An 86-year-old female with a history of right rotator cuff injury was admitted for arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia. There were no remarkable immediate postoperative complications. However, while recovering in the general ward, she developed dyspnea with hypoxia. She was immediately treated with oxygen, and antibiotics after pneumomediastinum was confirmed on both chest x-ray and chest computed tomography. Subcutaneous emphysema on either face or neck followed by arthroscopic shoulder surgery was common, but pneumomediastinum with hypoxia is a rare but extremely dangerous complication. Thus we would like to report our case and its pathology, the diagnosis, the treatment and prevention, with literature review.

Anesthetic management for aortic arch aneurysm (AAA) surgery employing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in a Jehovah's Witness (JW) patient is a challenge to anesthesiologist due to its complexity of procedures and their refusal of allogeneic transfusion. Even in the strict application of intraoperative acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) and intraopertive cell salvage (ICS) technique, prompt timing of re-administration of salvaged blood is essential for successful operation without allogeneic transfusion or ischemic complication of major organs. Cerebral oximetery (rSO2) monitoring using near infrared spectroscopy is a useful modality for detecting cerebral ischemia during the AAA surgery requiring direct interruption of cerebral flow. The present case showed that rSO2 can be used as a trigger facilitating to find a better timing for the re-administration of salvaged blood acquired during the AAA surgery for JW patient.

Purpose: Use of a pediatric airway exchange catheter (PAEC) has been advocated as a potentially useful adjunct for difficult extubations. We evaluated the laryngeal passing ability of a tracheal tube over a PAEC and compared its success rate between adult patients in the sniffing position and adult patients with simulated cervical spine immobilization created using a manual in-line axial stabilization (MIAS) technique. Methods:A total of 100 adult patients were randomized into two groups of equal size with respect to position during the simulated reintubation trial: the MIAS position (Group M) and the sniffing position (Group S). After induction of anesthesia, an 11-F PAEC was placed in the trachea under direct laryngoscopic view, and a wire-reinforced tube (with its bevel facing to the left) was gently railroaded over the PAEC and into the trachea. If insertion was impeded, a second attempt was made after rotating the tube 90° counterclockwise. If this also failed, one additional attempt was made using external laryngeal pressure before changing to conventional laryngoscopic intubation. Results:After the second attempt, the cumulative success rates in Groups M and S were 41.3% and 72.3%, respectively (P = 0.003). After three attempts, the overall success rate was significantly lower in Group M (52.2%) than in Group S (76.6%) (P = 0.018). Conclusion:Owing to the high failure rate of PAEC-guided intubation in patients with simulated cervical spine immobilization, use of a PAEC is not recommended for maintaining continuous airway access after extubation in adult patients with cervical immobility or instability. 41,3 % et 72,3 %, respectivement (P = 0,003 Méthode : Au total, 100 patients adultes ont été randomisés en deux groupes de taille égale selon leur position pendant l'essai de réintubation simulée : la position MIAS (groupe M) et la position de reniflement (groupe S). Après l'induction de l'anesthésie, une PAEC 11-F a été placé dans la trachée sous vision laryngoscopique di-

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