Background: This randomized, prospective study was designed to evaluate the role of various anesthesias in postoperative urinary retention and hesitancy in micturition in patients receiving hemorrhoidectomy on ambulatory basis.
Methods: In a randomized order, 128 ambulatory patients, ASA physical status I or II, were divided into two groups to receive hemorrhoidectomy under epidural or local anesthesia. In all patients, the intraoperative intravenous fluid given was limited to 200 ml +/- 2 ml/kg/h of Ringer's lactate solution. Patients were requested to void urine voluntarily before discharge. The incidences of postoperative urinary retention and hesitancy in micturition were evaluated by telephone interview 24 hours after surgery.
Results: Neither the incidence of urinary retention, nor the incidence of hesitancy in micturition was significantly different between the two groups. Patients with age over 50 had a significantly higher incidence of hesitancy in micturition than younger patients. The incidence of hesitancy in micturition seemed higher in male patients (31.3%) than that in females (15.6%), but the difference was not statistically different (P = 0.0585).
Conclusions: With judicious intraoperative fluid restriction and voluntary voiding before discharge, epidural anesthesia does not increase the incidence of postoperative urinary retention or hesitancy in micturition following ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy.
Septic shock is still the major cause of death in surgical intensive care unit. Fluid support, inotropic agents, and broad spectrum antibiotics are still the mainstay of traditional therapy. Here, we present a case of septic shock arising from gangrenous ischemic bowel, complicated by chronic pulmonary hypertension, which was refractory to catecholamine vasoprerssors. We successfully stabilized the hemodynamics and reduce the pulmonary hypertension with low-dose vasopressin infusion.
Esophageal perforation is a rare but life-threatening complication associated with tracheal intubation, especially after difficult intubation. Esophageal perforation after anesthesia is rare and usually secondary to esophageal instrumentation. Spontaneous esophageal perforation following forceful vomiting (Boerhaave's syndrome) is also extremely rare and has some risk factors. We present a case of perforation of esophagus after cataract surgery under general anesthesia with gentle orotracheal intubation and discuss the possible mechanisms responsible for this unusual disease entity. The patient underwent successful surgical repair and was still alive 4 years after the operation.
Background: Severe hypotension deteriorates renal functions and renal hemodynamics especially renal cortical blood flow. Systemic hypotension following high level spinal anesthesia may impair renal functions in spite of the blockade of renal sympathetic nerves that may help prevent vasoconstriction. Fluid loading is clinically applied for preventing hypotension but the effects on the changes of renal functions have not been studied. This study was designed to investigate the effects of fluid loading on systemic hemodynamics, renal hemodynamics and functions especially the blood distribution to renal cortex.
Methods: A rat model was used in our study. Intravenous normal saline infusion was started in both control group (5 ml/kg/h, 8 rats) and fluid loading group (15 ml/kg/h, 8 rats) 30 min before spinal anesthesia. A high level (above T4) spinal anesthesia was conducted via a preset intrathecal catheter with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Blood pressure, heart rate and renal cortical microvascular blood flow (CMBF) were measured via a laser Doppler probe firmly contacted on renal cortex and recorded continuously after spinal anesthesia. Renal functions including glomerular filtration rates (GFR, by inulin clearance), effective renal plasma flow (ERPF, by P-aminohippurate clearance), urine flow rate (UFR) and electrolytes excretion were measured every 30 min after spinal anesthesia.
Results: Severe hypotension was notable within 5-10 min after intrathecal anesthesia and recovered with 30 min in both groups but the difference was not significant between groups. In the control group, GFR and ERPF decreased significantly in the first 30 min by 51.9 +/- 19.8% and 44.3 +/- 13.7% respectively (P < 0.05) and recovered after 60 min. Also the deteriorations of UFR and CMBF were significantly longer (over 60 min). In fluid loading group, ERPF, UFR and CMBF could maintain throughout the experiment but only GFR was affected in the first 30 min.
Conclusions: Fluid administration did not prevent hypotension following high level spinal anesthesia but might have beneficial effects on renal hemodynamics especially on the renal cortical circulation and urine flow rate.
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a severe reaction between leukocyte antigen and antibody during transfusion of plasma-containing components. Recently, biologically active lipids have been also suggested to cause the disorder. It is a rare, but rather benign pulmonary edema. We report a postoperative pulmonary edema, which was temporally and clinically compatible with TRALI. Because the patient received blood products from 3 or 4 donors and the disorder was not recognized right away, the laboratory task for the definite diagnosis was difficult. Nevertheless, the patient had fully recovered in 36 hours after supportive therapies. Without identifying the blood donor implicated in the disorder, transfusion reactions or TRALI will be inevitable.