1/2. Neuromyotonia with neuropathy and muscle hypertrophy: association or cause?Continuous muscle fibre activity in a patient with demyelinating neuropathy is rare. We report an 18 year old boy who presented with walking difficulty and continuous rippling in muscles of upper and lower limbs. He had dysarthric speech, hypertrophied arm and calf muscles with normal power, tone, reflexes and sensations. Myokymic discharges were seen in deltoid, biceps, quadriceps and calf muscles. His blood counts, chemistry, thyroid profile, dna, Rh factor were normal and CPK was raised. CSF showed protein 50 mg/dl and 4 lymphocyte/mm3. Nerve conduction study revealed conduction block and absence of peroneal F wave. EMG showed neuromyotonic discharges which disappeared on regional neuromuscular blocker but not on nerve block or general anaesthesia. He responded partially to prednisolone. Acquired demyelinating neuropathy may result in neuromyotonia and muscle hypertrophy which may partially respond to prednisolone.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Electrocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension in children who snore.Two children presented with sleep disturbances due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids. One child died during induction of anaesthesia, and postmortem examination showed hypertrophy of the right ventricle and atrium. As a result a prospective survey was carried out of children undergoing tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, or both. During a nine-month period an electrocardiogram was taken in 92 children. Three electrocardiograms (3.3%) showed evidence of right heart strain. The children with abnormal electrocardiograms had symptoms of sleep disturbance with apnoea, snoring, and daytime somnolence. These symptoms and the electrocardiographic changes were reserved by adenotonsillectomy. The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids is still underestimated. When signs and symptoms of sleep disturbance, particularly snoring, are present an electrocardiogram should be obtained and a cardiologist's opinion sought before embarking on routine surgery in view of the potentially fatal consequences.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |