scholarly journals Unilateral blindness following superior laryngeal nerve block for awake tracheal intubation in a case of posterior cervical spine surgery

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Ali Akhaddar ◽  
Hassan Baallal ◽  
Nabil Hammoune ◽  
Salaheddine Bouabbadi ◽  
Amine Adraoui ◽  
...  

Background: Superior laryngeal nerve block (SUPLANEB) is a popular airway anesthesia technique utilized for successful awake endotracheal intubation in patients with significant cervical spine instability. If not performed by an expert, it carries the risk of general/neurologic complications that are typically minimal/transient. However, permanent blindness and/or upper cranial nerve neuropathies may occur. Here, we describe a case in which a young patient underwent an atlantoaxial fusion for a C2 nonunion (e.g., following a fracture) complicated by unilateral blindness due to a SUPLANEB. Case Description: A 25-year-old neurologically intact male underwent a C1-C2 posterior arthrodesis to address a nonunion of a C2 fracture. To perform the awake nasotracheal intubation, a SUPLANEB was performed using a video laryngoscope. Although the operation was uneventful, postoperatively, the patient reported left visual loss accompanied by left-sided facial numbness and hearing loss. On examination of the left eye, the anterior segment and fundus examinations were normal, but the OCT (optical coherence tomography) and retinal angiography demonstrated left-sided postischemic retinal edema with permeability of the intraocular vessels. Although the cranio-orbital computed tomography scan showed only mild pneumocephalus, the CT angiogram scan revealed abnormal air in the left carotid sheath accompanied by diffuse subcutaneous emphysema. Further, brain and orbital magnetic resonance imaging scans were normal. The patient was treated with pure oxygen, systemic steroid therapy, and nimodipine. The pneumocephalus and subcutaneous emphysema resolved on day 3. At 2 months follow-up, the patient remained blind on the left side, but had no further neurological deficits. Conclusion: Blindness and upper cranial nerves neuropathies should be considered as potential complications of SUPLANEB. Notably, these deficits were not directly related to the operative positioning or neurosurgical spinal procedure.

2021 ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Devesh Kumar Gupta ◽  
Shinu Kaur ◽  
Deepti Gupta

Introduction: Fibreoptic Intubation (FOI) is the gold standard for managing difcult airways. There are various approaches such as: Nebulization with lidocaine; 'Spray as you go'(SAYGO); Airway nerve block - blocking superior laryngeal nerve & recurrent laryngeal nerve & sedation. The present study aims to compare 'airway nerve block' (NB) and 'spray as you go'(SA) method for awake exible bronchoscopic intubation used in combination with conscious sedation. Methods: 60 patients of age group 18 – 65 years with difcult airway undergoing general anaesthesia with nasotracheal intubation, were randomly allocated into two groups. After premedication & nasal preparation, all patients received injection dexmedetomidine at a dose of 1µg/kg in 100ml of 0.9% NS over 10 minutes. In Group SA, 2ml lignocaine 4% was sprayed above and below the cords after visibility of glottic opening via working channel of the bronchoscope and 2 ml lignocaine 4% within trachea before insertion of endotracheal tube. In Group NB, bilateral superior laryngeal nerves & recurrent laryngeal nerve was blocked. Then a exible breoptic bronchoscope preloaded with a exometallic endotracheal tube of appropriate size was then inserted via nasal route. Results: The mean intubation time for Group NB [87.27 ± 7.58 sec] was shorter than that for Group SA [190.33 ± 9.14] (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Awake exible bronchoscopic intubation under sedation with airway nerve block provides better intubating conditions compared to SAYGO


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parviz Amri ◽  
Novin Nikbakhsh ◽  
Seyed Reza Modaress ◽  
Ramin Nosrati

Background: Rigid bronchoscopy is often used to diagnose and treat the location of resection of the tracheal stenosis. It is a selective procedure for the dilatation of tracheal stenosis, especially when accompanied by respiratory distress. Objectives: We introduced patients who were diagnosed with tracheal stenosis and candidate for rigid bronchoscopy dilatation by the upper airway nerve blocks. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 17 patients who underwent dilatation with rigid bronchoscopy in tracheal stenosis at Hospitals affiliated with Babol University of Medical Sciences from 2002 to 2017. The patients were given three nerve blocks, 6 bilateral superior laryngeal nerve block, bilateral glossopharyngeal nerve block, and recurrent laryngeal nerve block (transtracheal) before awake rigid bronchoscopy using 2% lidocaine. We evaluated the demographic data, the cause of tracheal stenosis, the quality of the airway nerve block (Intubation score), patients’ satisfaction from bronchoscopy and thoracic surgeons’ satisfaction. Complications of nerve blocks were recorded. Results: From 2002 to 2017, 17 patients (14 were male and 3 were) female with tracheal stenosis who were candidates for dilatation with bronchoscopy and accepted the upper nerve block were included. The quality of the block was acceptable in 16 (94%) patients. 15 patients received fentanyl, and only two patients did not need to intravenous sedation. The mean age of patients was 29.59 ± 11.59. The average satisfaction of the surgeon was 8.82 ± 1.13 and the satisfaction of patients with anesthesia was 8.89 ± 1.16. There was one serious complication (laryngospasm) in one patient. Conclusions: The upper airway nerve block method is a suitable anesthesia technique for patients with tracheal stenosis who are candidates for the tracheal dilatation with rigid bronoscopy, especially when the patient has respiratory distress and has not been evaluated before surgery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 161 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesper Roed Sorensen ◽  
Trine Printz ◽  
Jenny Iwarsson ◽  
Ågot Møller Grøntved ◽  
Helle Døssing ◽  
...  

Objective To investigate the impact of postoperative paresis on disease-specific quality of life (DSQoL) after thyroidectomy in patients with benign nodular thyroid disease. Study Design Observational study. Setting University hospital. Subjects and Methods Patients were evaluated before and 3 weeks and 6 months after surgery in an individual prospective cohort study using videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS), voice range profile, voice handicap index (VHI), multidimensional voice program, maximum phonation time (MPT), and auditory perceptual evaluation. Changes in DSQoL were assessed by the Thyroid-specific Patient-Reported Outcome measure. Cohen’s effect size was used to evaluate changes. Results Sixty-two patients were included, 55 of whom completed all examinations. Three weeks after surgery, a blinded VLS examination showed signs of paresis of either the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (RLN/EBSLN) in 13 patients (24%). A paresis corresponded to a 12 ± 28 point increase in VHI ( P = .002) and was associated with a significant 4.3 ± 7.5 semitone decrease in the maximum fundamental frequency ( P < .001) and a 5.3 ± 8.2 dB reduction in maximum intensity. Further, it was associated with a 4.5 ± 11.2 second reduction in MPT ( P = .001) and an increase of 0.40 ± 1.19 in grade, 0.42 ± 1.41 in roughness, and 0.36 ± 1.11 in breathiness. Signs of postoperative RLN/EBSLN paresis correlated with an 11.0-point ( P = .02) poorer improvement in goiter symptoms at both 3 weeks and 6 months after surgery. Conclusion Signs of RLN/EBSLN paresis after thyroidectomy were associated with less pronounced improvement in goiter symptoms in patients with thyroid nodular disease. However, thyroidectomy was associated with an overall improved DSQoL by 6 months after surgery.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 49-50
Author(s):  
Amarjeet Kumar ◽  
Neeraj Kumar ◽  
Chandni Sinha ◽  
Prakash Kumar Dubey

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