1/3. Traumatic aneurysm of the internal carotid artery in an infant: a surprise diagnosis.Isolated aneurysm of the extracranial section of the internal carotid artery has been reported in children but never, to our knowledge, in an infant. It can represent a major anaesthetic challenge with compromise of both airway and cerebral perfusion and the associated risks of rupture. We report on an 11-month-old infant, who had undergone an examination under anaesthesia of her nose and throat for epistaxis and gastrointestinal endoscopy due to apparent gastrointestinal bleeding shortly before presenting to us with signs of rapidly progressive upper airway obstruction. Emergency examination under anaesthesia revealed a large pulsatile mass in the posterior nasopharynx which, on subsequent radiological investigation, was revealed to be a large pseudoaneurysm of the right internal carotid artery, obstructing distal flow. An apparently minor episode of trauma had occurred around the time of the first nosebleed; she had allegedly fallen onto her face with a spoon in her mouth.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Penetrating wounds of the neck. Experience from a Swedish hospital.Stab wounds of the neck were retrospectively studied in 28 patients. neck stabbings constituted 9% of all stab wounds recorded during the same period. Vascular injuries were most frequent, and the mortality rate was 14%. The management of neck stab wounds is discussed and three cases are presented to illustrate the difficulties and pitfalls. It is proposed that all wounds penetrating the platysma should be explored in general anaesthesia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Difficult intubation following thoracic trauma.A previously fit 20-year-old man presented with a large haemothorax following a stab wound to the left chest. Pre-operative airway assessment indicated that tracheal intubation would be routine. On induction of anaesthesia, visualisation of the larynx proved impossible because of soft tissue swelling. Successful intubation was eventually achieved with the aid of a gum elastic bougie. At operation, the patient's common carotid artery was found to have been perforated close to its origin on the aorta. The patient made an uneventful recovery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |