Epiduroscopy (EDS) allows diagnosis and treatment of spinal nerve root pathology by a fiberoptic device inserted percutaneously in the epidural space. Transient global amnesia syndrome (TGA) is defined by an abrupt onset of an anterograde and retrograde amnesia that lasts up to 24 h, although mild subclinical neuropsychological deficits, with concomitant vegetative symptoms, can last for days after the episode. To our knowledge no cases of TGA in association with EDS have been recognized. We present a case of a 54-year-old man who was admitted for EDS, having experienced two times the failed surgery for spinal and left leg pain. During the EDS, 10 ml of non-ionic contrast media (CM) was injected to confirm the inside lesions. The epidural adhesions were gently broken down and drugs were injected around any inflamed nerve roots. Immediately after EDS, the patient experienced a TGA with loss of memory for the recent procedure and an impaired ability to retain new information. There were no signs of confusion or altered conscious level or seizure activities and neurological examination was normal. At 24 h a cranial computerized tomography (cCT) without CM showed “abnormal contrast enhancement at subarachnoid liquoral spaces levels”, then at 72 h cCT control was normal. The patient was discharged on the seventh day with perioperative lacunar amnesia persisting at this time. Herein, we sought a possible relationship between neurotoxic effect of CM and TGA in a patient emotionally stressed, even if the CM dose was given as a normal clinical range.
The authors tested the hypothesis that during laparoscopic surgery, Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum may worsen chest wall elastance, concomitantly decreasing transpulmonary pressure, and that a protective ventilator strategy applied after pneumoperitoneum induction, by increasing transpulmonary pressure, would result in alveolar recruitment and improvement in respiratory mechanics and gas exchange.In 29 consecutive patients, a recruiting maneuver followed by positive end-expiratory pressure 5 cm H(2)O maintained until the end of surgery was applied after pneumoperitoneum induction. Respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, blood pressure, and cardiac index were measured before (T(BSL)) and after pneumoperitoneum with zero positive end-expiratory pressure (T(preOLS)), after recruitment with positive end-expiratory pressure (T(postOLS)), and after peritoneum desufflation with positive end-expiratory pressure (T(end)).Esophageal pressure was used for partitioning respiratory mechanics between lung and chest wall (data are mean ± SD): on T(preOLS), chest wall elastance (E(cw)) and elastance of the lung (E(L)) increased (8.2 ± 0.9 vs. 6.2 ± 1.2 cm H(2)O/L, respectively, on T(BSL); P = 0.00016; and 11.69 ± 1.68 vs. 9.61 ± 1.52 cm H(2)O/L on T(BSL); P = 0.0007). On T(postOLS), both chest wall elastance and E(L) decreased (5.2 ± 1.2 and 8.62 ± 1.03 cm H(2)O/L, respectively; P = 0.00015 vs. T(preOLS)), and Pao(2)/inspiratory oxygen fraction improved (491 ± 107 vs. 425 ± 97 on T(preOLS); P = 0.008) remaining stable thereafter. Recruited volume (the difference in lung volume for the same static airway pressure) was 194 ± 80 ml. Pplat(RS) remained stable while inspiratory transpulmonary pressure increased (11.65 + 1.37 cm H(2)O vs. 9.21 + 2.03 on T(preOLS); P = 0.007). All respiratory mechanics parameters remained stable after abdominal desufflation. Hemodynamic parameters remained stable throughout the study.In patients submitted to laparoscopic surgery in Trendelenburg position, an open lung strategy applied after pneumoperitoneum induction increased transpulmonary pressure and led to alveolar recruitment and improvement of E(cw) and gas exchange.
