Severe neurologic manifestations in acute intermittent porphyria developed after spine surgery under general anesthesia: a case report.

Porphyrias are inherited metabolic disorders resulting from a specific enzyme defect in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Porphyrias are induced by various precipitants. Clinical features include abdominal pain, neurologic manifestations, autonomic neuropathy, and mental disturbance.

Aspiration pneumonia caused by fentanyl-induced cough -a case report-.

Although fentanyl-induced cough is generally transient and benign, it can give rise to serious problems in patients to whom increasing intracranial, intraocular or intraabdominal pressures may create dangerous situations. This case demonstrates aspiration pneumonia as a complication, exhibiting severe cough induced by intravenous injection of fentanyl.

Comparison of ramosetron with combined ramosetron and midazolam for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients at high risk following laparoscopic gynaecological surgery.

Objectives: This randomized, double-blind study compared the antiemetic efficacy of ramosetron with that of ramosetron combined with midazolam, and investigated whether the timing of midazolam administration affected the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Methods: Nonsmoking female patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgery were randomized to three groups: group R received intravenous (i.v.

Tapia's syndrome following cervical laminoplasty -A case report-.

Tapia's syndrome is the palsy of the 10th and 12th cranial nerves, resulting in ipsilateral paralysis of the vocal cord and tongue. It is a rare complication which is related to the anesthetic airway management and positioning of the patient's head during the surgery. We describe a patient with a postoperative unilateral Tapia's syndrome, after general anesthesia, with uncomplicated endotracheal intubation.

The effects of single-dose intravenous dexmedetomidine on hyperbaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia.

Purpose: Dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist, has analgesic and sedative effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of small, single-dose intravenous dexmedetomidine administration after hyperbaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia.

Methods: Sixty adult patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 or 2 and scheduled for lower extremity surgery under spinal anesthesia were studied.

The effect of full expiration on the position and size of the subclavian vein in spontaneously breathing adults.

Background: If full expiration during subclavian venous cannulation increases the distance between the subclavian vein (SCV) and the pleura or increases the diameter of the vein, it might decrease the incidence of pneumothorax and/or increase the success rate of venous cannulation. In this study, we evaluated the effect of full expiration on the distance from the SCV to the pleura and on the crosssectional area (CSA) of the SCV in spontaneously breathing adults.

Methods: The distance from the inferior border of the right SCV and the pleura (SCVinf-Pleura distance), the distance from the center of the vein to the pleura (SCVcen-Pleura distance), and the CSA of the vein were measured using ultrasound at the end of inspiration and at the end of full expiration in 20 adults placed in the horizontal position.

The effect of lung deflation on the position and size of the subclavian vein in mechanically ventilated infants and children.

Background: If lung deflation increases the distance from the subclavian vein (SCV) to the pleura and the diameter of the vein, it might decrease the risk of pneumothorax and increase the success rate of subclavian venous cannulation. We evaluated the effect of lung deflation on the distance from the SCV to the pleura (SCV-pleura distance) and on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the SCV in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients.

Methods: Fifty patients (25 infants younger than 1 year and 25 children aged 1 to 8 years) were placed supine over a shoulder roll, and their lungs were ventilated with a tidal volume of 6 to 7 mL/kg.