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Background and Objective: The increased use of epidural analgesia with catheter leads to the need to demonstrate the safety of this method and know the incidence of catheter colonization, inserted postoperatively for epidural analgesia, and the bacteria responsible for this colonization., Methods: From November 2011 to April 2012, patients electively operated and maintained under epidural catheter for postoperative analgesia were evaluated. The catheter tip was collected for semiquantitative and qualitative microbiological analysis., Results: Of 68 cultured catheters, six tips (8.8%) had positive cultures. No patient had superficial or deep infection. The mean duration of catheter use was 43.45 h (18-118) (p=0.0894). The type of surgery (contaminated or uncontaminated), physical status of patients, and surgical time showed no relation with the colonization of catheters. Microorganisms isolated from the catheter tip were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Sphingomonas paucimobilis., Conclusion: Postoperative epidural catheter analgesia, under these study conditions, was found to be low risk for bacterial colonization in patients at surgical wards., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: The increased use of epidural analgesia with catheter leads to the need to demonstrate the safety of this method and know the incidence of catheter colonization, inserted postoperatively for epidural analgesia, and the bacteria responsible for this colonization., Methods: From November 2011 to April 2012, patients electively operated and maintained under epidural catheter for postoperative analgesia were evaluated. The catheter tip was collected for semiquantitative and qualitative microbiological analysis., Results: Of 68 cultured catheters, six tips (8.8%) had positive cultures. No patient had superficial or deep infection. The mean duration of catheter use was 43.45hours (18-118) (p=0.0894). The type of surgery (contaminated or uncontaminated), physical status of patients, and surgical time showed no relation with the colonization of catheters. Microorganisms isolated from the catheter tip were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Sphingomonas paucimobilis., Conclusion: Postoperative epidural catheter analgesia, under this study conditions, was found to be low risk for bacterial colonization in patients at surgical wards., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Brachial plexus block is used for upper limbs anesthesia. The use of ultrasound-guided (USG) technique for blockade has become popular in recent years, facilitating its execution by providing real-time images of the plexus and surrounding structures while minimizing complications. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of pneumothorax following ultrasound-guided interscalene block., Case Report: Male patient, 49 years old, weight 62kg and height 1.72m, slender, smoker, asymptomatic, ASA II E. The patient underwent surgical repair of right ulna open fracture through USG-guided interscalene brachial plexus block with axillary supplementation. After sedation and antisepsis, the linear probe of the USG apparatus was placed perpendicular to the interscalene groove (12 Hz), and stimucath A50 introduced in plane. After visualization of nerve trunks, 20mL of ropivacaine 0.5% was administered with axillary block supplementation (same volume and concentration of anesthetic). At the end of surgery, the patient complained of respiratory-dependent chest pain associated with dyspnea and decreased pulse oximetry (91% in room air), but hemodynamic stable (BP=130/70 and HR=84 bpm). Although pulmonary auscultation was normal, chest X-ray showed the presence of right pneumothorax. Water seal chest drainage was performed, after which the patient reported improvement of symptoms and was discharged from hospital in good general condition after 8 days., Conclusion: Despite the dynamic visualization of cervical structures with USG, interscalene block may result in pneumothorax. An unusual higher pleural dome due to the hyperinflated lung (smoking) probably facilitated the accidental pleural puncture., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Techniques of peripheral nerve block have gained popularity over the last two decades becoming a growing anesthetic option for limb surgeries. This study proposes a technical approach of the tibial and common fibular nerves in the popliteal fossa with single puncture using percutaneous nerve stimulator, considering the correlation with an anatomical and ultrasound study., Methods: This prospective, observational, randomized study was performed with 28 patients scheduled for foot surgeries. After localizing the tibial and common fibular nerves through percutaneous stimulation, the puncture was performed at the point of tibial nerve stimulation with a 5-cm needle (B.Braun, Stimuplex 50), and 10 mL of levobupivacaine were injected. The needle was pulled back and redirected to the point of common fibular nerve stimulation looking for the corresponding motor response, and 10 mL of the local anesthetic were injected. Imaging study of the popliteal region was performed by ultrasound to correlate the anatomy with the technique used., Results: Adequate anesthesia was obtained in all cases. The mean time to localize the tibial and common fibular nerves suing the percutaneous stimulator was 57.1 and 32.8 seconds, respectively, and with the nerve stimulator it was 2.22 and 1.79 minutes, respectively. The mean depth of the needle into the tibial nerve was 10.7 mm., Conclusions: The approach for tibial and common fibular nerves with single puncture in the popliteal fossa using peripheral nerve stimulator is a good option for anesthesia and analgesia for foot surgeries., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: The Marshall-Smith Syndrome is a rare disease characterized by facial dysmorphism, accelerated osseous maturation, retarded neuropsychomotor development, and abnormalities of the airways. Patients with this syndrome have a high risk of developing anesthetic complications, especially concerning the maintenance of the airways. There are very few data in the anesthetic literature regarding this syndrome. The objective of this report was to show the difficulties and anesthetic management in a 28-day old child with this syndrome, who underwent surgery for correction of choanal atresia under general anesthesia., Case Report: A male child, 28 days old, weighing 2.8 kg, undergoing general anesthesia for surgical correction of choanal atresia. The child presented the typical manifestations of the Marshall-Smith syndrome, with a narrow thorax, pectus excavatum, large hands and feet, long neck, facial dysmorphism, high and arched palate, and accelerated osseous maturation. Anesthetic induction was done with a mask with 100% O2 associated with sevoflurane. Due to the possibility of a difficult intubation, tracheal intubation with a fibrobronchoscope was scheduled. After tracheal intubation and assisted manual ventilation, 1.5 mg of rocuronium were administered and, after ten minutes, the patient developed bradycardia (80 bpm), severe hypoxemia (O2 saturation of 30%), and manual ventilation through the tracheal tube became impossible. An urgent tracheostomy was done and the surgical procedure was cancelled., Conclusion: In cases of anesthetic-surgical emergencies, in which the child does not ventilate and tracheal intubation is not possible, there is desaturation and bradycardia, requiring fast and appropriate decision making to guarantee adequate pulmonary ventilation. These patients need careful evaluation of the airways to identify upper and lower airways obstruction. During anesthesia, spontaneous ventilation should be maintained during induction until control of the airways is possible, avoiding the use of neuromuscular blockers.

