in KRAS wild-type patients.While anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies have a clear potential in the management of a subset of patients with metastatic CRC,further studies are warranted to uncover exact mechanisms related to acquired resistance to EGFR blockade.展开更多
BACKGROUND The care discrepancy for patients presenting to a hospital on the weekend relative to the work week is well documented.With respect to hip fractures,however,there is no consensus about the presence of a so-...BACKGROUND The care discrepancy for patients presenting to a hospital on the weekend relative to the work week is well documented.With respect to hip fractures,however,there is no consensus about the presence of a so-called“weekend effect”.This study sought to determine the effects,if any,of weekend admission on care of geriatric hip fractures admitted to a large tertiary care hospital.It was hypothesized that geriatric hip fracture patients admitted on a weekend would have longer times to medical optimization and surgery and increased complication and mortality rates relative to those admitted on a weekday.AIM To determine if weekend admission of geriatric hip fractures is associated with poor outcome measures and surgical delay.METHODS A retrospective chart review of operative geriatric hip fractures treated from 2015-2017 at a large tertiary care hospital was conducted.Two cohorts were compared:patients who arrived at the emergency department on a weekend,and those that arrived at the emergency department on a weekday.Primary outcome measures included mortality rate,complication rate,transfusion rate,and length of stay.Secondary outcome measures included time from emergency department arrival to surgery,time from emergency department arrival to medical optimization,and time from medical optimization to surgery.RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in length of stay(P=0.2734),transfusion rate(P=0.9325),or mortality rate(P=0.3460)between the weekend and weekday cohorts.Complication rate was higher in patients who presented on a weekend compared to patients who presented on a weekday(13.3%vs 8.3%;P=0.044).Time from emergency department arrival to medical optimization(22.7 h vs 20.0 h;P=0.0015),time from medical optimization to surgery(13.9 h vs 10.8 h;P=0.0172),and time from emergency department arrival to surgery(42.7 h vs 32.5 h;P<0.0001)were all significantly longer in patients who presented to the hospital on a weekend compared to patients who presented to the hospital on a weekday.CONCLUSION This study provided insight into the“weekend effect”for geriatric hip fractures and found that day of presentation has a clinically significant impact on delivered care.展开更多
BACKGROUND： We describe our experience of utilizing sub-dissociative dose ketamine （SDK） in managing a variety of acute and chronic painful conditions in the emergency department （ED）. METHODS： A descriptive st...BACKGROUND： We describe our experience of utilizing sub-dissociative dose ketamine （SDK） in managing a variety of acute and chronic painful conditions in the emergency department （ED）. METHODS： A descriptive study was conducted in our ED over a period of seven years （2010-2016） by retrospectively reviewing charts of patients aged 18 and older presenting to the ED with painful complaints and receiving SDK analgesia. Primary data analyses included type of SDK administration （intravenous push [IVP], short-infusion [SI] or continuous infusion [CI]）, dosing, rates of analgesic utilization before and after SDK administration, and adverse effects. RESULTS： Three hundred sixty-two patients were enrolled in the study. Mean ketamine doses given by IVP, St and CI were 26.3 rag, 23.4 rag, and 11.3 rag. The mean duration of CI was 135.87 minutes. The percentage of patients not requiring post-SDK analgesia increased by 16%, 18%, and 37% in IVP, SI and CI groups. Adverse effects were recorded for 13% of patients. CONCLUSION： SDK administered by IVP, SI, and CI in the ED for a variety of painful conditions is a feasible analgesic modality in the ED that is associated with a decrease in overall requirements of post-ketamine analgesia and opioid sparing.展开更多
Chemotherapy has been linked with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Most of the literature on chemotherapy associated Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is on the drug 5-fluorouracil. In this report, we describe the case of a 55-year-o...Chemotherapy has been linked with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Most of the literature on chemotherapy associated Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is on the drug 5-fluorouracil. In this report, we describe the case of a 55-year-old Asian male who developed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy while receiving dual chemotherapy with cytarabine and daunorubicin for acute myeloid leukemia. To our knowledge, it is the first case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with daunorubicin and/or cytarabine.展开更多
BACKGROUND Adjuvant chemotherapy using intraperitoneal(IP)treatment has demonstrated survival benefit over intravenous(IV)therapy alone in patients treated with upfront debulking surgery for advanced stage ovarian can...BACKGROUND Adjuvant chemotherapy using intraperitoneal(IP)treatment has demonstrated survival benefit over intravenous(IV)therapy alone in patients treated with upfront debulking surgery for advanced stage ovarian cancer.