During laparoscopy, respiratory mechanics and gas exchange are impaired because of pneumoperitoneum and atelectasis formation. We applied an open lung approach (OLA) consisting in lung recruitment followed by a decremental positive-end expiratory pressure (PEEP) trial to identify the level of PEEP corresponding to the highest compliance of the respiratory system (best PEEP). Our hypothesis was that this approach would improve both lung mechanics and oxygenation without hemodynamic impairment.We studied twenty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We continuously recorded respiratory mechanics parameters throughout a decremental PEEP trial in order to identify the best PEEP level. Furthermore, lung and chest wall mechanics, respiratory and transpulmonary driving pressures (ΔP), gas exchange and hemodynamics were recorded at three time-points: 1) after pneumoperitoneum induction (TpreOLA); 2) after the application of the OLA (TpostOLA); 3) at the end of surgery, after abdominal deflation (Tend).The "best PEEP" level was 8.1±1.3 cmH2O (range 6 to 10 cmH2O), corresponding to the highest compliance of the respiratory system (CRS). This "best PEEP" level corresponded with lowest ΔPL. OLA increased the compliance of the lung and of the chest wall, and decreased ΔPRS and ΔPL. PaO2/FiO2 increased from 299±125 mmHg to 406±101 mmHg (P=0.04). Changes in respiratory mechanics, driving pressures and oxygenation were maintained until Tend. Hemodynamic parameters remained stable throughout the study period.In patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the OLA was suitable for bedside PEEP setting, improved lung mechanics and gas exchange without significant adverse hemodynamic effects.
Objective: To evaluate the utility of serial measurements of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to detect acute cardiac dysfunction during weaning failure in difficult to wean patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: A 14-bed general intensive care unit in a university hospital. Patients: Nineteen patients mechanically ventilated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation who were difficult to wean. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Cardiac and hemodynamic variables, arterial and central venous blood gas, breathing pattern, respiratory mechanics, indexes of oxygen cost of breathing, and plasma levels of NT-proBNP were measured and analyzed immediately before (baseline) and at the end of a spontaneous breathing trial. Eight of 19 patients (42%) were identified with acute cardiac dysfunction at the end of the weaning trial. Baseline NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher (median 5000, interquartile range 4218 pg/mL) in these patients than in patients without evidence of acute cardiac dysfunction (median 1705, interquartile range 3491 pg/mL). Plasma levels of NT-proBNP increased significantly at the end of the spontaneous breathing trial only in patients with acute cardiac dysfunction (median 12,733, interquartile range 16,456 pg/mL, p < .05). The elevation in NT-proBNP at the end of the weaning trial had a good diagnostic performance in detecting acute cardiac dysfunction, as estimated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (area under the curve 0.909, se 0.077, 95% confidence interval 0.69–0.98; p < .0001, cutoff = 184.7 pg/mL). Conclusions: Serial measurements of NT-proBNP plasma levels provided a noninvasive manner to detect acute cardiac dysfunction during an unsuccessful weaning trial in difficult to wean patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The utility of this test as a complement of the standard clinical monitoring of the weaning trial deserves further investigation.
The "bone cement implantation syndrome" is a rare but severe complication observed especially during the insertion of cemented prostheses in hip and knee replacement surgery. Several mechanisms are involved: effects of methylmethacrilate, embolism of fat, air and bone marrow, and release of tissue thromboplastin during acetabular and femoral reaming. Aim of this study was to detect embolic events, right heart impairment, hemodynamic and respiratory changes during hip and knee replacement surgery.Prospective study, between February-May 2001.Orthopedic Operative room.Twenty-one patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia. Patients were divided in methylmethacrylate cemented prostheses groups (CEM, n=10) and totally uncemented prostheses (NON CEM, n=11).Standard anesthesia monitoring and omniplane TEE were performed. TEE probe was positioned in order to obtain "inflow-outflow" views of right heart. Measurements were obtained after anesthesia induction (T1), during femoral realing (T2) at prostheses insertion (T3), and at the end of surgery (T4).Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters measured in different phases of surgical procedures were not different within groups and between groups. Fourtheen patients had TEE evidence of emboli, and the phenomenon was more evident in CEM group (Z= -347; p<0.001). During prostheses insertion, a slight, not significant increase in right ventricular dimensions was observed in both groups, without any right ventricular wall kinetic abnormality. No difference was observed between groups. No adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events in intra- and postoperatory period were observed.In normal patients total hip or knee arthroplasty is associated with embolic phenomena, without any significant change in systemic and right heart hemodynamics. Insertion of cemented prostheses does not modify hemodynamic profile. It remains to be elucidated if the occurrence of emboli has a critical role in patients with cardiorespiratory disease.
