Smooth Emergence from General Anesthesia after Deep Extubation in a Pediatric Patient Diagnosed with Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: A Case Report

Background: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare genetic disorder where catecholamine causes bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, potentially leading to cardiac arrest. In patients undergoing surgery, sympathetic responses can be triggered in situations associated with surgical stimulations as well as high anxiety before the surgery, anesthetic maneuvers such as endotracheal intubation and extubation, and postoperative pain. Therefore, planning for surgery demands meticulous attention to anesthesia during the perioperative period in order to prevent potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Case: We discuss a case of an 11-year-old male pediatric patient with known CPVT who required elective strabismus surgery for exotropia involving both eyes. After thorough planning of general anesthesia to minimize catecholamine response, sufficient anesthesia and analgesia were achieved to blunt the stressful response during intubation and maintained throughout the surgical procedure. Complete emergence was achieved after deep extubation, and the patient did not complain of pain or postoperative nausea and vomiting. Conclusions: Anesthesiologists should not only be able to plan and manage the catecholamine response during surgery but also anticipate and be prepared for situations that may lead to arrhythmias before and after the procedure. In certain cases, deep extubation can be beneficial as it reduces hemodynamic changes during the extubation process.

The Effect of Anaesthesia Management with Different Fresh Gas Flows on Cognitive Functions of Geriatric Patients: A Randomized Double-blind Study

Objective

The present study aimed to compare the effects of two different fresh gas flows (FGFs) (0.5 L min^-1 and 2 L min^-1) applied during maintenance of anaesthesia on recovery from anaesthesia and early cognitive functions in geriatric patients.

Methods

In this prospective, randomised, double-blind study, sixty patients were divided into two groups according to the amount of FGF. Minimal-flow anaesthesia (0.5 L min^-1 FGF) was applied to group I and medium-flow anaesthesia (2 L min^-1 FGF) was applied to group II during maintenance of anaesthesia. Following the termination of inhalation anaesthesia, recovery times were recorded. The evaluation of cognitive functions was performed using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-R).

Results

There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics and recovery (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the preoperative day, the first postoperative day, and the third postoperative day; ACE-R scores (P > 0.05). In group II, on the third postoperative day ACE-R scores were found to be significantly lower than the preoperative ACE-R scores (P=0.04). In group II, third postoperative day ACE-R memory sub-scores (14.53 ± 3.34) were found to be significantly lower than preoperative ACE-R memory sub-scores (15.03 ± 3.57) (P=0.04).

Conclusion

In geriatric patients, minimal-flow anaesthesia was not superior to medium-flow anaesthesia in terms of recovery properties and cognitive functions. Keeping in mind that hypoxaemia and changes in anaesthesia levels may occur with the reduction of FGF, both minimal- and medium-flow anaesthesia can be applied with appropriate monitoring without adverse effects on recovery and cognitive functions.

Evaluation of Anesthetic Specific EEG Dynamics during State Transitions between Loss and Return of Responsiveness

Purpose: electroencephalographic (EEG) information is used to monitor the level of cortical depression of a patient undergoing surgical intervention under general anesthesia. The dynamic state transitions into and out of anesthetic-induced loss and return of responsiveness (LOR, ROR) present a possibility to evaluate the dynamics of the EEG induced by different substances. We evaluated changes in the EEG power spectrum during anesthesia emergence for three different anesthetic regimens. We also assessed the possible impact of these changes on processed EEG parameters such as the permutation entropy (PeEn) and the cerebral state index (CSI). Methods: we analyzed the EEG from 45 patients, equally assigned to three groups. All patients were induced with propofol and the groups differed by the maintenance anesthetic regimen, i.e., sevoflurane, isoflurane, or propofol. We evaluated the EEG and parameter dynamics during LOR and ROR. For the emergence period, we focused on possible differences in the EEG dynamics in the different groups. Results: depending on the substance, the EEG emergence patterns showed significant differences that led to a substance-specific early activation of higher frequencies as indicated by the “wake” CSI values that occurred minutes before ROR in the inhalational anesthetic groups. Conclusion: our results highlight substance-specific differences in the emergence from anesthesia that can influence the EEG-based monitoring that probably have to be considered in order to improve neuromonitoring during general anesthesia.

Comparison of recovery characteristics with two different washout techniques of desflurane anaesthesia: A randomised controlled trial

Background:

Rapid emergence with low soluble inhalational agents (IA) is offset by a significant association with emergence agitation (EA). Research on the influence of elimination methods of IA on recovery characteristics is very few. We conducted this study to compare the recovery characteristics of slow elimination (SE) of desflurane with purging technique.

