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We report the anesthetic management with total intravenous anesthesia of a 61-year-old male diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy admitted for replacement of ascending aorta due to an aortic aneurysm. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy belongs to a genetically heterogeneous group of muscular dystrophies involving shoulder and hip girdles. Although the risk of malignant hyperthermia does not seem to be increased in these patients compared with the general population, the exposure to inhaled anesthetics and succinylcholine should probably be avoided because these patients have a predisposition to hyperkalemia and rhabdomyolysis. We chose to use total intravenous anesthesia with propofol, remifentanil and muscle relaxants to reduce oxygen consumption, and later to reduce the doses of propofol and remifentanil. The combination of a carefully planned anesthetic strategy, anesthetic depth, and neuromuscular blockade monitoring is explained.

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation is a method of ventilatory assistance aimed at increasing alveolar ventilation, thus achieving, in selected subjects, the avoidance of endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation, with the consequent improvement in survival. There has been a systematic review and study of the technical, clinical experiences, and recommendations concerning the application of non-invasive mechanical ventilation in the pre- and intraoperative period. The use of prophylactic non-invasive mechanical ventilation before surgery that involves significant alterations in the ventilatory function may decrease the incidence of postoperative respiratory complications. Its intraoperative use will mainly depend on the type of surgery, type of anaesthetic technique, and the clinical status of the patient. Its use allows greater anaesthetic depth without deterioration of oxygenation and ventilation of patients.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis relationated or not with a neoplasm. Although its incidence is unknown, probably remains underdiagnosed. Epidemiological studies place it as the second cause of immune-mediated encephalitis and the first in patients aged less of 30 years. It shows neuropsychiatric symptoms and autonomic instability. After diagnosis, based on the detection of antibodies in serum or cerebrospinal fluid, an occult malignancy must be investigated. While increasing number of cases have been diagnosed and the important role of this receptor in general anesthesia mechanisms, the interaction of the disease with anesthetic agents and perioperative stress is unknown. We describe the case of a patient with encephalitis associated to ovarian teratoma that underwent gynaecological laparoscopy.

Stiff Man syndrome or stiff-person syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder. It is characterized by increased axial muscular tone and limb musculature, and painful spasms triggered by stimulus. The case is presented of a 44-year-old man with stiff-person syndrome undergoing an injection of botulinum toxin in the urethral sphincter under sedation. Before induction, all the surgical team were ready in order to minimise the anaesthetic time. The patient was monitored by continuous ECG, SpO2 and non-invasive blood pressure. He was induced with fractional dose of propofol 150 mg, fentanyl 50 μg and midazolam 1mg. Despite careful titration, the patient had an O2 saturation level of 90%,which was resolved by manual ventilation. There was no muscle rigidity or spasm during the operation. Post-operative recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged 2 days later. A review of other cases is presented. The anaesthetic concern in patients with stiff-person syndrome is the interaction between the anaesthetic agents, the preoperative medication, and the GABA system. For a safe anaesthetic management, total intravenous anaesthesia is recommended instead of inhalation anaesthetics, as well as the close monitoring of the respiratory function and the application of the electrical nerve stimulator when neuromuscular blockers are used.

The May-Hegglin anomaly is an inherited disorder, so uncommon that the incidence is still unknown. It is characterized by macro-thrombocytopenia with normal platelet function and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in granulocytes. The case is reported of a 28-year-old primiparous patient who had an urgent caesarean section due to failed induction of labour. The patient had no history of abnormal bleeding. Other causes of thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction, such as preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or placental abruption, were ruled out. The platelet count prior to surgery was 20,900/mm(3) with normal platelet function. General anaesthesia was performed. No excessive bleeding occurred and a platelet transfusion was not needed.

Epiduroscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic technique used in patients with chronic low back pain with or without radiculopathy. Epiduroscopic procedures are particularly indicated in cases of failed spinal surgery. This review discusses the indications, contraindications, and complications of the technique, describing in detail the sacral (caudal) and interlaminar approaches and noting their advantages and disadvantages. Practical recommendations are made, along with an attempt to assess future prospects for epiduroscopy.

