Usefulness of the WuScope to facilitate double-lumen endotracheal tube placement in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.

Functional separation of the lungs may be accomplished by several methods. Patients with a stiff neck and limited mouth opening restrict options to a one-lung ventilation. We report the use of the WuScope video system, a new tool for facilitating double-lumen endotracheal tube placement for one-lung ventilation, in a patient who suffered from ankylosing spondylitis with a stiff, flexed neck and limited mouth opening for his recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax.

Spontaneous remission of left bundle branch block immediately after denitrogenation with inhalation of 100% oxygen prior to anesthetic induction.

Complete left bundle branch blocks have focused our attention, primarily because they are a sign predictive of mortality and a predictor of coexisting cardiovascular disease. Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is usually permanent but may occur transiently or intermittently. Spontaneous remission of LBBB rarely occurs during anesthesia.

Evaluation of the longitudinal contraction of the ventricle septum in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery by strain rate imaging.

Background: Strain rate (SR) imaging is an emerging technique for assessing myocardial systolic and diastolic functions. This technique can provide assessment in real time and color mapping; it also can detect ischemia at its earlier stages in comparison with visual estimation of wall motion with other techniques.

Methods: This study group consisted of 9 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography for transcatheter closure of ostium secundum atrial septum defect with the amplatzer septal occluder.

Background: Transcatheter closure of ostium secundum atrial septum defect (ASDII) using the new self-centering occluder, Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO), has been well developed in recent years. We describe the importance and role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the selection and closure of such defects.

Methods: Thirty patients referred for transcatheter closure of ASDII by ASO were enrolled in this study.

Use of the Arndt wire-guided endobronchial blocker to facilitate one-lung ventilation for pediatric empyema during video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has emerged as an innovative and popular procedure for the management of postpneumonic empyema in children refractory to a medical response. One-lung ventilation is required during VATS. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of intraoperative wire-guided endobronchial blockade (WEB) for achieving 1-lung ventilation during a thoracoscopic procedure for pediatric empyema.

Usefulness of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of surgical repair of pediatric ventricular septal defects with video-assisted endoscopic techniques in children.

Background: Mini cardiac operative procedures with video-assisted endoscopic techniques for closure of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in pediatric patients have become quite popular for cardiac surgery. A precise diagnosis is very important for determining the surgical approach, and evaluation by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) plays a major role in confirmation of the preoperative diagnosis, residual defects, and the need to return to the bypass after repair.

Methods: Sixty-five patients (30 boys and 35 girls; aged 8.

Delayed hypoxemia after bone cement insertion during total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia--a case report.

We report a case of delayed hypoxemia in an aged healthy male patient, which developed 2 hours after cementation of the prosthesis in total hip replacement (THR) under spinal anesthesia. The patient was doing well throughout the operation but unfortunately, progressive tachypnea was noted 1 h after he was transferred to the recovery room (i.e.

Stroke after intraaortic balloon counterpulsation associated with mobile atheroma in thoracic aorta diagnosed using transesophageal echocardiography.

We describe a patient who developed embolic stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) associated with intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed marked irregular mass and disruption of the intimal surface of the thoracic aorta with overlying shaggy echogenic material on the intimal surface of the descending thoracic aortic lumen. This case of stroke after IABP insertion suggested that the balloon inflation fragmented some mobile components on the inner surface of the aorta, and this floating debris entered the systemic circulation.

Successful one-lung ventilation in a patient with aberrant tracheal bronchus.

We report a 47-yr-old patient who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. Because of the isolated ventilation of the right upper lobe after occlusion of the right mainstem bronchus, bronchoscopic re-confirmation exposed an aberrant tracheal bronchus. A Fogarty tube was introduced to block the tracheal bronchus and provide one-lung ventilation.