1/3. Difficult intubation in a case of ankylosing spondylitis: a case report.A case of severe ankylosing spondylitis involving the entire spine was to be operated for lumbar osteotomy. She had fixed rigidity of the cervical spine with minimal rotational movement, inability to lie down supine and severe restrictive lung disease with hypoxemia (pO2 = 65 mmHg). An awake intubation was performed and the patient was operated under general anaesthesia in the prone position. Intraoperative "wake-up" test was performed to judge whether extent of straightening was excessive. Postoperatively, she was electively ventilated and extubated uneventfully after 24 hours.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Ankylosing spondylitis: lateral approach to spinal anaesthesia for lower limb surgery.We describe three patients with long-standing ankyolsing spondylitis (AS) who underwent lower limb joint surgery under spinal anaesthesia. At preoperative assessment, it was considered that intubation of the trachea was likely to be difficult or impossible and previous general anaesthesia was associated with increased morbidity. Midline approach spinal anaesthesia failed but the lateral approach was successful. Spinal anaesthesia was induced using a 24 gauge Sprotte (Pajunk) needle with 3.5 ml heavy bupivacaine 0.5% at the L3-4 interspace with the patients in the sitting position. This resulted in adequate sensory blockade for the surgical procedure. None of the patients required airway interventions but equipment and aids to secure airway were available.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Massive bleeding during spine surgery in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.PURPOSE: Ankylosing spondylitis is associated with pathophysiology that has important anaesthetic implications. We report a case where the sequelae of ankylosing spondylitis may have been responsible for massive bleeding during emergency spine surgery. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 69 yr old man with long standing ankylosing spondylitis sustained a complex fracture of the lumbar spine in a fall, and was scheduled for stabilization of the spine. Under general anaesthesia, prone positioning was difficult because of the extreme spinal deformity. During exploration, dilatation of epidural veins was encountered and sustained haemorrhage was encountered throughout the surgical procedure. Estimated blood loss was 17,000 ml which was replaced with 31 units of packed red blood cells, 3200 ml of salvaged blood, 18 units of fresh frozen plasma, 26 units of platelets, 1,000 ml of albumin and 9,000 ml of crystalloid. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme deformity of the spine led to positioning difficulties that may have contributed to massive blood loss during complex spine surgery. Difficulties with placement in the prone position in-patients with advanced ankylosing spondylitis should be anticipated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |