1/3. Persistent anaphylactic reaction after induction with thiopentone and cisatracurium.A 6-year-old boy presented for surgery for phimosis. The anaesthetic technique included intravenous induction with thiopentone and neuromuscular blockade with cisatracurium. Severe persistent bronchospasm and central cyanosis followed the administration of these drugs. A continuous i.v. infusion of epinephrine at 0.2 microg. kg(-1) x min(-1) was necessary to break the severe refractory bronchial hyperresponsiveness. There was no previous exposure to anaesthetic drugs and no definite family history of allergy. Through increased serum eosinophil cationic protein, tryptase and histamine levels and IgE levels specific to cisatracurium, we demonstrated an IgE-mediated anaphylactic reaction to cisatracurium in the child's first exposure to this new neuromuscular blocking agent. Anaphylactic reactions to new anaesthetic drugs may be challenging to recognize and treat during general anaesthesia in children. The pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of life threatening persistent allergic reactions to intravenous anaesthetics are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Perioperative management of a child with very-long-chain acyl-coenzyme a dehydrogenase deficiency.Very-long-chain acyl-coenzyme a dehydrogenase deficiency is an inborn error of fatty acid metabolism. The clinical presentation of this disease in children is either a severe form with onset of symptoms in the first months of life, cardiomyopathy, metabolic acidosis, myopathy and a high mortality, or a less severe form manifesting mainly with hypoglycaemia. Perioperative fasting and (even emotional) stress can trigger metabolic decompensation through the altered metabolism of endogenous fatty acids resulting in hypoglycaemia, acute cardiac and hepatic dysfunction and rhabdomyolysis. We report the perioperative management of a 9-year-old boy suffering from the severe form of this disease who underwent circumcision. metabolism was kept stable in this child by using a glucose--electrolyte infusion throughout the perioperative period to avoid the biochemical consequences of fasting and a benzodiazepine--opioid technique combined with regional anaesthesia to minimize the stress response. Considering reports about a possible interference of propofol with fatty acid oxidation and to avoid the unnecessary administration of fatty acids, propofol should not be used in these patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. The value of serological tests for syphilis in atypical genital ulcer disease.A 45-year-old heterosexual man presented with phimosis three weeks after arriving in this country from india. Examination under anaesthesia and circumcision revealed a large ulcer on the ventral aspect of the penis around the fraenum. Histopathological examination of a biopsy taken from the ulcer revealed granulation tissue with inflammatory cell infiltrate. Specific and non-specific serological tests for syphilis carried out four weeks after the initial presentation showed high titres. The importance of serological tests for syphilis in genital ulcer disease, especially in atypical presentations, is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |