Publications by authors named "Suhitharan Thangavelautham"

Article Synopsis
  • Acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG) is a critical eye condition that can cause permanent vision loss if not treated quickly; this case highlights its atypical presentation following a lengthy surgery.
  • A 65-year-old woman developed altered mental status and a fixed, dilated pupil one day after a 16-hour surgical procedure, leading to her diagnosis of AACG after elevated eye pressure was discovered.
  • The patient was treated effectively with medication, resulting in normalized eye pressure and recovery of her mental status, emphasizing the importance of recognizing AACG in post-operative patients with unusual eye symptoms.
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Endotracheal tube obstruction by a mucus plug causing a ball-valve effect is a rare but significant complication. The inability to pass a suction catheter through the endotracheal tube with high peak and plateau pressure differences are classical features of an endotracheal tube obstruction. A case is described of endotracheal tube obstruction from a mucus plug that compounded severe respiratory acidosis and hypotension in a patient who simultaneously had abdominal compartment syndrome.

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Objectives: Intensive care audits point to family refusal as a major barrier to organ donation. In this study, we sought to understand refusal by accounting for the decision-maker's mindset. This focused on: (1) how decisions compare when made on behalf of a relative (vs the self); and (2) confidence in decisions made for family members.

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The COVID-19 global pandemic has overwhelmed health services with large numbers of patients presenting to hospital, requiring immediate triage and diagnosis. Complications include acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis, septic shock, and multiple organ failure. Point of care ultrasound is recommended for critical care triage and monitoring in COVID-19 by specialist critical care societies, however current guidance has mainly been published in webinar format, not a comprehensive review.

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Background And Aims: Orthognathic surgeries for maxillofacial deformities are commonly performed globally and are associated with significant blood loss. This can distort the surgical field and necessitate blood transfusion with its concomitant risks. We aimed to review if invasive intraarterial (IA) line monitoring and/or hypotensive anaesthesia is required for orthognathic surgeries, and their effects on intraoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements.

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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed an immense burden on healthcare systems worldwide. There is intensive research targeted at better understanding of the virus pathogenicity, development of effective treatment strategies and vaccines against COVID-19. It is increasingly being recognised that the pathogenicity of COVID-19 extends beyond the respiratory system.

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Introduction: Critically ill patients often require sedation for comfort and to facilitate therapeutic interventions. Sedation practice guidelines provide an evidence-based framework with recommendations that can help improve key sedation-related outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a narrative review of current guidelines and recent trials on sedation.

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The success of the Fontan procedure for congenital single ventricle anatomy has resulted in adult patients with Fontan physiology requiring anaesthesia for cardiac and non-cardiac procedures. We present the perioperative management of a patient with Fontan physiology who underwent electrophysiological study with radiofrequency ablation for atrial tachycardia under general anaesthesia. Good communication between the multidisciplinary teams, a detailed understanding of the patient's complex cardiac anatomy and physiology, as well as the ability to recognise and manage perioperative complications all play a vital role for a successful outcome.

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Background And Aims: Development of opioid tolerance in the perioperative period due to remifentanil remains controversial. We evaluated occurrence of opioid tolerance and other adverse effects due to remifentanil in patients undergoing head and neck surgery.

Material And Methods: We recruited adult participants with ASA status I to III who received general anesthesia for approximately 2 h for elective head and neck procedures.

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Severe pulmonary hemorrhage occurred through the endotracheal tube during an emergency cesarean delivery. Intubation trauma was excluded with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Episodes of hemoptysis continued for 48 hours.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of peripartum analgesic and psychological factors that may be related to postpartum depression (PPD).

Methods: This case-control study was conducted in pregnant females who delivered at KK Women's and Children's Hospital from November 2010 to October 2013 and had postpartum psychological assessment. Demographic, medical, and postpartum psychological status assessments, intrapartum data including method of induction of labor, mode of labor analgesia, duration of first and second stages of labor, mode of delivery, and pain intensity on hospital admission and after delivery were collected.

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We describe a rare complication of acute unilateral submandibular gland swelling following the use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in two patients with otherwise uneventful perioperative airway management. This is likely to be a consequence of the pressure exerted by the airway cuff on the tissues within the submandibular triangle. As this complication is rarely reported, its true incidence may in fact be higher, suggesting a need for greater attention on LMA cuff pressures and degree of cuff inflation.

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