Obstetric haemorrhage is an important worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. General anaesthesia for caesarean section is rarely used. Our goal is to analyse the incidence, causes and risk factors associated with general anaesthesia for caesarean section, and the prevalence of obstetric haemorrhage (HO), its risk factors and predictors of post-caesarean HO together with the use of blood in our hospital population.A retrospective study was conducted on all caesarean section discharge reports from PACU in 2008.General anaesthesia was required in 12.4% of the patients. Epidural catheter failure as a cause of general anaesthesia was infrequent (2.8%) and within the recommended standards.The most frequent indications for caesarean section under general anaesthesia included mainly life-threatening emergencies, and the most important risk factors for general anaesthesia, including coagulation disorders, bleeding in the third trimester, foetal distress and severe pre-eclampsia. General anaesthesia is a risk factor for transfusion, as is abruptio placentae, placenta previa and pre-eclampsia.

Spinal cord stimulation is increasingly used to manage chronic pain syndromes, such as complex regional pain syndrome, chronic back pain, refractory angina pectoris or peripheral vascular diseases, which are unresponsive to other common less aggressive treatment methods. The early use of this technique in the aforementioned diseases makes it suitable in young women of childbearing age and who wish to become pregnant. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman who became pregnant 4 months after having undergone posterior cord stimulation, and we review the approach to this situation and the perioperative management during the perinatal period.

On of the most common, and serious, complications in cardiac surgery is postoperative bleeding. According to the majority of studies, between 10% and 92% of patients subjected to elective surgery require transfusions of blood products and blood derivatives. Transfusions and reinterventions are associated with longer stays in critical care units and a decrease in survival rates. There have been some important changes in the treatment of changes in haemostasis and post-surgical bleeding in the last few years, particularly with the introduction into clinical practice of working procedures backed up by clinical guidelines, as well as the appearance of new drugs. The aim of this work is to describe the main characteristics and update the use of prothrombin complexes that are currently available in Spain, with special emphasis on their use in cardiac surgery.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a medicinal gas that has been used for anesthesia for over a century and a half. As evidence of the adverse effects of N2O have been contrasted with the good safety profiles of new anesthetic agents, use of the older gas has declined.To describe and analyze the use of N2O for anesthesia in the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. To describe the use of other drugs for general anesthesia.The study had 2 phases. In the first phase, information on the use of N2O and other drugs for general anesthesia was obtained from the medical records of a sample of patients who underwent surgery between November 2007 and November 2008 at nationally important hospitals. In the second phase 80 physician anesthesiologists were surveyed to obtain information on their reported use of N2O for general anesthesia. The respondents were found working during the first half of 2008.A total of 104 patients' records were read and 80 anesthesiologists were surveyed. We found that 31 (29.8%) patients received N2O during anesthesia. The survey showed that 62 (77.5%) of the anesthesiologists had used N2O in the last 6 months. Nine (50%) of the anesthesiologists who had not used N2O said their reason was that it was unavailable. The other 9 referred either to the risk of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting (n = 6) or the fact of having better alternatives (n = 9).This study shows that N2O is little used in current anesthesia practice. The tendency in Uruguay continues to be toward declining use.

Lung transplantation is an appropriate therapeutic option for patients with advanced sarcoidosis that has not responded to medical treatment. The causes of sarcoidosis are unknown and the course of disease and prognosis are highly variable. As it is difficult to determine the ideal timing for a transplant or the type of transplant to perform, this may influence the high perioperative mortality in these patients. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates are high when pulmonary hypertension is present before the transplant or when primary graft failure, acute rejection, infection, or other complications develop afterwards. We describe 2 patients with a diagnosis of end-stage sarcoidosis who received a lung transplant and a heart-lung transplant. The outcomes were different in each case. We analyze factors related to morbidity and mortality that determined the outcomes.

Sickle cell anemia is the most common hemoglobinopathy. Advances in therapeutic techniques and anesthetic procedures have led to a considerable increase in the success of surgical procedures in these patients. We report the case of a 16-year-old black boy diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia who presented with chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia. He was scheduled for debridement of the lesion and musculocutaneous flap repair. We emphasize the importance of communication between anesthesiologists, surgeons, and hematologists in the perioperative period in order to determine the risk of complications and anticipate them.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count. Onset usually occurs during adolescence with episodes of cutaneous and mucosal bleeding. Thrombocytopenia during pregnancy is associated with many diseases, of which idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is the most common in the first trimester. The need for treatment will depend on the platelet count and whether there is bleeding. At the end of pregnancy, however, whether delivery is vaginal or by cesarean, more aggressive therapeutic measures are required. Anesthetic management in this type of patient will be determined by coagulation status and platelet count, and local or regional anesthesia may be contraindicated. We report the case of a pregnant woman with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who was admitted to the emergency department of our hospital with suspected preeclampsia.