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interim surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy has similar outcome in survival as compared to upfront surgery followed by adjuvant IV chemotherapy.IP chemotherapy has not been widely adopted in clinical practice for a number of reasons.Whether IP chemotherapy delivered in the patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be well tolerated or confers any clinical benefit has not been well studied.AIM To evaluate the experience of adjuvant IP chemotherapy in the community cancer clinic setting,and the clinical benefit and tolerability of incorporating IP chemotherapy in patients who received neoadjuvant treatment.METHODS We retrospectively evaluated toxicities and outcomes of patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer diagnosed at our institution between 07/2007 and 07/2015 who received intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery(group 1)or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interim surgery(group 2).RESULTS Thirty eight patients were treated with IP chemotherapy,median age was 54 years old(range 38.6 to 71 years).In group 1(n=25),12(48%)of the patients completed 4 or more cycle of IP treatment after upfront debulking surgery;while in group 2(n=13),8(61.5%)of the patients completed all 3 cycles of the assigned IP chemotherapy after receiving neoadjuvant IV chemotherapy followed by surgery,and 2(15.4%)more patients tolerated more than 3 cycles.In those patients who did not get planned IP chemotherapy,most of them were treated with substitutional IV chemotherapy,and the completion rate for 6 cycles of IV+IP was 92%.Abdominal pain,(64%in group 1 and 38%in group 2),vomiting,(36%in group 1 and 30.8%in group 2),dehydration(16%in group 1 and 15.4%in group 2),and hypomagnesemia(12%in group 1 and 15.4%in group 2)were the most common adverse effects in all patients,while patients who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were more likely to get hypokalemia,fatigue and renal insufficiency.Progression free survival(PFS)was 26.5 mo(95%CI 14.9,38.0)in group 1 and 27.6 mo(95%CI 13.1,42.1)in group 2.The overall survival was 100.2 mo(95%CI 67.9,132.5)for group 1 and 68.2 mo(95%CI 32.2,104.0)for group 2.For the entire cohort,PFS was 26.5 mo(95%CI 15.9,37.0)and OS was 78.8 mo(95%CI 52.3,105.4).CONCLUSION The use of IP/IV chemotherapy can be safely administrated in the community cancer clinic setting.The use of IP/IV chemotherapy in patients who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery is feasible and tolerable.Despite various modification of the IP regimen,incorporation of IP chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting appears to be associated with improved PFS and overall survival.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Ketorolac tromethamine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAIDs) that is widely used in the emergency department(ED) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain. Ketorolac, like other NSAIDs, exhi...BACKGROUND: Ketorolac tromethamine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAIDs) that is widely used in the emergency department(ED) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain. Ketorolac, like other NSAIDs, exhibits an analgesic ceiling effect and previous research suggests that 10 mg is possibly the ceiling dose. Do the patterns of ketorolac dosing by emergency physicians follow its analgesic ceiling dose?METHODS: This was a single center retrospective, descriptive study to characterize patterns of ketorolac administration in ED patients. Data for all patients who received ketorolac during the ten year study period from January 1, 2003 to January 1, 2013 were collected from the electronic medical record of an urban community ED with an annual volume of 116 935 patients.RESULTS: There were 49 605 ketorolac administrations during the study period; 38 687(78%) were given intravenously, 9 916(20%) intramuscularly, and 1 002(2%) orally. Through the intravenous route, 5 288(13.7%) were 15 mg, 32 715(84.6%) were 30 mg, 15(0.03%) were 60 mg, and 669(1.7%) were other varying doses. Through the intramuscular route, 102(1.0%) were 15 mg, 4 916(49.6%) were 30 mg, 4 553(45.9%) were 60 mg, and 345(3.5%) were other varying doses. The most common diagnoses at discharge were renal colic(21%), low back pain(17%) and abdominal pain(11%).CONCLUSION: The data show that ketorolac was prescribed above its ceiling dose of 10 mg in 97% of patients who received intravenous doses and in 96% of patients receiving intramuscular doses.展开更多
Introduction: Today, regional anesthetics are frequently used in combination with general anesthesia. The purpose of two different techniques is to attain distinct goals. We believed that the use of PNB with the minim...Introduction: Today, regional anesthetics are frequently used in combination with general anesthesia. The purpose of two different techniques is to attain distinct goals. We believed that the use of PNB with the minimization of GA in the ambulatory setting would result in a decreased opioid requirement and subsequently fewer treatment-related side effects, more awake and pain free patients and shorter PACU stays and earlier discharges when compared with general anesthesia alone. Methods: Prior to the start of this retrospective chart review, IRB approval was obtained. Patient’s charts were selected based on the following criteria: The control group had a general anesthetic (GA) and did not have a PNB, and the experimental group (PNB/GA) had a PNB and a general anesthetic. Our primary endpoints were PACU length of stay, pain scores, use of opioids and uses of anti-emetics. Results: We found that patient with blocks used less analgesic in the PACU, 3.97 mg vs. 1.39 mg (morphine equivalents). They also appeared to use less antiemetic drugs: 14/19 (patient s without PNB) vs. 7/18. Additionally, the patients that received a block had a statistically shorter PACU stay 107 min vs. 163 min. Conclusion: Patients that did not receive PNB had a significantly longer PACU stay. Additionally the data suggest that the use of PNB’s reduces the use of post-op narcotics, which may be related to the lower use of postoperative antiemetic drugs observed.展开更多
Achieving adequate control of postsurgical pain remains a challenge in patients undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). The objective of this study was to assess if liposomal bupivacaine injected into the posterior ...Achieving adequate control of postsurgical pain remains a challenge in patients undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). The objective of this study was to assess if liposomal bupivacaine injected into the posterior capsule, in combination with a femoral nerve block and multimodal pain control regimen, would result in better pain control. The two groups were similar with regards to demographics and method of intraoperative anesthesia. Infiltration into the posterior capsule with liposomal bupivacaine had significantly lower resting pain scores compared to the saline group. Patients in the liposomal bupivacaine group also used slightly less breakthrough narcotic (5.75 to 4.31 mg of morphine equivalence). We recommend the use of infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine into the posterior capsule as an adjunct in multimodal analgesia in TKA patients to reduce pain and resultant narcotic use.展开更多
Post-operative analgesia is both necessary for patient comfort and satisfaction. Peripheral nerve block offer both good post-operative analgesia and patient satisfaction, but rarely cover the entire period of post-ope...Post-operative analgesia is both necessary for patient comfort and satisfaction. Peripheral nerve block offer both good post-operative analgesia and patient satisfaction, but rarely cover the entire period of post-operative pain. Nonnarcotic drugs are extremely helpful, but with severe pain, narcotics are usually used to help with post-operative pain when the nerve block wears off. However, nausea and vomiting, as well as other side effects associated with narcotic use can be severe and limit their use for post-operative analgesia. The addition of supplements to the local anesthetic used for the nerve blocks can extend the analgesia, but few blocks last greater than 24 hours. We describe the use of a relatively new extended release bupivacaine, Exparel that provide significantly longer analgesia than presently used single shot techniques protocols for extended nerve block analgesia.展开更多
Primary cardiac lymphoma is very rare. This disease occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients and rarely in the immunocompetent. With the advent of echocardiogram, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging,...Primary cardiac lymphoma is very rare. This disease occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients and rarely in the immunocompetent. With the advent of echocardiogram, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, more cases are being diagnosed ante-mortem although the prognosis still remains poor. These cardiac tumors provide unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We present an interesting case of primary cardiac lymphoma diagnosed antemortem in an 81 year old immunocompetent female presenting as a large mass in the right atrium, right ventricle and encasing the right coronary artery;and asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy, a variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Patient responded very well to chemotherapy with subsequent regression of the cardiac mass and ventricular hypertrophy.展开更多
We are reporting two patients presented with intractable cancer pain that was treated with a novel application of an ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block using corticosteroid. This technique offered relief to both...We are reporting two patients presented with intractable cancer pain that was treated with a novel application of an ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block using corticosteroid. This technique offered relief to both patients whom otherwise their cancer pain was difficult to manage. The first patient developed lymphedema to the right axilla from metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. After multiple injections were deposited around the brachial plexus, lymphedema on the right axilla decreased slightly in size;however, range of motion improved post-procedure prior to his discharge one week later. In the second patient with left inguinal lymphadenopathy from metastatic left ureteral transitional cell carcinoma, there was a dramatic reduction in lymphedema in the left groin and leg as well as a considerable decrease in pain score during a two week follow-up after the peri-neural and peri-lymphatic femoral block. A 75% improvement in patient satisfaction was reported in the office visit’s questionnaire form. Corticosteroids can be used as an adjuvant to peripheral nerve block to decrease the pain secondary to lymphedema caused by the inflammatory response from metastatic cancer. This application can provide an alternative way to manage severe cancer-related pain caused by lymphedema in both upper and lower limbs.展开更多
Background: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a new minimally-invasive surgical procedure in which a bioprosthetic aortic valve is placed via a small skin incision in the groin, over either the left or ...Background: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a new minimally-invasive surgical procedure in which a bioprosthetic aortic valve is placed via a small skin incision in the groin, over either the left or right iliac artery. TAVR was recently approved by the FDA as a treatment option for aortic stenosis in patients who may be too frail to undergo open heart surgery. Anesthetic management of TAVR is complicated by the fact that rapid left ventricular pacing (to at least 180 beats per minute) is required at multiple points throughout the procedure. Aim: This rapid pacing creates a profound pathophysiologic stress on the heart, sometimes leading to severe left ventricular dysfunction and resultant complete hemodynamic collapse. We report that the use of prophylactic infusion of epinephrine and/or norepinephrine in patients undergoing TAVR results in improved recovery from rapid pacing as reflected by intraoperative trends in systolic systemic blood pressure and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure. Cases: Here we report three cases. During the first of these, we reacted to intraoperative hemodynamic changes by administering boluses of vasoactive medications as needed. During the other two cases, we preemptively infused vasopressors to facilitate a more rapid recovery from some of the hemodynamic disturbance associated with either TAVR or rapid pacing. Conclusion: The two patients in this series who were managed with a preemptive strategy had higher ratios of systemic systolic blood pressure to pulmonary arterial systolic blood pressure at the end of the case than did the patient who was managed reactively. This suggests that the preemptive strategy may lead to decreased left ventricular impairment and improved overall cardiac function after TAVR.展开更多
Background: Propofol is often the drug of choice for ambulatory orthopedic cases. However, propofol can be associated with apnea or other events requiring airway interventions. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) has the unique pha...Background: Propofol is often the drug of choice for ambulatory orthopedic cases. However, propofol can be associated with apnea or other events requiring airway interventions. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) has the unique pharmacologic profile of providing sedation without respiratory depression. This is particularly relevant in patients with morbid obesity and/or challenging airways. The hypotheses were: 1) Propofol would cause more apnea or require more airway manipulations than dexmedetomidine;2) Propofol would have shorter post anesthesia unit recovery times;and 3) Dexmedetomidine would be associated with more bradycardia and hypotension. Methods: After IRB approval, 50 patients were randomized to receive either propofol or Dex for Total Intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) after interscalene brachial plexus block was performed preoperatively under ultrasound guidance. The main end points that we measured where: airway interventions, intra-operative bradycardia, hypotension, and PACU length of stay. Results: There were more airway interventions in the propofol group compared to the Dex group. Additionally, the Dex group had significantly longer PACU stays. Conclusion: We would recommend that Dex should be preferentially considered for patients predisposed to airway obstruction;however, the standard use of Dex over Propofol needed to reconsider since the use of Dex as the agent for TIVA was associated with longer PACU stays.展开更多
文摘The “door-to-doctor” time for patients to be seen by a physician is an increasingly studied metric.Hospitals may shorten this time by implementing a triage physician (TP).The exact role of a TP may vary across departments.TPs put in preliminary orders for lab work,imaging,and treatment,and decide treatment location for further evaluation.As the prevalence of TPs grows,its effect on resident education in academic emergency departments (EDs) remains unclear.We implemented a TP in the spring of 2016 and assessed resident physicians before and after implementation.
文摘BACKGROUND Ureteroneocystostomy(UNC)is considered the gold standard for pediatric vesicoureteral reflux(VUR)treatment.While UNC lowers the likelihood of needing additional VUR procedures within 12 months,patients also have high 30-day and 90-day readmission rates and emergency department(ED)visits.The most common causes of an ED visit following any urologic procedure are urinary tract infections(UTIs)and catheter/drain concerns.Prior studies are limited in identifying predisposing factors to help mitigate complications of UNC and improve patient outcomes.AIM To identify modifiable characteristics at the time of discharge after UNC that predict subsequent unplanned ED visits.METHODS The 2020 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric data was analyzed for patients undergoing UNC for VUR.A total of 1742 patients were evaluated,with 1495 meeting inclusion criteria.Patients with an ED visit within 30 days following an anti-reflux procedure(n=164)were compared to those who did not return to the ED(n=1331).Basic statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed to find predictive factors associated with postoperative ED visits after UNC.RESULTS Among the 1495 patients,11.0%visited the ED within the 30-day postoperative period.Patients who returned to the ED visit following UNC were more likely to have had a longer mean operative time,surgical site infection,postoperative UTI,postoperative sepsis,history of prior readmission,unplanned reoperation,blood transfusion,or unplanned urinary catheter placement.Multivariate analysis revealed postoperative UTI(P<0.001),superficial surgical site infection(P=0.022),unplanned procedure(P<0.001),unplanned urinary catheter(P<0.001),and prematurity(35-36 weeks gestation)(P=0.004)as independent risk factors for postoperative ED visits.CONCLUSION Utmost caution is needed prior to discharge after UNC to forestall a return to the ED.Postoperative infection remains a primary risk for ED visits in the acute postoperative period.
文摘BACKGROUND:To describe trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesic prescribing for the treatment of back pain among adults in emergency departments(EDs) in the USA from 2007 to 2018.METHODS:Data were gathered from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey(NHAMCS) from 2007 to 2018.The study population included individuals of all ages presenting to USA EDs.The NHAMCS reasons for visit and oxycodone drug ID codes were used to isolate patients with back pain.The main outcome was the proportion of oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesics prescribed for back pain in the EDs over the specified time period.RESULTS:There was a relative decrease in the overall administration of oxycodone for back pain in the EDs by 62.3% from 2007(244,000 visits) to 2018(92,000 visits).The proportion of ED patients prescribed with oxycodone-containing analgesics for back pain increased among patients aged 45 years and older(from 43.8% to 57.6%),female patients(from 54.5% to 62.0%),black patients(from 22.5% to 30.4%),and Hispanic/Latino patients(from 9.4% to 19.6%).Oxycodone/acetaminophen was most prescribed and accounted for 90.2% of all oxycodone-containing analgesics in 2007,with a decrease to 68.5% in 2018.Pure oxycodone was the second most prescribed medication,accounting for 6.1% in 2007 and 31.5% in 2018.CONCLUSION:The overall number of oxycodone-containing analgesics decreased significantly from 2007 to 2018.However,that number trended upward in 45-year-old and older,female,black,or Hispanic/Latino patients from 2007 to 2018.The total amount of pure oxycodone increased significantly from 2007 to 2008.
文摘Trauma is the leading cause of death for all women of childbearing age. Motor vehicle accidents account for almost two-thirds of all maternal non-obstetric, trauma-related deaths, while falls and domestic violence comprise a large percentage of the rest. The leading causes of obstetric trauma are motor vehicle accidents, falls, assaults, and gunshots, and ensuing injuries are classified as blunt abdominal trauma, pelvic fractures, or penetrating trauma . The causes are different with different life styles and different socio-economic and cultural background. Pregnant trauma victims tend to be younger, less severely injured, and more likely African American or of Hispanic descent compared with nonpregnant victims of trauma. Drugs and alcohol are a factor in about 20 percent of maternal trauma. With pregnancy comes the challenge and responsibility of caring for two patients at once, the mother and the fetus. In general, providing optimal maternal care is the best strategy to optimize fetal survival. Decision-making including the condition of the mother, gestational age, status of the fetus, and interventions are based on these key factors. Many providers are involved in the care of the pregnant patient: at the trauma scene, in the emergency department, and in the operating room. The anesthesiologist plays a key role in the care and management of the pregnant trauma patient. All anesthesiologists have ample training in obstetric anesthesia during their residency and frequently cover obstetric units in hospitals where pregnant patients are cared for. On the other hand, most nonobstetric physicians have little obstetric exposure and may be uncomfortable caring for the pregnant patient because of unfamiliarity with the physiologic changes of pregnancy or the evaluation of fetal well-being. This is not only a source of stress for other trauma providers, but can put maternal well-being at risk. Non-obstetric physicians may hesitate to order necessary diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for fear of doing the “wrong thing,” all because the patient is pregnant. A multidisciplinary approach to the pregnant trauma patient involving trauma surgeons, obstetricians, anesthesiologists, emergency medicine, and other providers, is critical to deliver optimal care and achieve the best outcomes for both the mother and the baby. In summary, a multidisciplinary approach to provide optimal maternal care will facilitate to achieve the best outcomes for the mother and is also the best strategy for optimizing fetal survival. The following is a case report of a pregnant trauma patient who needed immediate intervention because of massive placental abruption when only a minimal workup was completed because of the urgency of the situation.
文摘Airway management is a skill necessary for healthcare providers who manage patients. Intubation is a skill that both anesthesiologists and intensivists use daily. We present a case of a neonate that developed significant worsening stridor after a successful intubation for a hernia repair. After 4 intubation attempts, with easy visualization of the vocal cords and unsuccessful placement of the endotracheal tube, the patient was emergently brought to the operating room for evaluation.
文摘We present a case of Local Anesthesia Systemic Toxicity (LAST) in a 7-month-old male after a caudal block placement. The patient was a healthy 8.3 kg male without any medical history, surgical history, significant birth history or any history of family problems with anesthesia. After induction of general anesthesia, a size 1.5 laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was placed, and an intravenous line with 22 gauge catheter was placed. The patient was positioned in the right lateral decubitus position. The caudal space was located by palpation, and a 22 g angiocath was easily placed through the sacral hiatus. Neither blood nor CSF was aspirated through the catheter and 1 ml test dose containing 0.25% Bupivacaine + 1:200,000 epinephrine was administered. After a full minute of watching for any EKG changes, the remaining 8 ml of 0.25% Bupivacaine + 1:200,000 epinephrine was slowly injected into the caudal space with intermittent aspiration. Several minutes after the injection, there was a sudden prominent change in the EKG with QRS complex widening on the EKG accompanied by a drop in ETCO2. 20% Lipid emulsion was administered immediately and a normal EKG pattern returned with a concomitant increase in ETCO2. The planned procedure was performed, and the patient extubated uneventfully. After being monitored in the PACU for an extended period of time, he was discharged home. Follow-up was unremarkable.
文摘BACKGROUND Mushroom exposure is a global health issue.The manifestations of mushroom poisoning (MP) may vary.Some species have been reported as rhabdomyolytic,hallucinogenic,or gastrointestinal poisons.Critical or even fatal MPs are mostly attributable to Amanita phalloides,with the development of severe liver or renal failure.Myocardial injury and even cases mimicking ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have been previously reported,while cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrest is not commonly seen.CASE SUMMARY We report a 68-year-old woman with MP who suffered from delirium,seizure,long QT syndrome on electrocardiogram (ECG),severe cardiac arrhythmias of multiple origins,and cardiac arrest.She was intubated and put on blood perfusion.Her kidney and liver functions were intact;creatine kinase-MB was mildly elevated,and then fell within normal range during her hospital stay.We sent the mushrooms she left for translation elongation factor subunit 1α,ribosomal RNA gene sequence,and internal transcribed spacer sequence analyses.There were four kinds of mushrooms identified,two of which were found to be toxic.CONCLUSION This is the first time that we found cardiac toxicity caused by Panaeolus subbalteatus and Conocybe lactea,which were believed to be toxic to the liver,kidney,and brain.We suggest that intensive monitoring and ECG follow-up are essential to diagnose prolonged QT interval and different forms of tachycardia in MP patients,even without the development of severe liver or renal failure.The mechanisms need to be further investigated and clarified based on animal experiments and molecular signal pathways.
