Background and Objectives: Following the transsphenoidal approach (TSA), appropriate sphenoid sinus fat packing has been preferred to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage; however, studies on the behavior of fat tissue transplanted in the sphenoid sinus are lacking. This study aimed to determine the long-term fate of these fat grafts using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Subjects and Method: A total of 139 postoperative MRI scans of 41 patients who underwent sphenoid sinus fat packing using the standard TSA were evaluated. Additionally, MRI time series indicating the vital fat volumes were assessed postoperatively. Results: In 82.9% of cases, the fat volumes measured in the final MRI scans declined to <20% of the initial volumes; only 4.9% of cases exhibited declines to >60% of the initial volume. The fat tissue volume decreased significantly with time, with a median half-life of 18 months. Typically, the sphenoid sinus was eventually almost filled with air rather than transplanted fat. In the subgroup analysis, the fat clearance rate was significantly lower in patients with residual tumors than in those without such remnants (p=0.013). Conclusion Long-term MRI surveillance of fat grafts in the sphenoid sinus revealed that the transplanted fat graft had degraded and was gradually eliminated.

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is an anti-hypertensive drug, commonly used to decrease the systemic vascular resistance and lower the blood pressure. When the amount of cyanide generated by the SNP exceeds the metabolic capacity for detoxification, cyanide toxicity occurs. Under general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), it may be difficult to detect the development of cyanide toxicity. In cardiac surgical patients, hemolysis, hypothermia and decreased organ perfusion, which emphasize the risk of cyanide toxicity, may develop as a consequence of CPB. In particular, hemolysis during CPB may cause an unexpected overproduction of cyanide due to free hemoglobin release. We experienced a patient who demonstrated SNP tachyphylaxis and cyanide toxicity during CPB, even though the total amount of SNP administered was much lower than the recommended dose. We therefore report this case with a review of the relevant literature.
Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Cyanides ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Nitroprusside* ; Perfusion ; Tachyphylaxis ; Vascular Resistance

BACKGROUND: Various regimens have been studied in extension of a preexisting labor epidural for emergency cesarean section. Lumbar epidural analgesia for delivery is safe and efficient. We compared retrospectively 0.5% ropivacaine with fentanyl and 0.75% ropivacaine in extension of a preexisting labor epidural for emergency cesarean section. METHODS: We investigated medical records of 61 parturients in extension of a preexisting labor epidural for emergency cesarean section. There were two regimens which was 0.5% ropivacaine with fentanyl (group 1) and 0.75% ropivacaine (group 2). We recorded demographic data, local anesthetic dose, surgical readiness time, maximum level of sensory block, surgery time, intravenous supplementation, number of hypotension and total dose of ephedrine between two groups. RESULTS: There were no differences between the study groups in demographic data, surgical readiness time, maximum sensory block level, intravenous supplementation, incidence of hypotension and total dose of ephedrine. Local anesthetic volume was larger in group 1 than group 2, but local anesthetic doses were lower in group 1 than group 2. CONCLUSIONS: 0.5% Ropivacaine with fentanyl regimen is as fast and efficacious as 0.75% ropivacaine in extension of a preexisting labor epidural for cesarean section and reduces the requiring total local anesthetic dose.
Analgesia, Epidural ; Cesarean Section* ; Emergencies* ; Ephedrine ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies*

A 34-year-old female with multiple sclerosis (MS) was scheduled Cesarean section. She had been suffering from MS for 10 years and the symptoms of MS were paraplegia and urinary incontinence. After informed consent, anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with nitrous oxide, sevoflurane and fentanyl. Rocuronium was used for muscle relaxation and tracheal intubation. Train of four (TOF) ratio and bispectral index scale were monitored for adequate muscle relaxation and depth of anesthesia. She gave birth to a baby within 7 minutes after skin incision. When operation was over, TOF ratio was 0.8. She emerged from general anesthesia smoothly and was extubated. There was no febrile event or exacerbation of MS after Cesarean section under general anesthesia. We report a safe anesthetic management of the parturient with MS, using sevoflurane.
Adult ; Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Intubation ; Methyl Ethers ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Muscle Relaxation ; Nitrous Oxide ; Paraplegia ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Propofol ; Skin ; Stress, Psychological ; Urinary Incontinence