Artificial nutrition support forms part of the basic care of critical patients. Enteral feeding has been shown to be better than total parenteral nutrition at improving morbidity (infectious complications) and reducing the length of hospital stays, number of days with mechanical ventilation, and costs. As with any other treatment, enteral feeding has associated complications and side effects which should be understood and treated in order to obtain the greatest benefit from it and reduce possible adverse effects. In this review, we attempt to provide a practical summary of the use of enteral feeding in critical patients. We cover the management of the most frequent associated complications, based on new studies and current scientific evidence. The review is intended to serve as a practice guide for the routine care of severely ill patients.

The laryngeal tube (VBM Medizintechnic GmbH, Sulz, Germany) is a supraglottic device designed for airway management in spontaneous or positive-pressure ventilation during anesthesia or in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Currently, the tube is available in 4 versions: the standard laryngeal tube, the disposable tube (LT-D), the dual-lumen tube (with a tube for suction) (LTS II), and the disposable LTS (LTS-D). The design of the tube has been modified several times. It is easy to insert and the airway seal is more effective than that of the laryngeal mask. The incidence of complications is similar for both devices, though use of the laryngeal tube requires more adjustments. The standard tube is somewhat less effective than the ProSeal laryngeal mask, though the new LTS II has been improved considerably. The laryngeal tube is effective as an aid to management of the difficult airway. We reviewed the literature indexed on MEDLINE through December 2006 using the search terms laryngeal tube, anesthesia, equipment, and airway.

Insertion of a central venous catheter and an arterial catheter would be indicated in hemodynamically unstable or severely hypoxic patients in critical care units. In this setting, cardiorespiratory monitoring by transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) can be considered minimally invasive given that only a single arterial thermodilution catheter and a single central venous catheter are required to be connected to a specific monitor (the PiCCO Plus, Pulsion Medical Systems, Munich, Germany). TDTP simultaneously measures cardiac output, preloading, and cardiac function in hemodynamically unstable patients and predicts the response to volume. The technique can be managed by any health care professional. In hypoxic patients, TDTP identifies cases of pulmonary edema that might benefit from a negative fluid balance, evaluates pulmonary vascular permeability, facilitates our understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms of hypoxemia, and predicts the likelihood of deleterious hemodynamic effects of positive end-expiratory pressures.

We describe the perioperative treatment of a patient diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, which is usually caused by a deletion in chromosome 15. The patient showed the characteristic signs of psychomotor retardation, epilepsy, lack of speech, frequent laughter and happy demeanor, light skin, blue eyes, and blond hair, hyperactivity, and sleep disturbance. He was scheduled for multiple tooth extractions under general anesthesia. Intravenous anesthesia was induced using ketamine, propofol, and rocuronium, and was maintained with low concentrations of sevoflurane. There were no incidents during or after surgery. The chromosomal abnormality that causes Angelman syndrome is located on the same genes that control the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid-A receptors, which are activated by most intravenous and inhaled anesthetic agents. The effect of the condition on the response of these agents is unknown. The combined use of propofol, ketamine, and sevoflurane at low doses provided adequate anesthesia for this patient. Other characteristics of the syndrome that may affect the use of anesthesia in these patients are discussed.

Coffin-Siris syndrome is a rare genetic disease characterized by coarse facial features, sparse scalp hair, hirsutism, hypoplasia of the distal phalanges, hypoplastic nail in the fifth digit, and mental retardation and delayed growth evident in both weight and height. Most cases are sporadic, but the possibility of recessive or dominant autosomal inheritance has been suggested. Facial abnormalities that make intubation difficult and mental retardation that interferes with cooperation are aspects of this disease that can affect the choice of type of anesthesia. We report the case of a parturient with Coffin-Siris syndrome who refused epidural analgesia for labor pain and for whom the obstetrician later decided that an emergency cesarean was necessary due to fetal distress.

Thymectomy continues to be the treatment of choice for certain patients with myasthenia gravis. As surgical techniques have developed, anesthesiologists have considered the need to adapt anesthetic techniques to improve care of patients undergoing this procedure. We describe the anesthetic management of 2 patients undergoing thymectomy performed with a bilateral thoracoscopic approach. Because it is best to avoid the use of opiates during and after surgery, we performed a bilateral paravertebral thoracic block, inserting the catheters into the paravertebral space on each side to infuse local anesthetics on either side as needed as the operation progressed. Surgery was completed without adverse events and tubes were removed from the tracheas of both patients at the end of the procedures. Bilateral continuous infusion of local anesthetics provided satisfactory analgesia on the following days.

The Proseal laryngeal mask was introduced into clinical practice in 2000. Since then, many publications, most of them case reports, have discussed the use of this mask. This review considers the possible indications and contraindications for use of this device, techniques for insertion, and complications. The Proseal is compared with the conventional laryngeal mask. We reviewed the literature indexed on MEDLINE through October 2005 using the search terms Proseal laryngeal mask, airway, and anesthesia.

Peripheral nerve blocks can provide a valid alternative for anesthetizing patients with allergy to drugs such as atropine that are often used for general anesthesia. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy (physical status ASA II, weight 28 Kg). Relevant medical history included generalized skin rash and breathing difficulties due to bronchospasm after administration of atropine eyedrops. The boy had never undergone skin testing for allergy. With a diagnosis of distal metaphyseal fracture of the right radius, he was proposed for urgent closed reduction and osteosynthesis of the lesion. After premedication with midazolam, an axillary brachial plexus block with 0.4 mL x Kg(-1) of 1% mepivacaine was performed with the aid of a nerve stimulator. The intervention was uneventful and the patient was free of pain during and after the procedure. Axillary brachial plexus block anesthesia in this pediatric patient was easy to perform, safe, and effective. It provided satisfactory conditions for surgery and made it possible to avoid administering drugs with vagotonic effects that are often used for general anesthesia and require the use of atropine.

A variety of strategies have been used to reduce the high prevalence and mortality rates of cardiac complications in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. One approach taken is to prescribe agents that block beta-adrenergic receptors. The effect of beta-blockers on myocardial ischemia is multifactorial: they correct myocardial oxygen imbalance, prevent rupture of atheromatous plaque, and reduce coronary vasoconstriction. We summarize the results of several recently published studies that confirm the beneficial effects and the low incidence of side effects.

A 12-month-old boy diagnosed with propionic acidemia underwent gastrostomy. The patient's general state was good and he was alert, but with reduced muscular tone (unstable when seated with support, floppy head) and with dystonic movements in all extremities. An electroencephalogram showed slightly slowed brain activity. The patient was being treated with a low protein diet, phenobarbital, L-carnitine, L-isoleucine, and biotin. Surgery was carried out in satisfactory conditions with general anesthesia without opioids combined with infiltration of the surgical wound with local anesthetic. Recovery from anesthesia was rapid and free of complications. Propionic acidemia is caused by mitochondrial propionyl coenzyme carboxylase deficiency. Most patients have episodes of severe metabolic ketoacidosis as a result of excessive protein intake, delayed development, vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux, lethargy, hypotonia, and convulsions. The anesthetic approach involves avoiding triggers of metabolic acidosis (such as fasting, dehydration, hypoxemia, and hypotension) and preventing airway complications. Agents that metabolize propionic acid (such as succinylcholine, benzylisoquinoline neuromuscular blocking agents, and propofol) are not used, as they can exacerbate acidemia. We also believe that using local or regional anesthesia in combination with general anesthesia without opiates is safe and effective for controlling pain during surgery and postoperative recovery, as that combination avoids respiratory depression in these patients, who are highly sensitive to opiates.

Two patients, aged 73 and 58 years, with diffuse pulmonary fibrosis underwent emergency open cholecystectomies (subcostal approach) under thoracic epidural anesthesia with 0.5% ropivacaine and fentanyl in spontaneous ventilation. Pulmonary fibrosis was due to amiodarone administration in the first patient and of unknowon cause in the second. Both developed arterial hypotension without bradycardia in spite of optimal preloading. Inotropoic support with low doses of norepinephrine was requiered for recovery in both cases with no adverse events after reversion of the sympathetic blocks. Postoperative epidural analgesia was very satisfactory. Thoracic epidural anesthesia is a useful alternative to general anesthesia for subcostal cholecystectomy in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease in advanced stages.

Mechanical ventilation is necessary for treating patients with severe brain injury because it guarantees the airway (through endotracheal intubation), permits sedation (and even curarization), and prevents hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia. Hyperventilation continues to be a focus of debate in the current literature. Nevertheless, the weight of scientific evidence to date suggests that it should not be applied prophylactically during the first 24 hours and that patients should not be hyperventilated for prolonged periods in the absence of intracranial hypertension. Acute lung injury and respiratory distress are among the most frequent and serious complications related to severe brain injury that benefit from the use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and ventilation to protect the lung. Gas insufflation through the trachea is a promising therapeutic option for correcting hypercapnia secondary to ventilation for lung protection in such patients. Finally, multimodal monitoring (intracranial pressure, central venous pressure, oxygen saturation detected in the jugular bulb, cerebral oxygen pressure) is recommended for adjusting PEEP and controlling hyperventilation.

Three women in labor for whom epidural analgesia was contraindicated--2 with sepsis (pylonephritis and chorioamnionitis) and 1 with sacral agenesia--were provided intravenous analgesia with propofol (0.4-1.2 mg/kg/h) and remifentanil (0.033-0.1 microgram/kg/min plus boluses of 20 micrograms controlled by the patient) with oxygen supplementation. Heart rate, noninvasive blood pressure, maternal oxygen saturation and fetal heart rate were monitored. Maternal satisfaction, quality of analgesia, maternal side effects (sedation, depression, breathing, muscle rigidity, nausea, and vomiting) and fetal side effects (heart rate variability and Apgar score) were evaluated. We conclude that in cases where epidural analgesia is contraindicated, intravenous perfusion of low doses of propofol and remifentanil can provide a valid alternative for analgesia during labor.

A 30-year-old woman with von Willebrand's disease was admitted in labor. As epidural analgesia was ruled out due to risk of spinal hematoma, a pump for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was provided with boluses of remifentanil and set for intravenous infusion of 24 micrograms with a lockout time of 5 minutes. The patient reported analgesia to be satisfactory. Later, because of abnormal fetal positioning, an emergency cesarean was performed with the patient under general anesthesia with remifentanil, with propofol and succinylcholine for induction. A healthy girl was born free of respiratory depression. Von Willebrand's disease is a hemorrhagic disorder of autosomal dominant inheritance due to a quantitative or functional factor VIII deficit. Various subtypes and degrees of severity of abnormal bleeding have been described. It is the most common genetic hemostatic disorder affecting obstetric procedures, and although epidural analgesia has been used with strict hematologic monitoring, that technique carries a risk of hematoma. PCA is useful in patients for whom regional techniques are contraindicated. With adequate fetal and maternal monitoring, remifentanil in PCA is safe and more effective than other opiates for labor pain.

The treatment of thoracic or abdominal aorta aneurysms with endoprostheses or aortic stents consists of placing the stents within the aorta to exclude the aneurysm, followed by inflation of a balloon inserted through the vessel in order to fix the stent to the vascular walls. The procedure is minimally invasive, causes little pain, and is performed by femoral arteriotomy or puncture. Absolute immobility of the lower limbs is required if lesions are to be avoided and the duration can not be foreseen. Patients are usually elderly, have severe vascular disease, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and sometimes also have renal dysfunction that may deteriorate with the use of iodine contrast media. Epidural anesthesia is preferred for placement of an abdominal stent, with general anesthesia used if epidural anesthesia is contraindicated. Surgery is performed in an angio-radiologic operating theater that is specially prepared for emergency laparotomy or thoracotomy. General anesthesia is used for thoracic aneurysms. When the endoprosthesis is implanted, it is important to prevent distal migration of the stent caused by heart beat and arterial pressure generated by the root of the aorta. A sympathic block provides adequate mean blood pressure (approximately 70-80 mmHg) for preventing migration. Five minutes before release of the stent, esmolol (0.5 mg/kg) is given along with nitroglycerine (titrated to dose-response) in perfusion, and upon release of the stent and sufflation of the balloon, a Valsalva maneuver is carried out obtain a heart rate of 40 to 50 beats/min and a mean arterial pressure of 40 to 45 mmHg. Postoperative recovery occurs in a special observation ward in the first few hours after surgery, with strict monitoring of diuresis and hydration. Analgesic requirements are minimal and intravenous metamizol or ketorolac are adequate. In conclusion, stent implant is a complex procedure in patients with severe associated disease who require strict and full monitoring during surgery and in the first few hours afterwards.