Methodology:

Forty-five participants, 18–60 years, undergoing elective laparoscopic surgeries were randomised either into Group-P (n = 23) or Group-SE (n = 22). A standardised induction-maintenance protocol including desflurane and fresh gas flow (FGF) of 0.8 l/min was followed. During recovery, the FGF was increased in Group-P to 10 L/min and in Group-SE it was continued at 0.8 L/min. The decrement in end-tidal concentration of desflurane, time for emergence and extubation, EA and time for psychomotor recovery were noted.

Results:

Time for emergence (Group-SE: 22.8 ± 9 vs. Group-P: 5.6 ± 1.5 min; P = 0.000) and emergence to extubation duration (Group-SE: 128 ± 36 s vs. Group-P: 11.5 ± 1.7 s; P = 0.000) were longer in the Group-SE than in Group-P. EA occurred in 22.7% patients in Group-SE and in 4.3% patients in Group-P (P = 0.07). Psychomotor recovery to baseline values was seen in more number of patients in Group-SE than Group-P at 30 min. There was no difference between the groups at 60 min post-extubation.

Conclusions:

Slow elimination using FGF of 0.8 L/min significantly prolongs emergence even with low soluble agent like desflurane. SE is not beneficial in decreasing the incidence of EA or hastening psychomotor recovery. Purging technique is, therefore, a better-suited technique with fewer complications for eliminating desflurane.

Evaluation of emergence agitation after general anaesthesia in rhinoplasty patients: Inhalation anaesthesia versus total intravenous anaesthesia

BACKGROUND

Emergence agitation (EA) is a clinical condition that occurs early in recovery from general anaesthesia, and reduces patient comfort. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low-flow sevoflurane anaesthesia and total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) on agitation in rhinoplasty patients, and to determine the frequency of EA in low flow sevoflurane anaesthesia after rhinoplasty.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 90 rhinoplasty patients, under general anaesthesia were included in this prospective randomised study. After induction of anaesthesia, propofol infusion was initiated in the TIVA group (n = 45), and sevoflurane was administered in the SEVO group with a fresh gas flow of 1 l/min and MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) 1-1.1 (n = 45). Early emergence times, Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS), Boezaart scale, Likert scale and incidences of nausea/vomiting were recorded at the end of surgery.

RESULTS

Early emergence time was significantly shorter in the TIVA group, than in the SEVO group (p < 0.001). İntraoperative bleeding was significantly lower in the TIVA group, than in the SEVO group (p = 0.005), and surgical field image quality and surgeon satisfaction were better in the TIVA group (p = 0.016, p < 0.001). The ratio of patients with RASS > +1 for all patients was 35.6% at 0 min, postoperatively. This rate was 12.2% (n = 11) in the TIVA group, and 23.3% (n = 21) in the SEVO group (p = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

In rhinoplasty, TIVA caused shorter early emergence times, less bleeding, high surgeon satisfaction, and lower EA scores when compared with low flow sevoflurane anaesthesia.

Effect of entropy-guided low-flow desflurane anaesthesia on laryngeal mask airway removal time in children undergoing elective ophthalmic surgery - A prospective, randomised, comparative study

Background and Aims:

In children, entropy-guided titration of isoflurane and sevoflurane leads to faster recovery after anaesthesia. However, role of entropy in recovery following desflurane anaesthesia is not known. Hence, we compared laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal time and desflurane consumption with entropy and minimal alveolar concentration–guided titration in children given low-flow desflurane anaesthesia.

Methods:

After ethics committee approval and parental consent, 80 American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I–II children, age 2–14 years, undergoing elective ophthalmic surgery were randomised into entropy and minimal alveolar concentration–guided groups. After LMA insertion, anaesthesia was maintained using oxygen, air (FiO₂ 0.5) and desflurane using low fresh gas flow of 0.75 L/min. In the entropy-guided group, desflurane was titrated to maintain state entropy between 40 and 60. In the minimal alveolar concentration–guided group, desflurane was titrated to maintain a minimal alveolar concentration between 1 and 1.3. We recorded LMA removal time (from switching off desflurane at the end of surgery till removal of LMA), haemodynamic parameters, uptake and consumption of desflurane between the groups.

Results:

LMA removal time was significantly decreased in the entropy-guided group in comparison to the minimal alveolar concentration–guided group (4.34 ± 2.03 vs 8.8 ± 2.33 min) (P < 0.0001). Consumption of desflurane was significantly less in the entropy-guided group compared with the minimal alveolar concentration–guided group (18.7 ± 5.07 vs 25.3 ± 8.11 mL) (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Entropy-guided low-flow desflurane anaesthesia is associated with faster LMA removal and reduced consumption of desflurane in children undergoing ophthalmic surgery.