Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) for Neurosurgical Procedures: Facts You Need to Know About the Anesthetic Management of LITT Procedures.

The field of medicine is constantly advancing to improve patient care. As physicians, we must improve our knowledge by listening, reading, and practicing evidence-based medicine. Laser treatment has evolved over the years in many surgical specialties.

Unanticipated Difficult Airway During Elective Surgery: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Difficult airway during anesthesia is responsible for several cases of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially when it is unanticipated. Patients with either history of or with predictive factors of a difficult airway show better outcomes since all preventative measures will ensure patient safety. Approximately 30% of all deaths attributed to anesthesia are related to unsuccessful intubation.

Challenging Airway Management in Patients With Zenker's Diverticulum.

The acquired hypopharyngeal diverticulum (Zenker's) is characterized by a posterior wall outpouching of the pharyngeal mucosa and submucosa through the vulnerable points of the pharyngoesophageal junction. We describe the case of a 67-year-old male who was recently diagnosed with Zenker's diverticulum and had complaints of dysphagia and halitosis. An endoscopic treatment (diverticulotomy) was performed without difficulties.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol for Lumbar Spinal Surgery With Regional Anesthesia: A Retrospective Review.

Background In the USA, spinal fusion surgery incurs the highest hospital cost. Despite the recent advances in the application of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in these surgeries, the efficacy of these protocols in improving the perioperative outcomes remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective review as a quality improvement (QI) project to analyze the efficacy of the ERAS protocol with intraoperative modified thoracolumbar interfascial plane (mTLIP) block to determine whether these interventions reduce the length of stay (LOS) and opioid requirements during the postoperative period.

Comparison of different size left-sided double-lumen tubes for thoracic surgery.

Study Objective: The aim of this study is to see if there are any clinical differences between using 35 F DLT for all patients versus using patient height regardless of gender to estimate appropriate DLT size.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: University Hospital.

Incidental finding of tracheobronchial foreign body during double lumen tube placement-lessons learned.

Tracheobronchial foreign bodies are common in pediatric patients, but also seen in adult patients. Most of these patients present with history of foreign body inhalation, or with the symptoms like cough, respiratory distress. In this paper, we would like to report an incidental finding of a tablet in tracheobronchial tree during double lumen tube placement with fiberoptic bronchoscopy in a middle-aged patient scheduled for right lung decortication for hemothorax.

Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency - Is Succinylcholine Still Needed to Facilitate Endotracheal Intubation?

Pseudocholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase) deficiency is an inherited or acquired condition in which the serum pseudocholinesterase levels are absent or lower than normal. The enzyme is produced by the liver; decreased levels of the enzyme in an individual cause increased sensitivity to anesthetic agents, like succinylcholine and mivacurium. Pseudocholinesterase deficiency is caused by butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) gene mutation, a gene that provides instructions for making the pseudocholinesterase enzyme.

Perioperative Stroke in a Patient Undergoing Noncardiac, Non-Neurosurgical Procedure: A Case Report.

Perioperative stroke is a focal or global neurological deficit lasting more than 24 hours, which occurs during the surgery or within 30 days following surgery. Medications administered during anesthesia mask the symptoms of stroke in the perioperative period and make the early diagnosis of stroke difficult. Postoperative endothelial dysfunction and surgery-induced hypercoagulable state are some of the factors contributing to perioperative stroke.

Pituitary tumor resection in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. A case report and suggested airway management guidelines.

The 2020 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, had its headquarters in China. It causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and presents a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from entirely asymptomatic through severe acute respiratory failure and death. Presuming a significant quantity of ventilator-dependent patients, several institutions strategically delayed elective surgeries.

[Pituitary tumor resection in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. A case report and suggested airway management guidelines].

The 2020 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, had its headquarters in China. It causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and presents a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from entirely asymptomatic through severe acute respiratory failure and death. Presuming a significant quantity of ventilator-dependent patients, several institutions strategically delayed elective surgeries.

Dermatologic complication following axillary cannulation for aortic dissection repair.

It is important to be aware of complications associated with axillary artery cannulation, especially the more common ones that can compromise limb integrity. Pulse oximeter and arterial line placed on the right upper extremity can aid in perfusion of the right arm during right axillary artery cannulation.

Fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy for evaluating a potentially difficult airway in a patient with elevated intracranial pressure.

A 62-year-old man with a left temporal lobe tumor was scheduled for a semiurgent craniotomy for tumor excision. Previously, the patient had a laryngeal carcinoma that was resected and treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and a history of laryngeal biopsy with awake fiberoptic intubation. Because a difficult airway was anticipated, awake fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy of the airway was performed under topical anesthesia in the operating room.

Premedication with Intravenous Ibuprofen Improves Recovery Characteristics and Stress Response in Adults Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Examine the effect of preoperative dose of IV ibuprofen on stress response and postoperative recovery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial.

Setting: Three university-based, tertiary care hospitals.

Persistent Spinal Headache After Removal of Intrathecal Drug Delivery System: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Introduction: To report and discuss the spinal headache following insertion and removal of intrathecal drug delivery system in patients with chronic pain disorders.

Case Presentation: Intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) was initially used for the management of chronic malignant pain; it has since been used to manage pain from other nonmalignant conditions as well. Spinal headache is one of the complications during the trial, permanent placement and after removal of intrathecal drug delivery catheter systems.

Clostridium Sacroiliitis (Gas Gangrene) Following Sacroiliac Joint Injection--Case Report and Review of the Literature.

An 80-year-old woman presented with chronic lumbosacral pain since her laminectomy and instrumentation 10 years ago. Examination was consistent with left sacroiliitis, and the patient underwent an elective left sacroiliac joint injection. Two days following her procedure she fell and landed on her left hip and on the next day, she presented to the emergency room with acutely worsening left gluteal pain.

A surprising cause of wheezing in a morbidly obese patient: a case report.

A typical patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has small airway disease, which often responds to bronchodilators. If the patient is obese, he or she may be further compromised and not tolerate being in the supine position. We present a case of a patient with history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea with acute renal failure and urosepsis scheduled for an emergent debridement of Fournier's gangrene.

Tension Pneumothorax During Surgery for Thoracic Spine Stabilization in Prone Position: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

The intraoperative progression of a simple or occult pneumothorax into a tension pneumothorax can be a devastating clinical scenario. Routine use of prophylactic thoracostomy prior to anesthesia and initiation of controlled ventilation in patients with simple or occult pneumothorax remains controversial. We report the case of a 75-year-old trauma patient with an insignificant pneumothorax on the right who developed an intraoperative tension pneumothorax on the left side while undergoing thoracic spine stabilization surgery in the prone position.