No abstract

Awareness following general anesthesia is a rare event; however, it may have significant impact on patient satisfaction and long-term morbidity. Detecting intraoperative awareness during a general anesthetic is difficult due to the fact that the signs and symptoms are often absent in documented cases of awareness. Often, intraoperative awareness goes unnoticed until a patient reports the experience. Anesthesiologists should be cognizant of the risk factors associated with an increased risk of intraoperative awareness. Cesarean section performed under general anesthesia, cardiac surgery, and trauma surgery all carry an increased risk. Anesthesiologists should consider patient specific risk factors involving a higher than expected anesthetic requirement in developing their anesthetic plan. In the event of intraoperative awareness, the anesthesiologist’s actions and interactions with the patient are critical in improving the patient’s’ outcome and minimizing long-term psychological stress. Anesthesiologists should acknowledge the event and create a supportive relationship with the patient.

No abstract

Mitral stenosis (MS) is prevalent in 0.02-0.2% of the population in developed countries. The pathophysiology of MS results in elevated left atrial pressures and over-time results in pulmonary hypertension (HTN) which ultimately affects the right ventricle. In addition, MS restricts the diastolic filling of the left ventricle. Therefore, during induction patients with MS are limited by their ability to increase cardiac output by increasing stroke volume. Anesthesia goals in severe MS are to avoid sudden changes in heart rate, as well as systemic and pulmonary artery pressures. We report a patient who sustained severe hypotension upon induction and intubation which was resistant to conventional medications. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography displayed unique right atrial and right ventricular dilatation. In addition, the leftward inter-ventricular, inter-atrial septal shift and septal bounce were noted as the characteristic findings. Intravenous epinephrine bolus was administered to achieve normo-tension and normal chamber dimensions and interventricular septal position.