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is widely used technique for rapid induction, high success rate and excellent intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. Potentiating the effect of intrathecal local anesthetics by addition of opioid for cesarean section is well known. In this study, we compared the clinical effects when different doses of fentanyl were combined with intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: Ninety six healthy term parturients were randomly divided into four groups: Group C (control), : Group F10 (fentanyl 10 microg), : Group F15 (fentanyl 15 microg), F: Group F20 (fentanyl 20 microg). In every group, 0.5% heavy bupivacaine was added according to the adjusted dose regimen. We observed the maximal level of the sensory block and motor block, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the duration of effective analgesia and the side effects. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between four groups in maximal level and recovery rate of sensory and motor block. Quality of intraopertive analgesia and muscle relaxation was increasing by increasing dosage of intrathecal opioids. Duration of effective analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group F15 and F20 than Group C and F10, but there were no differences between Group F15 and F20. And the frequencies of side effects such as hypotension, max sedation level were increasing by increasing dosage of intrathecal opioids. The Apgar scores were normal, and there were no differences between the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of fentanyl 15 microg for spinal anesthesia provides adequate intraoperative analgesia and good postoperative analgesia without significant adverse effects.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Muscle Relaxation ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid block is a widely used technique for cesarean section. To improve the quality of analgesia and prolong the duration of analgesia, addition of intrathecal opioids to local anesthetics has been encouraged. We compared the effects of sufentanil 2.5 microg and 5 microg, which were added to intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: We enrolled 105 full term parturients were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (sufentanil 2.5 microg), and Group 3 (sufentanil 5 microg). In every group, 0.5% heavy bupivacaine was added according to the adjusted dose regimen. We determined the maximum level of sensory block and motor block, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the duration of effective analgesia and side effects. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in the maximum level of the sensory block and motor block. Recovery rate of the sensory block, however, was significantly slower in Group 3 than Group 1. Quality of intraopertive analgesia, muscle relaxation, and duration of effective analgesia were enhanced by increasing the dosage of intrathecal sufentanil. Frequencies of hypotension, maximum sedation level, and pruritus were directly related to the dosage of intrathecal sufentanil, whereas nausea and vomiting occurred only in the groups using sufentanil. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of sufentanil 2.5 microg for spinal anesthesia provides adequate intraoperative analgesia and good postoperative analgesia with minimal adverse effects on the mother.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Mothers ; Muscle Relaxation ; Nausea ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Sufentanil ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid block is widely used for cesarean section due to the rapid induction, the complete analgesia, the low failure rate and the prevention of aspiration pneumonia. The addition of intrathecal opioids to local anesthetics seems to improve the quality of analgesia & prolong the duration of analgesia. Therefore we compared the effects of fentanyl 20 microg and sufentanil 2.5 microg, which were added to intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: Seventy two healthy term parturients were randomly divided into three groups: Group C (control), Group F (fentanyl 20 microg) and Group S (sufentanil 2.5 microg). In every group, 0.5% heavy bupivacaine was added according to the adjusted dose regimen by Harten et al. We observed the maximal level of the sensory block and motor block, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the duration of effective analgesia and the side effects. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the control and the fentanyl 20 microg and sufentanil 2.5 microg groups for the degree of muscle relaxation, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the maximal sedation level and the duration of effective analgesia. The frequencies of side effects such as nausea and pruritis in the opioid groups were higher than those in the control group. But there were no differences between fentanyl 20 microg and sufentanil 2.5 microg for the frequencies of nausea and pruritis. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of fentanyl 20 microg or sufentanil 2.5 microg for spinal anesthesia provides adequate intraoperative analgesia without significant adverse effects on the mother and neonate.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Muscle Relaxation ; Nausea ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Sufentanil

PURPOSE: We conducted this research to make an earlier diagnosis and identify better treatment for Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) by comparing clinical findings with nonspecifically enlarged cervical lymph nodes in children. METHODS: Nineteen patients were diagnosed with KFD by tissue pathology from a fine needle aspiration biopsy and/or excisional biopsy and were compared with the clinical, radiological, and pathological findings of reactive hyperplasia. RESULTS: The average onset age of onset for patients with KFD was 11.8+/-3.61 years, and the male to female ratio was 1:1.1, whereas patients with reactive hyperplasia were 11.8+/-5.96 years, and the male to female ratio was 1.7:1. Patients with KFD suffered more from fever than patients with reactive hyperplasia (68% vs. 13%, P=0.002). Patients with KFD showed perinodal infiltration (P=0.001) and necrosis on computed tomography, whereas patients with reactive hyperplasia did not show any of these findings. Ultrasonographic findings were similar between the two study groups. In contrast, the histopathological examinations of biopsied cervical lymph nodes were enormously helpful for distinguishing the findings of KFD from those of patients with reactive hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: We recommend a histopathological examination to distinguish KFD from reactive hyperplasia in children with significantly enlarged cervical lymph nodes.
Age of Onset ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Child ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Female ; Fever ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis ; Male ; Necrosis

We experienced difficulty in ventilating the lungs of a patient after tracheal intubation. After intubation, an insufficient amount of tidal volume (VT) was delivered to the patient and the fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination identified partial abutment of the endotracheal tube (ETT) orifice against the tracheal wall. After various attempts to correctly place the ETT, a double-lumen endotracheal tube was placed to achieve a sufficient VT. It is important to notice that even an appropriately placed ETT may get obstructed due to the left sided bevel at its tip.
Airway Obstruction ; Bronchoscopy ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Intubation ; Lung ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Tidal Volume

BACKGROUND: Shivering is a frequent event during the perioperative period. We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to determine whether intrathecal meperidine (0.2 mg/kg) decreases the incidence and intensity of shivering after spinal anesthesia for transurethral operations. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for elective transurethral resection operations under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to two groups. Spinal anesthesia consisted of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 8 mg and, mperidine (0.2 mg/kg) (meperidine group) or, normal saline (saline group). Data collection, including sensory block level (by pinprick), blood pressure, heart rate, sublingual temperature, incidence and intensity of shivering, pruritus, nausea, and vomiting was performed at 10 minute intervals. RESULTS: The incidence and intensity of shivering was significantly less in the meperidine group than saline group (P = 0.012 and P = 0.008, for incidence and intensity, respectively). However, pruritus was more common in the meperidine group compared with the saline group (16% vs. 0%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of meperidine 0.2 mg/kg to intrathecal bupivacaine lowers the incidence and severity of shivering during transurethral prostatectomy in elderly patients.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine ; Data Collection ; Double-Blind Method ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meperidine ; Nausea ; Perioperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Pruritus ; Shivering ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Vomiting