Comparative Echogenicity of an Epidural Catheter and 2 New Catheters Designed for Ultrasound‐Guided Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Visualization of the catheter during ultrasound‐guided continuous nerve block performance may be difficult but is an essential skill for regional anesthesiologists. The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate 2 newer catheters designed for enhanced echogenicity and compare them to a widely used catheter not purposely designed for ultrasound guidance. Outcomes were the numbers of first‐place rankings among all 3 catheters and scores on individual echogenicity criteria as assessed by 2 blinded reviewers. Catheters designed for echogenicity are not superior to an older regional anesthesia catheter, and results suggest that catheter preference for ultrasound‐guided placement may be subjective.     

热塑牙胶充填根管临床观察

目的：观察连续波热塑牙胶注射法充填根管的临床效果.方法：选择360例根管治疗患者,共380颗牙,其中240颗牙用热塑牙胶注射充填仪做连续波热塑牙胶充填根管,140颗牙用常规冷牙胶侧方加压充填根管,通过X线片比较两组病例的充填质量并比较两组病例间每根管根充需用时间.结果：X线片显示连续波热塑牙胶充填组欠填率1.67％,超填率2.91％,恰填率95.41％,冷牙胶侧压充填组欠填率8.57％,超填率2.85％,恰填率88.57％,比较两组间欠填率与恰填率有统计学差异（P＜0.05）,连续波热塑牙胶充填组平均每根管根充时间8 min.冷牙胶侧压组充填平均每根管根充时间12 min.连续波热塑牙胶充填组缩短根充时间30％.结论：连续波热塑牙胶充填术比冷牙胶侧方加压充填术根管充填质量更高且节约根充时间,提高了工作效率.     

Pulmonary artery pulsatility index predicts prolonged inotrope/pulmonary vasodilator use after implantation of continuous flow left ventricular assist device

Objective: Predictors of right ventricle (RV) dysfunction after continuous‐flow left ventricular assist device (CF‐LVAD) implantation in children are not well described. We explored the association of preimplantation Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility index (PAPi) and other hemodynamic parameters as predictors of prolonged postoperative inotropes/pulmonary vasodilator use after CF‐LVAD implantation.
Design: Retrospective chart review.
Setting: Single tertiary care pediatric referral center.
Patients: Patients who underwent CF‐LVAD implantation from January 2012 to October 2017.
Interventions: Preimplantation invasive hemodynamic parameters were analyzed to evaluate the association with post‐CF‐LVAD need for prolonged (>72 hours) use of inotropes/pulmonary vasodilators.
Measurements and main results: Preimplantation cardiac catheterization data was available for 12 of 44 patients who underwent CF‐LVAD implant during the study period. Median (IQR) age and BSA of the cohort were 15.3 years (10.2, 18) and 1.74 m2 (0.98, 2.03). Group 1 (n = 6) included patients with need for prolonged inotropes/pulmonary vasodilator use after CF‐LVAD implantation and Group 2 (n = 6) included those without. Baseline demographic parameters, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and markers of RV afterload (pulmonary vascular resistance, PA compliance and elastance) were similar among the two groups. PAPi was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (0.96 vs 3.6, respectively; P = .004). Post‐LVAD stay in the intensive care unit was longer for patients in group 1 (46 vs 23 days, P = .52). Brain natriuretic peptide was significantly higher at 3 months after implantation in group 1; P = .01.
Conclusions: The need for inotropes/pulmonary vasodilators in the postoperative period can be predicted by the preimplantation intrinsic RV contractile reserve as assessed by PAPi rather than the markers of RV afterload. Further investigation and correlation with clinical outcomes is needed.     

颊颈连续曲线切口在颊癌联合根治术中的应用效果评价

目的 探讨并评估颊颈连续曲线切口在颊癌联合根治术中的应用效果。方法 收集2015年1月—2018年12月收治的颊癌患者87例,其中42例采用颊颈连续曲线切口（实验组）,45例采用传统颈部T形切口联合面颊切口（对照组）。评估术野暴露范围,对比2组切口长度、联合根治术所耗时长和术后颈部并发症发生率。随访时间7~43个月,采用改良温哥华瘢痕量表（Vancouver Scar Scale,VSS）及华盛顿大学生存质量问卷（University of Washington Quality of Life,UW-QOL）,对2组患者术后瘢痕及生存质量进行评估。采用SPSS 22.0软件包进行统计学分析。结果 实验组切口长度为（36.40±5.08）cm,显著小于对照组的（39.93±5.22）cm（P<0.05）;实验组联合根治术所耗时长短于对照组,颈部并发症发生率低于对照组;术后瘢痕评估及生存质量优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。2组手术术野显露范围,术后复发、转移率无显著差异。结论 颊颈连续曲线切口与传统切口相比,能获得良好的视野,联合根治耗时短,并能实现原发灶与颈淋巴清扫术整体切除以保证手术彻底性。具有切口短且美观、并发症少、术后生存质量好等优点,是值得推荐的一种颊癌联合根治手术切口。     

Chronic Cancer-Related Pain: Continuous Perineural Infusion of Local Anesthetics as Alternative to Systemic Analgesic Drugs

Pain is a major concern for patients suffering from cancer. Although opioid drugs remain the gold standard for treatment of pain, little is known about the interest of continuous analgesia techniques as alternative. The aim of the present article is to detail the feasibility and to present the diversity of continuous perineural infusion of local anesthetic. A series of five patients suffering from different cancer-related pain is presented. A continuous perineural block was proposed to patients presenting with unbearable pain in an area innervated by a plexus or a nerve despite parenteral analgesic pharmacotherapy. All blocks were performed in a surgical theatre under sterile conditions. An initial bolus dose with 3.75 mg/mL ropivacaine was injected followed by a continuous infusion of 2 mg/mL of ropivacaine. Patient-controlled perineural analgesia was started at home by a nursing network. The technique, the efficacy, and the side effects were reported. Complete pain relief was noted 15 minutes after local anesthetic injection in the five cases, and efficacy was maintained during the following days at home, with no other analgesic treatment required. One patient restarted working a few weeks after catheter insertion. The catheter duration lasted for 12 to 110 days. One catheter was removed because of local anesthetic leak at the puncture point. Some paresthesia was noted in one patient. No other side effect was noted. No infection was reported. In selected patients, continuous perineural infusion of local anesthetics appears to be an attractive alternative to parenteral opioids for cancer-related pain. Further investigation is warranted to better define the place of these techniques in the armamentarium of cancer-related pain treatment.     

Comparison of diathermic high-frequency capsulorhexis and continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis in white cataract surgery

AIM: To compare the corneal endothelial cell counts pre- and post-operation, ultrastructure of anterior lens capsule and surgical completion after diathermic high-frequency capsulorhexis (DHC) and continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC) applied in phacoemulsification (PHACO) of white cataract surgery. METHODS: Sixty-six eyes of 66 patients (33 males and 33 females) with cataract aged between 60 and 80y (mean 72.5±5.5) were recruited and undergone the surgery from June 2014 to November 2016. Anterior lens capsule, derived from two kinds of capsulorhexis, were randomly divided into two groups according to random number table. The ultrastructure of the capsule edge and its closer tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and optical microscopy respectively. The surgical completion conditions and corneal endothelial cell counts were analyzed pre- and post-operation after two capsulorhexis. RESULTS: The capsule derived from CCC had smooth edge, well-organized cellular structure and the cells filling into the cutting edge under TEM and optical microscopy. The capsule derived from DHC had an approximate 60 banded area of cell degeneration and necrosis, with dentiform prominences at the edge of the capsule, and no cell structure was observed at this area. The corneal endothelial cell counts of both groups were slightly declined 1wk post-operation compared with that of pre-operation. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (t=1.63, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: DHC shows good clinical value in white mature and hypermature cataract surgery.     

微创肺表面活性物质及无创持续性气道压力在低体重早产儿呼吸窘迫综合征治疗中的应用

目的探讨微创肺表面活性物质(LISA)及无创持续性气道压力(ncpap)在低体重早产儿呼吸窘迫综合征(NRDS)治疗中的应用效果。方法回顾性选取2019年1月至2020年12月中山市博爱医院新生儿科收治的50例NRDS低体重早产儿为研究对象,根据治疗方案分为研究组(ncpap+LISA,n=22)和对照组(ncpap,n=28)。比较两组疗效、无创通气时间、住院时间、并发症发生率、治疗前、治疗1 d的血气分析等指标。结果研究组治疗总有效率高于对照组(95.45%vs.67.86%),而无创通气时间[(3.52±1.12)d vs.(4.36±1.39)d]、住院时间[(17.21±2.65)d vs.(19.87±3.43)d]则低于对照组(P0.05)。两组的并发症发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。与同组治疗前比较,两组治疗1 d的血氧分压(PaO_2)、pH值均升高,而同期氧合指数(OI)、二氧化碳分压(PaCO_2)均降低(P0.05)。研究组治疗1 d的PaO_2、pH值均高于对照组,而同期OI、PaCO_2则均低于对照组(P0.05)。结论 LISA及ncpap联合应用于低体重早产儿NRDS治疗中可改善疗效和缺氧状况,缩短无创通气时间并促进患儿康复,且安全可靠。     

A case report of acquired methemoglobinemia rescued by veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Rationale:Severe methemoglobinemia (Met-Hb) is rare. The delayed diagnosis and treatment often cause further damage. The management of cellular hypoxemia is challenging and the use of extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has never been reported.Patient concerns:The young patient, healthy with unremarkable past medical history, was sent to emergency room with out-of-hospital circulatory arrest (OHCA) and severe generalized cyanosis. His family reported he ingested sodium nitrite accidentally.Diagnoses:After successful resuscitation and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), the paradoxically normal arterial blood gas (ABG) with the unusual brownish blood led to the suspicion of Met-Hb. The lab test confirmed it and showed a very high level of 80%.Interventions:Because of recovered and normal cardiac function, we placed veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for tissue hypoxemia in addition to exchange transfusion, vitamin C, and methylene blue.Outcomes:Met-Hb blood level dropped rapidly. After vigorous rehabilitation for weeks, the patient was able to be discharged home without major neurological sequela.Lessons:VV-ECMO can hyper-oxygenate the hypoxemic tissue regardless the etiology and minimize hypoxemia-reperfusion injury while awaiting the definite diagnosis and therapy.