Background and Objectives: Subgluteus sciatic nerve block has been successfully described in a previous study and is one more option among several possible approaches. The sciatic nerve becomes superficial at inferior gluteus maximus muscle where it is easily located and accessed with minor discomfort and low risk of accidental great vessels puncture. Our study aimed at evaluating this simplified sciatic nerve block approach with different 1% lidocaine volumes., Methods: Participated in this study 40 patients submitted to leg or foot procedures, who were distributed in two groups. Patients were placed in the prone position after monitoring and blockade was induced at mid gluteofemoral sulcus with the aid of neurostimulator and with beveled insulated 5 cm needle, with 300 mg (G1) or 200 mg (G2) of 1% plain lidocaine., Results: Used volumes and concentrations have promoted adequate anesthesia in all patients. Blockade time was 8.6 +/- 5.7 min (G1) and 5.6 +/- 5.7 min (G2). Onset time was 5.98 +/- 1.4 min (G1) and 6.7 +/- 2.9 min (G2). Sensory and motor block duration was 243 +/- 37 min and 152 +/- 30 min (G1), and 235 +/- 39 min and 149 +/- 59 min (G2), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between groups., Conclusions: This is an effective and easy approach and total anesthetic dose may be decreased without impairing quality.

Background and Objectives: Elderly account for 25% of surgical patients. Several patients with arterial heart disease have normal preoperative ECG and a high incidence of silent myocardial acute infarction in the first postoperative week. Arrhythmias increase with age and supraventricular and ventricular premature complexes, atrial fibrillation and intraventricular conduction abnormalities are observed. This study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of perioperative arrhythmias and ST changes through Holter System in elderly patients submitted to transurethral prostatectomy and inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia., Methods: Participated in this study 21 patients aged 65 to 84 years submitted to transurethral prostatectomy (TUP) and 16 patients aged 63 to 86 years submitted to inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia. Monitoring with Holter System was performed in the preoperative (12 hours), intraoperative (3 hours) and postoperative (12 hours) periods., Results: The prevalence of supraventricular premature complex was 85.7% vs. 93.7% in the preoperative period, 85.7% vs. 81.2% in the intraoperative and 76.2% vs. 100% in the postoperative period, respectively for groups TUP and control. The prevalence of ventricular premature complex was 76.2% vs. 81.2% in the preoperative period, 80.9% vs. 68.7% in the intraoperative period, and 80.9% vs. 81.2% in the postoperative period, respectively for groups TUP and control. The prevalence of ST changes was 19% vs. 18.7% in the preoperative period, 4.7% vs. 18.7% in the in the intraoperative period, and 14.3% vs. 18.7% in the postoperative period between groups TUP and control, without statistical significance., Conclusions: Elderly patients have a high prevalence of supraventricular and ventricular cardiac arrhythmias. The total number of preoperative arrhythmias and ST changes was not changed as a function of transurethral prostatectomy surgery or inguinal hernia repair, in the intra and postoperative periods.

Background and Objectives: Patients undergoing thoracotomy experience severe postoperative pain. This study aimed at evaluating postoperative analgesia with the association of intravenous and epidural morphine as compared to a single route., Methods: Participated in this study 20 patients of both genders, physical status ASA I, II or III, scheduled for thoracotomy. Patients were premedicated with intravenous midazolam (3 to 3.5 mg) in the OR. Monitoring consisted of continuous ECG, invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography, CVP, diuresis and temperature. Continuous epidural anesthesia was induced in T7-T8 with 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine followed by fentanyl (5 microg.kg-1), etomidate(0.2 to 0.3 mg.kg-1) and succinylcholine (1 mg.kg-1). Tracheal intubation was performed with a double lumen tube and complemented with pancuronium(0.08 to 0.1 mg.kg-1) and mechanically controlled ventilation. Patients were then randomly distributed in three groups. Group I received 2 mg of 0.1% morphine by epidural catheter at anesthetic induction (M1), 12 h (M2) and 24 h (M3) after surgery. Group II received intravenous morphine by infusion pump (15 microg.kg.h-1) preceded by a 50 microg.kg-1 bolus, for 30 hours. Group III received 0.5 mg epidural morphine in M1, M2 and M3, associated to intravenous morphine by infusion pump (8 microg.kg.h-1), preceded by a 25 microg.kg-1 bolus, for 30 hours. Blood gas analysis, heart and respiratory rate, incidence of pruritus, nausea, vomiting and postoperative analgesia were evaluated at 6-hour intervals for 30 postoperative hours. Analgesia was evaluated by a numeric gradual scale (NGS) from 0 to 10., Results: NGS was lower in Group I in M2, without differences in remaining intervals. Pain decreased in Groups II and III as from 18 hours as compared to baseline and to Group I. Group I needed more additional analgesia as compared to other groups., Conclusions: There has been a better analgesic effect with intravenous morphine or the association of intravenous and epidural morphine, with lower drug doses. This difference was significant when lower analgesic doses were used in these groups and represented an effective postoperative analgesic method for thoracotomy, with lower respiratory depression and emetic effects.