1/2. mydriasis and acute pulmonary oedema complicating laparoscopic removal of phaechromocytoma.This report describes the perioperative management of an adrenergic crisis occurring following insufflation of the peritoneum for planned laparoscopic surgery for phaechromocytoma. Despite preoperative alpha and beta adrenergic blockade, the occurrence of acute severe hypertension, mydriasis and pulmonary oedema prior to direct surgical manipulation caused the procedure to be abandoned. The severity of the event was unusual and most likely contributed to by haemorrhagic necrosis of the tumour releasing catecholamines. serum levels of noradrenaline and adrenaline at the time were 744,600 and 166,940 pg.ml-1 respectively. Treatment included bolus doses of esmolol, nicardipine and urapidil (an alpha 1 adrenergic antagonist) by constant intravenous infusion and mechanical ventilation. Postoperative cerebral CT scan was normal. An abdominal CT showed central haemorrhagic necrosis of the tumour. Two weeks later, open surgical removal of the phaeochromocytoma was successfully performed under general anaesthesia. Induction of pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopy may be particularly hazardous in a patient with a phaeochromocytoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Unilateral mydriasis after induction of anaesthesia.Unilateral mydriasis is a disturbing finding during anaesthesia and may indicate serious neurological injury. In addition, the assessment of abnormal neurological findings is limited during general anaesthesia, and therefore requires special consideration. I report finding a dilated right pupil (7 mm, nonreactive to light) after bronchoscopic tracheal intubation and induction of general anaesthesia in a frail, 74-yr-old woman with cervical subluxations and spinal cord impingement. The possible aetiology of the unilateral mydriasis includes the effects of anaesthetic agents, stellate ganglion block, impaired venous return from the head and neck, acute intracranial mass lesion or an haemorrhagic event, direct eye trauma, pre-existing medical or surgical conditions, and inadvertent direct deposition of alpha-adrenergic or anticholinergic agents in the eye. Consideration of these factors, the autonomic innervation of the eye, and an intraoperative "wake-up" test allowed satisfactory neurological assessment in this patient and surgery to proceed. Unilateral mydriasis, while unusual, may be seen during general anaesthesia and requires thorough knowledge of autonomic nerve pathways and pharmacology of the eye for correct diagnosis. In this case, mydriasis was considered to result from phenylephrine/lidocaine spray which was used to provide topical anaesthesia to the airway.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 9keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |