[Hypotonic Versus Isotonic Electrolyte Solution for Perioperative Fluid Therapy in Infants].

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of perioperative administration of an isotonic electrolyte solution with 1% glucose (IT) on blood sodium (Na+) and blood glucose (BG) concentrations in pediatric patients < 1-year-old undergoing plastic surgery in comparison with a conventional hypotonic electrolyte solution with 2.6% glucose (HT).

Methods: Fifty Patients were randomly allocated to HT group and IT group.

[The effect of transversus abdominis plane block for pediatric patients receiving bone graft to the alveolar cleft].

Background: Transversus abdominis plane block (TAP block) is useful for lower abdominal operations. Recently, ultrasound guided nerve block has been performed with ultrasound scanning.

Methods: We investigated the effectiveness of TAP block in 64 pediatric patients (aged 5-12 years, F/M = 21/43) receiving bone graft from the ilium to the alveolar cleft.

[Case of inguinal hernia repair with transversus abdominis plane block and rectus sheath block].

Transversus abdominis plane block is effective for lower abdominal and inguinal operations, and rectus sheath block is effective for abdominal operations. Recently, ultrasound guided nerve block has been employed, and these techniques can be performed with ultrasound scanning. An 82-year-old man with severe coronary failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was scheduled for inguinal hernia repair.

Use of the Pentax-AWS in 293 patients with difficult airways.

Background: Several case reports have shown that the Pentax-AWS (Hoya Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), a new video laryngoscope, is useful in patients with difficult airways.

Methods: We assessed the effectiveness of the Pentax-AWS in two groups. Group 1 included 270 patients in whom direct laryngoscopy using a Macintosh laryngoscope had been difficult.

[Oxygen embolism after intraoperative use of hydrogen peroxide].

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used for irrigation of surgical wounds. However, its administration has been associated with gas embolism. We report a case of gas embolism after wound irrigation with hydrogen peroxide in a 11-year-old boy undergoing extraction of the extra-traumatic splint under general anesthesia.

Correlation of cleft type with incidence of perioperative respiratory complications in infants with cleft lip and palate.

Background: A retrospective survey of 339 infants who had undergone primary plastic surgery for cleft lip and palate was performed to evaluate the concomitant preoperative assessment based on severity grading of the common cold and the correlation of cleft type with the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications.

Methods: We assessed the severity of common cold symptoms in the preoperative period using the Common Cold Score, which comprises 10 symptoms and findings. We then determined the association of the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications with the increasing severity of common cold symptoms and also compared the complication incidence in the three cleft types in healthy infants without a common cold.