文摘Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)has been an attractive target for treatment of epithelial cancers,including colorectal cancer(CRC).Evidence from clinical trials indicates that cetuximab and panitumumab(antiEGFR monoclonal antibodies)have clinical activity in patients with metastatic CRC.The discovery of intrinsic EGFR blockade resistance in Kirsten RAS(KRAS)-mutant patients led to the restriction of anti-EGFR antibodies to KRAS wild-type patients by Food and Drug Administration and European Medicine Agency.Studies have since focused on the evaluation of biomarkers to identify appropriate patient populations that may benefit from EGFR blockade.Accumulating evidence suggests that patients with mutations in EGFR downstream signaling pathways including KRAS,BRAF,PIK3CA and PTEN could be intrinsically resistant to EGFR blockade.Recent whole genome studies also suggest that dynamic alterations in signaling pathways downstream of EGFR leads to distinct oncogenic signatures and subclones which might have some impact on emerging resistance in KRAS wild-type patients.While anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies have a clear potential in the management of a subset of patients with metastatic CRC,further studies are warranted to uncover exact mechanisms related to acquired resistance to EGFR blockade.
文摘BACKGROUND The care discrepancy for patients presenting to a hospital on the weekend relative to the work week is well documented.With respect to hip fractures,however,there is no consensus about the presence of a so-called“weekend effect”.This study sought to determine the effects,if any,of weekend admission on care of geriatric hip fractures admitted to a large tertiary care hospital.It was hypothesized that geriatric hip fracture patients admitted on a weekend would have longer times to medical optimization and surgery and increased complication and mortality rates relative to those admitted on a weekday.AIM To determine if weekend admission of geriatric hip fractures is associated with poor outcome measures and surgical delay.METHODS A retrospective chart review of operative geriatric hip fractures treated from 2015-2017 at a large tertiary care hospital was conducted.Two cohorts were compared:patients who arrived at the emergency department on a weekend,and those that arrived at the emergency department on a weekday.Primary outcome measures included mortality rate,complication rate,transfusion rate,and length of stay.Secondary outcome measures included time from emergency department arrival to surgery,time from emergency department arrival to medical optimization,and time from medical optimization to surgery.RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in length of stay(P=0.2734),transfusion rate(P=0.9325),or mortality rate(P=0.3460)between the weekend and weekday cohorts.Complication rate was higher in patients who presented on a weekend compared to patients who presented on a weekday(13.3%vs 8.3%;P=0.044).Time from emergency department arrival to medical optimization(22.7 h vs 20.0 h;P=0.0015),time from medical optimization to surgery(13.9 h vs 10.8 h;P=0.0172),and time from emergency department arrival to surgery(42.7 h vs 32.5 h;P<0.0001)were all significantly longer in patients who presented to the hospital on a weekend compared to patients who presented to the hospital on a weekday.CONCLUSION This study provided insight into the“weekend effect”for geriatric hip fractures and found that day of presentation has a clinically significant impact on delivered care.
文摘BACKGROUND： We describe our experience of utilizing sub-dissociative dose ketamine （SDK） in managing a variety of acute and chronic painful conditions in the emergency department （ED）. METHODS： A descriptive study was conducted in our ED over a period of seven years （2010-2016） by retrospectively reviewing charts of patients aged 18 and older presenting to the ED with painful complaints and receiving SDK analgesia. Primary data analyses included type of SDK administration （intravenous push [IVP], short-infusion [SI] or continuous infusion [CI]）, dosing, rates of analgesic utilization before and after SDK administration, and adverse effects. RESULTS： Three hundred sixty-two patients were enrolled in the study. Mean ketamine doses given by IVP, St and CI were 26.3 rag, 23.4 rag, and 11.3 rag. The mean duration of CI was 135.87 minutes. The percentage of patients not requiring post-SDK analgesia increased by 16%, 18%, and 37% in IVP, SI and CI groups. Adverse effects were recorded for 13% of patients. CONCLUSION： SDK administered by IVP, SI, and CI in the ED for a variety of painful conditions is a feasible analgesic modality in the ED that is associated with a decrease in overall requirements of post-ketamine analgesia and opioid sparing.
文摘Chemotherapy has been linked with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Most of the literature on chemotherapy associated Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is on the drug 5-fluorouracil. In this report, we describe the case of a 55-year-old Asian male who developed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy while receiving dual chemotherapy with cytarabine and daunorubicin for acute myeloid leukemia. To our knowledge, it is the first case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with daunorubicin and/or cytarabine.
