High‐dose rocuronium for rapid‐sequence induction and reversal with sugammadex in two myasthenic patients

The anesthetic management of patients affected by myasthenia gravis is usually challenging in elective surgery and even more so in emergency procedures. The difficulties involved are several‐fold, ranging from the choice of an appropriate muscle relaxant (i.e. one that enables safe and rapid airway management) to neuromuscular monitoring and normal muscular recovery. Additionally, optimizing patient conditions – either pharmacologically or with plasmapheresis – before intervention is well beyond the realm of possibility. We discuss the anesthetic management of two myasthenic patients undergoing emergency surgery (for sigmoid perforation and upper gastrointestinal bleeding respectively). In both cases, we opted for rapid‐sequence induction with high‐dose rocuronium to prevent inhalation of gastric contents. We also report on the implication of neuromuscular monitoring. We found that the rocuronium–sugammadex combination was a useful and effective option in the emergency setting.     

Renal tuberculosis: a case report

Tuberculosis or TB (tubercle bacillus) remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Over the last decades extra-pulmonary locations of the disease have become more frequent due to the increased prevalence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome and the increase number of organ transplants. The urogenital localization represents about 27% of all extra-pulmonary localizations of TB and may be due either to a disseminated infection or to a primitive genitourinary localization. The majority of patients, has pyuria, sometimes with hematuria. The diagnosis of urinary tuberculosis is based on the finding of pyuria in the absence of infection by common bacteria. The initial medical treatment includes isoniazide, rifampicin, pyrazinami-de, ethambutol and streptomycin. This disease should be suspected in patients with unexplained urinary tract infections, especially if immunocompromised and/or coming from endemic areas.