A 64-year-old woman came to the emergency room complaining of vomiting and abdominal pain; appendicitis was suspected and surgery ordered. A blood work up showed a significantly low platelet count (39,000/microliter) and 6 units were transfused before surgery. The only observations during surgery were ileitis and Meckel's diverticulum. Thrombocytopenia persisted over the first 48 hours after surgery in spite of another transfusion of platelets, with worsening awareness and acute renal failure. After diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and treatment with fresh plasma and corticoids was started. Two weeks later, after complex evolution and ten sessions of plasmapheresis, the patient was transferred to the hematology ward. TTP must be considered a medical emergency. Platelet transfusions are contraindicated, as they can cause serious clinical deterioration. A low platelet count before surgery should lead to differential diagnosis to determine the cause, with the aim of judging whether platelet transfusion is warranted or not. In some etiological processes, such as in the case we report, platelet transfusion may be life-threatening; corrective measures must be taken early in the process and such transfusion avoided.

The criteria for preoperative use of pacemakers are not unanimously agreed upon. Certain cases require careful assessment to weigh potential benefits against inherent risks in placing the device. Although external transcutaneous pacemakers, whose use circumvents the risks of transvenous insertion, have been available for years, such devices are not always appropriate, depending on the flow disorder involved or the type of surgery that will be performed. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman who was a candidate for surgery requiring general anesthesia (lumboperitoneal shunt due to chronic adult hydrocephaly). Although her condition did not initially call for prophylactic use of a pacemaker before surgery, changes soon developed that necessitated insertion of a temporary transvenous device for surgery and insertion of a permanent pacemaker the day after surgery.

The laryngeal mask for intubation (MLI), or "Fastrach", is a new device designed by Brain for airway management. The MLI, a modified version of the conventional laryngeal mask, allows for blind intubation through the device using endotracheal tubes up to 8 mm in diameter. Insertion with the head in a neutral position makes this system useful for managing the airway when neck injury is present. The device has been used successfully in patients assessed as having difficult-to-manage airways and its use in emergencies inside or outside the hospital is promising. The MLI has been used with high rates of success in combination with other techniques such as fiberoptic bronchoscopy (success rate 99 to 100%) and transillumination (95 to 100% success rate) in patients whose airways have been considered difficult to manage. Given such high rates of success for MLI placement (95 to 100%) and for blind orotracheal intubation (81 to 100%), the Fastrach may offer an alternative to the conventional laryngeal mask in algorithms for airway management.

Ketamine is an intravenous drug with special properties that make it the only agent that presently serves as anesthetic, sedative, amnesiac and analgesic. Although it is sometimes forgotten, ketamine is still considered a viable drug. Water soluble, stable and non-irritant when administered intravenously, ketamine has rapid onset after intravenous injection and provides acceptable anesthesia when administered in continuous infusion. There properties make ketamine useful for total intravenous anesthesia. Both propofol and midazolam are effective in reducing ketamine's adverse side effects. Administered in children by oral, nasal, rectal and intramuscular routes, ketamine allows for gentle anesthetic induction. It can also serve as an adjuvant in regional anesthesia to supplement analgesia. In adults ketamine is most often used for major surgery, particularly in the elderly or in high risk patients who are in shock, severely dehydrated or hemodynamically unstable, or in obstetric patients with hypovolemia or hemorrhage. It is probably the anesthetic of choice for patients with hyperreactive airways. Ketamine's strong analgesic effect at subanesthetic doses allows it to be used as an analgesic during postoperative intensive care or as an analgesic-plus-sedative for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Interest in using ketamine at low doses for cancer and non-cancer patients with chronic pain has grown recently.

Acute respiratory failure and adult respiratory distress syndrome are serious complications after heart surgery and are associated with a high mortality rate. We report the case of a 50-year-old man who developed severe respiratory distress after heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation and for whom oxygenation was possible with ventilation in prone decubitus position only after other therapeutic measured had failed. The physiological bases of ventilation in prone decubitus position, as well as the indications and contraindications of the technique are discussed. Early treatment, which is fundamental for managing these patients, facilitates a favorable outcome as is illustrated by the case we report.