文摘BACKGROUND Adjuvant chemotherapy using intraperitoneal(IP)treatment has demonstrated survival benefit over intravenous(IV)therapy alone in patients treated with upfront debulking surgery for advanced stage ovarian cancer.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interim surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy has similar outcome in survival as compared to upfront surgery followed by adjuvant IV chemotherapy.IP chemotherapy has not been widely adopted in clinical practice for a number of reasons.Whether IP chemotherapy delivered in the patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be well tolerated or confers any clinical benefit has not been well studied.AIM To evaluate the experience of adjuvant IP chemotherapy in the community cancer clinic setting,and the clinical benefit and tolerability of incorporating IP chemotherapy in patients who received neoadjuvant treatment.METHODS We retrospectively evaluated toxicities and outcomes of patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer diagnosed at our institution between 07/2007 and 07/2015 who received intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery(group 1)or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interim surgery(group 2).RESULTS Thirty eight patients were treated with IP chemotherapy,median age was 54 years old(range 38.6 to 71 years).In group 1(n=25),12(48%)of the patients completed 4 or more cycle of IP treatment after upfront debulking surgery;while in group 2(n=13),8(61.5%)of the patients completed all 3 cycles of the assigned IP chemotherapy after receiving neoadjuvant IV chemotherapy followed by surgery,and 2(15.4%)more patients tolerated more than 3 cycles.In those patients who did not get planned IP chemotherapy,most of them were treated with substitutional IV chemotherapy,and the completion rate for 6 cycles of IV+IP was 92%.Abdominal pain,(64%in group 1 and 38%in group 2),vomiting,(36%in group 1 and 30.8%in group 2),dehydration(16%in group 1 and 15.4%in group 2),and hypomagnesemia(12%in group 1 and 15.4%in group 2)were the most common adverse effects in all patients,while patients who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were more likely to get hypokalemia,fatigue and renal insufficiency.Progression free survival(PFS)was 26.5 mo(95%CI 14.9,38.0)in group 1 and 27.6 mo(95%CI 13.1,42.1)in group 2.The overall survival was 100.2 mo(95%CI 67.9,132.5)for group 1 and 68.2 mo(95%CI 32.2,104.0)for group 2.For the entire cohort,PFS was 26.5 mo(95%CI 15.9,37.0)and OS was 78.8 mo(95%CI 52.3,105.4).CONCLUSION The use of IP/IV chemotherapy can be safely administrated in the community cancer clinic setting.The use of IP/IV chemotherapy in patients who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery is feasible and tolerable.Despite various modification of the IP regimen,incorporation of IP chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting appears to be associated with improved PFS and overall survival.
文摘BACKGROUND: Ketorolac tromethamine is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAIDs) that is widely used in the emergency department(ED) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain. Ketorolac, like other NSAIDs, exhibits an analgesic ceiling effect and previous research suggests that 10 mg is possibly the ceiling dose. Do the patterns of ketorolac dosing by emergency physicians follow its analgesic ceiling dose?METHODS: This was a single center retrospective, descriptive study to characterize patterns of ketorolac administration in ED patients. Data for all patients who received ketorolac during the ten year study period from January 1, 2003 to January 1, 2013 were collected from the electronic medical record of an urban community ED with an annual volume of 116 935 patients.RESULTS: There were 49 605 ketorolac administrations during the study period; 38 687(78%) were given intravenously, 9 916(20%) intramuscularly, and 1 002(2%) orally. Through the intravenous route, 5 288(13.7%) were 15 mg, 32 715(84.6%) were 30 mg, 15(0.03%) were 60 mg, and 669(1.7%) were other varying doses. Through the intramuscular route, 102(1.0%) were 15 mg, 4 916(49.6%) were 30 mg, 4 553(45.9%) were 60 mg, and 345(3.5%) were other varying doses. The most common diagnoses at discharge were renal colic(21%), low back pain(17%) and abdominal pain(11%).CONCLUSION: The data show that ketorolac was prescribed above its ceiling dose of 10 mg in 97% of patients who received intravenous doses and in 96% of patients receiving intramuscular doses.
文摘Introduction: Today, regional anesthetics are frequently used in combination with general anesthesia. The purpose of two different techniques is to attain distinct goals. We believed that the use of PNB with the minimization of GA in the ambulatory setting would result in a decreased opioid requirement and subsequently fewer treatment-related side effects, more awake and pain free patients and shorter PACU stays and earlier discharges when compared with general anesthesia alone. Methods: Prior to the start of this retrospective chart review, IRB approval was obtained. Patient’s charts were selected based on the following criteria: The control group had a general anesthetic (GA) and did not have a PNB, and the experimental group (PNB/GA) had a PNB and a general anesthetic. Our primary endpoints were PACU length of stay, pain scores, use of opioids and uses of anti-emetics. Results: We found that patient with blocks used less analgesic in the PACU, 3.97 mg vs. 1.39 mg (morphine equivalents). They also appeared to use less antiemetic drugs: 14/19 (patient s without PNB) vs. 7/18. Additionally, the patients that received a block had a statistically shorter PACU stay 107 min vs. 163 min. Conclusion: Patients that did not receive PNB had a significantly longer PACU stay. Additionally the data suggest that the use of PNB’s reduces the use of post-op narcotics, which may be related to the lower use of postoperative antiemetic drugs observed.
文摘Achieving adequate control of postsurgical pain remains a challenge in patients undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). The objective of this study was to assess if liposomal bupivacaine injected into the posterior capsule, in combination with a femoral nerve block and multimodal pain control regimen, would result in better pain control. The two groups were similar with regards to demographics and method of intraoperative anesthesia. Infiltration into the posterior capsule with liposomal bupivacaine had significantly lower resting pain scores compared to the saline group. Patients in the liposomal bupivacaine group also used slightly less breakthrough narcotic (5.75 to 4.31 mg of morphine equivalence). We recommend the use of infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine into the posterior capsule as an adjunct in multimodal analgesia in TKA patients to reduce pain and resultant narcotic use.
