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Fever (body temperature above 38°C) is relatively common during the first few days after general anesthesia. Postoperative fever is usually caused by the inflammation induced by surgery and resolves spontaneously; however, it can be a manifestation of a serious complication such as malignant hyperthermia. We report a case of postoperative hyperthermia (body temperature > 40°C) that was refractory to conventional anti-pyretic measures and finally resolved with dantrolene administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) may lead to metabolic crisis of skeletal muscle in susceptible individuals following exposure to triggering agents such as volatile anesthetics or depolarizing muscle relaxants. MH is a rare and a potentially lethal disease, which can lead to cardiac arrest. We report a case of severe MH, in which the rapidly evolving signs of hypermetabolism eventually resulted in cardiac arrest. Despite conventional treatments following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient's vital signs did not improve. Therefore, we applied extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for providing hemodynamic support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anterior cervical osteophytes are commonly found in elderly patients, but rarely produce symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can range from mild symptoms of dysphagia, dysphonia, and foreign body sensation to severe symptoms of airway obstruction due to compression of the pharynx or larynx. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who underwent brain tumor surgery, and developed post-operative respiratory difficulty due to progressive pharyngo-laryngeal edema, requiring urgent endotracheal intubation, secondary to the presence of a previously asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophyte. It is paramount to recognize that asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophytes are a potential cause of lifethreatening post-operative respiratory complications that can rapidly progress to life-threatening airway obstruction after surgeries in the prone position, especially in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]