A case of refractory intraoperative hypotension treated with vasopressin infusion

ACE-Inhibitor or ARB-Induced Refractory Hypotension Treated With Vasopressin in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia for Dentistry: Two Case Reports

Two case reports present the use of vasopressin for treating refractory hypotension associated with continued angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy prior to general anesthesia for oral surgery. Both patients were treated in an ambulatory dental surgery clinic and took either their ACEI or ARB medication for hypertension within 24 hours prior to undergoing an intubated general anesthetic. Persistent profound hypotension was encountered intraoperatively that was refractory to treatment with traditional methods. However, the ACEI- or ARB-induced refractory hypotension was successfully managed with the administration of vasopressin.

Refractory intraoperative hypotension with elevated serum tryptase

Severe intraoperative hypotension has been reported in patients on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor subtype 1 antagonists. We describe a patient on lisinopril who developed refractory intraoperative hypotension associated with increased serum tryptase level suggesting mast cell activation (allergic reaction). However, allergology workup ruled out an allergic etiology as well as mastocytosis, and hypotension recalcitrant to treatment was attributed to uninterrupted lisinopril therapy. Elevated serum tryptase was attributed to our patient's chronic renal insufficiency.

Postoperative Sudden Hypotension Due to Relative Adrenal Insufficiency

Systemic blood pressure is regulated by three mechanisms: the sympathetic nervous system, the renin-angiotensin system, and the arginine-vasopressin system. Hypotension is a condition that can occur at any stage of management of general anaesthesia, including induction, extubation, and maintenance. Many of the medications used for anaesthesia produce a mild to moderate decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) with a subsequent decrease in arterial blood pressure. Profound and sustained hypotension, however, can have a global impact, resulting in a failure to adequately perfuse systemic capillary networks. The following report describes the case of a 69-year-old man undergoing surgery for total hip replacement who had hypotension that was refractory to fluid administration and inotropic agents at the end of the surgery. In this case study, the role of methylprednisolone therapy in catecholamine-resistant hypotension is also discussed.

Cardiovascular anesthetic complications and treatment in oral surgery

Perioperative hypertension is a common problem. If hypertension is left untreated in patients at risk, infarctions and stroke are possible. There are limited choices of antihypertensive agents for the office. Aggressive antihypertensive therapy is not indicated because most of the episodes seen in the office are hypertensive urgencies and not emergencies. Hypotension is usually managed by decreasing the depth of anesthesia, intravenous fluids, and then vasopressors, typically ephedrine or phenylephrine. Consider treatment of hypotension whenever the mean arterial pressure decreases less than 60 mm Hg.

Multifactorial Model and Treatment Approaches of Refractory Hypotension in a Patient Who Took an ACE Inhibitor the Day of Surgery

In the field of anesthesiology, there is wide debate on discontinuing angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy the day of noncardiac surgery. Although there have been many studies attributing perioperative hypotension to same-day ACEI and ARB use, there are many additional variables that play a role in perioperative hypotension. Additionally, restoring blood pressure in these patients presents a unique challenge to anesthesiologists. A case report is presented in which a patient took her ACEI the day of surgery and developed refractory hypotension during surgery. The evidence of ACEI use on the day of surgery and development of hypotension is reviewed, and additional variables that contributed to this hypotensive episode are discussed. Lastly, current challenges in restoring blood pressure are presented, and a basic model on treatment approaches for refractory hypotension in the setting of perioperative ACEI use is proposed.

Clevidipine controls intraoperative blood pressure in an adolescent with renal failure

In pediatric-aged patients, various factors may result in perioperative hypertension including renal failure or insufficiency, volume overload, or other factors that activate the sympathetic nervous system including pain and agitation. Perioperative blood pressure control may be even more difficult to achieve and maintain in patients with pre-existing hypertension. We present a 16-year-old adolescent with renal failure and hypertension who presented for anesthetic care during placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter. Perioperative blood pressure control was achieved with the administration of clevidipine, an ultra-short acting calcium channel antagonist of the dihydropyridine class. Its role in the perioperative control of blood pressure is discussed.

Perioperative blood pressure management with clevidipine during coiling of cerebral artery aneurysms

The tight control of blood pressure (BP) is mandatory during cerebral aneurysm coiling to minimize abrupt changes in the transmural pressure across the aneurysm and thereby decrease the risk of rupture. Critical times during these procedures when significant BP changes may occur include anesthetic induction, endotracheal intubation, and emergence. Clevidipine is a recently introduced, rapidly acting dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist. Its rapid metabolism by tissue and plasma esterases results in an effective half-life of 1 to 3 minutes. We present our preliminary experience with the use of clevidipine to control BP during the anesthetic care of three patients undergoing coiling of cerebral aneurysms in the interventional radiology suite.

Electromyographic (EMG) neuromonitoring in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery

Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is a relatively recent advance in electromyography (EMG) applied to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Its purpose is to allow real-time identification and functional assessment of vulnerable nerves during surgery. The nerves most often monitored in head and neck surgery are the motor branch of the facial nerve (VII), the recurrent or inferior laryngeal nerves (X), the vagus nerve (X), and the spinal accessory nerve (XI), with other cranial lower nerves monitored less frequently. Morbidity from trauma to these nerves is significant and obvious, such as unilateral facial paresis. Although functional restorative surgery is usually considered to repair the effects of such an insult, the importance of preventing nerve injury in head and neck surgery is obvious. This article focuses on the anesthetic considerations pertinent to IONM of peripheral cranial nerves during otolaryngologic-head and neck surgery. The specific modality of IONM is EMG, both spontaneous and evoked.