文摘Post-operative analgesia is both necessary for patient comfort and satisfaction. Peripheral nerve block offer both good post-operative analgesia and patient satisfaction, but rarely cover the entire period of post-operative pain. Nonnarcotic drugs are extremely helpful, but with severe pain, narcotics are usually used to help with post-operative pain when the nerve block wears off. However, nausea and vomiting, as well as other side effects associated with narcotic use can be severe and limit their use for post-operative analgesia. The addition of supplements to the local anesthetic used for the nerve blocks can extend the analgesia, but few blocks last greater than 24 hours. We describe the use of a relatively new extended release bupivacaine, Exparel that provide significantly longer analgesia than presently used single shot techniques protocols for extended nerve block analgesia.
文摘Primary cardiac lymphoma is very rare. This disease occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients and rarely in the immunocompetent. With the advent of echocardiogram, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, more cases are being diagnosed ante-mortem although the prognosis still remains poor. These cardiac tumors provide unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We present an interesting case of primary cardiac lymphoma diagnosed antemortem in an 81 year old immunocompetent female presenting as a large mass in the right atrium, right ventricle and encasing the right coronary artery;and asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy, a variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Patient responded very well to chemotherapy with subsequent regression of the cardiac mass and ventricular hypertrophy.
文摘We are reporting two patients presented with intractable cancer pain that was treated with a novel application of an ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block using corticosteroid. This technique offered relief to both patients whom otherwise their cancer pain was difficult to manage. The first patient developed lymphedema to the right axilla from metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. After multiple injections were deposited around the brachial plexus, lymphedema on the right axilla decreased slightly in size;however, range of motion improved post-procedure prior to his discharge one week later. In the second patient with left inguinal lymphadenopathy from metastatic left ureteral transitional cell carcinoma, there was a dramatic reduction in lymphedema in the left groin and leg as well as a considerable decrease in pain score during a two week follow-up after the peri-neural and peri-lymphatic femoral block. A 75% improvement in patient satisfaction was reported in the office visit’s questionnaire form. Corticosteroids can be used as an adjuvant to peripheral nerve block to decrease the pain secondary to lymphedema caused by the inflammatory response from metastatic cancer. This application can provide an alternative way to manage severe cancer-related pain caused by lymphedema in both upper and lower limbs.
文摘Background: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a new minimally-invasive surgical procedure in which a bioprosthetic aortic valve is placed via a small skin incision in the groin, over either the left or right iliac artery. TAVR was recently approved by the FDA as a treatment option for aortic stenosis in patients who may be too frail to undergo open heart surgery. Anesthetic management of TAVR is complicated by the fact that rapid left ventricular pacing (to at least 180 beats per minute) is required at multiple points throughout the procedure. Aim: This rapid pacing creates a profound pathophysiologic stress on the heart, sometimes leading to severe left ventricular dysfunction and resultant complete hemodynamic collapse. We report that the use of prophylactic infusion of epinephrine and/or norepinephrine in patients undergoing TAVR results in improved recovery from rapid pacing as reflected by intraoperative trends in systolic systemic blood pressure and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure. Cases: Here we report three cases. During the first of these, we reacted to intraoperative hemodynamic changes by administering boluses of vasoactive medications as needed. During the other two cases, we preemptively infused vasopressors to facilitate a more rapid recovery from some of the hemodynamic disturbance associated with either TAVR or rapid pacing. Conclusion: The two patients in this series who were managed with a preemptive strategy had higher ratios of systemic systolic blood pressure to pulmonary arterial systolic blood pressure at the end of the case than did the patient who was managed reactively. This suggests that the preemptive strategy may lead to decreased left ventricular impairment and improved overall cardiac function after TAVR.
文摘Background: Propofol is often the drug of choice for ambulatory orthopedic cases. However, propofol can be associated with apnea or other events requiring airway interventions. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) has the unique pharmacologic profile of providing sedation without respiratory depression. This is particularly relevant in patients with morbid obesity and/or challenging airways. The hypotheses were: 1) Propofol would cause more apnea or require more airway manipulations than dexmedetomidine;2) Propofol would have shorter post anesthesia unit recovery times;and 3) Dexmedetomidine would be associated with more bradycardia and hypotension. Methods: After IRB approval, 50 patients were randomized to receive either propofol or Dex for Total Intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) after interscalene brachial plexus block was performed preoperatively under ultrasound guidance. The main end points that we measured where: airway interventions, intra-operative bradycardia, hypotension, and PACU length of stay. Results: There were more airway interventions in the propofol group compared to the Dex group. Additionally, the Dex group had significantly longer PACU stays. Conclusion: We would recommend that Dex should be preferentially considered for patients predisposed to airway obstruction;however, the standard use of Dex over Propofol needed to reconsider since the use of Dex as the agent for TIVA was associated with longer PACU stays.
