Chronic treatment with renin-angiotensin system antagonists frequently causes deleterious hypotension during anesthesia. We present a case of marked intra-operative refractory hypotension in a 61-year-old male patient undergoing elective total thyroidectomy. He has been chronically treated for hypertension with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists and atenolol, which were taken until the morning of surgery. After induction of anesthesia, marked hypotension which was refractory to fluid therapy occurred and did not respond to ephedrine administration. After continuous norepinephrine infusion, blood pressure increased and remained stable during the anesthesia period. Before extubation, norepinephrine was discontinued and recovery took place without complications. We discuss the anesthetic implication of chronic renin-angiotensin system antagonists treatment and intra-operative hemodynamic instability.
Anesthesia ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Atenolol ; Blood Pressure ; Ephedrine ; Fluid Therapy ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypogonadism ; Hypotension ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Norepinephrine ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Thyroidectomy

In tracheal stenosis, airway management is most challenging for anesthesiologists. A small sized endotracheal tube, laryngeal mask airway, with high frequency jet ventilation can be used, but may result in ineffective oxygenation and ventilation. In such cases, extracorporeal life support, ECLS, can be helpful. Herein, a case of tracheal stenosis in an adult assisted with the ECLS is reported.
Adult ; Airway Management ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation ; Humans ; Laryngeal Masks ; Oxygen ; Tracheal Stenosis* ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury is a complex phenomenon that leads to organ dysfunction and causes primary liver failure following liver transplantation. We investigated whether an intravenous administration of magnesium before reperfusion can prevent or reduce IR injury. METHODS: Fifty-nine living donor liver transplant recipients were randomly assigned to an MG group (n = 31) or an NS group (n = 28). Each group was also divided in two groups based on the preoperative magnesium levels (normal: > or = 0.70 mmol/L, low: < 0.70 mmol/L). The MG groups received 25 mg/kg of MgSO4 mixed in 100 ml normal saline intravenously before reperfusion and the NS groups received an equal volume of normal saline. The levels of lactate, pH, arterial oxygen tension, and base excess were measured to assess reperfusion injury at five specific times, which were 10 min after the beginning of anhepatic phase, and 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after reperfusion. To evaluate postoperative organ function, the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin and creatinine levels were measured at preoperative day 1, postoperative day 1 and 5. RESULTS: The blood lactate levels were significantly lower at 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after reperfusion in the MG groups compared to the NS groups. In addition, significantly higher blood lactate levels were observed in the NS group with preoperative hypomagnesemia than in MG groups. CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium administration before reperfusion of liver transplantation significantly reduces blood lactate levels. These findings suggest that magnesium treatment may have protective effects on IR injury during living donor liver transplantation.
Administration, Intravenous ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Liver ; Liver Failure ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Magnesium ; Oxygen ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury

Takayasu arteritis is a nonspecific chronic inflammatory disease of the aorta and its major branches, which has a higher incidence during the child-bearing years. There have been several reports of Takayasu arteritis during pregnancy with Cesarean delivery under general or epidural anesthesia. However, there have been few reports of successful vaginal delivery under epidural analgesia. We report a case of successful vaginal delivery under epidural analgesia in a 31-year-old primigravida with a history of Takayasu arteritis.
Adult ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Aorta ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Takayasu Arteritis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of scheduled ramosetron injections for controlling postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after single-port access total laparoscopic hysterectomy (SPA-TLH). METHODS: Ninety patients who underwent SPA-TLH at the Korean National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital between June 2013 and July 2014 were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. The patients were divided into 2 groups as follows: the ramosetron group (0.3 mg intravenously [IV]; n=45) and the placebo group (normal saline IV; n=45). Both groups received their respective injections 12 and 24 hours post surgery. The incidence and severity of PONV (numerical rating scale, 0–10), and the use of rescue antiemetics post surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Demographic and perioperative statistically significant differences were not observed between the 2 groups. The incidence of PONV in the ramosetron and placebo groups was 46.7% and 51.1%, respectively (P=0.51). We found significant differences in the severity of PONV between the 24- to 48-hour postoperative periods in both groups (ramosetron group, P=0.04 and placebo group, P=0.03). The use of rescue antiemetics was significantly lower in the ramosetron group than in the placebo group (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: After general anesthesia, scheduled injections of ramosetron 12 and 24 hours after SPA-TLH reduced the severity of PONV and the use of rescue antiemetics. Administration of ramosetron can be considered not only immediately after SPA-TLH but also during the first 24-hour recovery period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 02011659
Anesthesia, General ; Antiemetics ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; National Health Programs ; Nausea ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Vomiting