[The multidisciplinary challenge of anesthesia for ex utero intrapartum treatment: a case report]

The Ex- Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) is a surgical procedure performed in cases of expected postpartum fetal airway obstruction, allowing the establishment of patent airway while maintaining placental circulation. Anesthesia for EXIT procedure has several specific features such as adequate uterine relaxation, maintenance of maternal blood pressure fetal anesthesia and fetal airway establishment. The anesthesiologist should be aware of these particularities in order to contribute to a favorable outcome. This is a case report of an EXIT procedure performed on a fetus with a cervical lymphangioma with prenatal evidence of partial obstruction of the trachea and risk of post-delivery airway compromise.

[Negative pressure pulmonary edema: report of case series and review of the literature]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Negative pressure pulmonary edema occurs by increased intrathoracic negative pressure following inspiration against obstructed upper airway. The pressure generated is transmitted to the pulmonary capillaries and exceeds the pressure of hydrostatic equilibrium, causing fluid extravasation into the pulmonary parenchyma and alveoli. In anesthesiology, common situations such as laryngospasm and upper airway obstruction can trigger this complication, which presents considerable morbidity and requires immediate diagnosis and propaedeutics. Upper airway patency, noninvasive ventilation with positive pressure, supplemental oxygen and, if necessary, reintubation with mechanical ventilation are the basis of therapy.

CASE REPORT

Case 1: Male, 52 years old, undergoing appendectomy under general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation, non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker, reversed with anticholinesterase, presented with laryngospasm after extubation, followed by pulmonary edema. Case 2: Female, 23 years old, undergoing breast reduction under general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation, non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker, reversed with anticholinesterase, presented with inspiration against closed glottis after extubation, was treated with non-invasive ventilation with positive pressure; after 1 hour, she had pulmonary edema. Case 3: Male, 44 years old, undergoing ureterolithotripsy under general anesthesia, without neuromuscular blocker, presented with laryngospasm after laryngeal mask removal evolving with pulmonary edema. Case 4: Male, 7 years old, undergoing crude fracture reduction under general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation, non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker, presented with laryngospasm reversed with non-invasive ventilation with positive pressure after extubation, followed by pulmonary edema.

CONCLUSIONS

The anesthesiologists should prevent the patient from perform a forced inspiration against closed glottis, in addition to being able to recognize and treat cases of negative pressure pulmonary edema.