Iatrogenic internal carotid artery injury is a catastrophic but uncommon complication of endonasal sinus surgery. We present our experience in managing this emergency situation. A 52-year-old man underwent revision endoscopic repair of recurrent cerebrospinal fluid leak that was complicated with profuse haemorrhage during removal of the anterior wall of sphenoid sinus using a Hajek sphenoid punch forceps. Immediate packing of the sphenoid sinus controlled the haemorrhage. Urgent angiography revealed injury at the paraclival segment of the left internal carotid artery. An endovascular stent was initially placed but thrombosed; it was subsequently converted to coil embolisation. The patient had watershed cerebral infarct with hemiparesis post procedure but made full recovery within 6 weeks. Immediate nasal packing followed by urgent angiography and endovascular stent placement is the least invasive definitive treatment. If stenting is unsuccessful, endovascular balloon occlusion or coil embolisation is the next preferred treatment, if there is adequate cross-cerebral circulation. The success of treatment relies on its immediate management by a multidisciplinary team.

Background/aim: Regional anesthesia for surgery is associated with increased anxiety for patients. This study aimed to compare the effect of propofol and dexmedetomidine infusion on perioperative anxiety during regional anesthesia. Materials and methods: Eighty-four patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving either study drug infusion. Anxiety score, level of sedation using the Bispectral Index and Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation, hemodynamic stability, and overall patient's feedback on anxiolysis were assessed. Results: Both groups showed a significant drop in mean anxiety score at 10 and 30 mm after starting surgery. Difference in median anxiety scores showed a significant reduction in anxiety score at the end of the surgery in the dexmedetomidine group compared to the propofol group. Dexmedetomidine and propofol showed a significant drop in mean arterial pressure in the first 30 min and first 10 min respectively. Both drugs demonstrated a significant drop in heart rate in the first 20 min from baseline after starting the drug infusion. Patients in the dexmedetomidine group (76.20%) expressed statistically excellent feedback on anxiolysis compared to patients in the propofol group (45.20%). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine infusion was found to significantly reduce anxiety levels at the end of surgery compared to propofol during regional anesthesia.

Background: The serratus plane block is an effective technique for providing analgesia to patients undergoing breast surgery. Methods: This prospective, double-blind, randomized study enrolled 60 female patients scheduled for unilateral mastectomy and axillary clearance. The patients received either a superficial serratus plane block or deep serratus plane block. Dermatomal spread was recorded 30 minutes after block administration. Postoperatively, pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores were documented at recovery (time 0), at 30 minutes; and in the ward hourly for 4 hours, and 4-hourly until 24 hours postoperatively. The time to first analgesic rescue and cumulative morphine consumption using patient-controlled analgesia morphine (PCAM) were recorded. Results: The results showed lower VAS scores at rest (at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours postoperatively), and during movement (at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 24 hours postoperatively) in the superficial serratus plane block group, P < .005. Similarly, cumulative morphine usage was lower in the superficial serratus plane group, P < .005. The time to the first rescue analgesic was also significantly longer in the superficial group, P < .001. More patients in the superficial serratus plane group achieved greater dermatomal spread at T2 and T7 than those in the deep group. Conclusions: Superficial serratus plane block provides better analgesic efficacy than deep serratus plane block in mastectomy and axillary clearance.

Background and Objectives: Shivering is a common complication of subarachnoid block (SAB). Magnesium sulphate has been proven to be effective in preventing shivering. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and adverse effects in hemodynamic parameters between 50 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg of intravenous magnesium sulphate for prevention of shivering post-subarachnoid block. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six patients scheduled for surgery under SAB, aged between 18 to 65 years old with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II were randomised into two groups. Group A received a bolus of 50 mg/kg, while Group B received 30 mg/kg of intravenous magnesium sulphate, given over a 20 min duration following SAB. Shivering grade was recorded intraoperatively according to the Crossley and Mahajan shivering scale. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, tympanic temperature, oxygen saturation and the use of vasopressors were recorded. Results: Forty-five percent of patients in Group A and 20% of patients in Group B did not exhibit shivering (p-value < 0.01). High-grade shivering was observed in 12.5% in Group A and 40% in Group B, respectively (p-value 0.02). The MAP trend was lower in Group B (p-value < 0.01), but the incidence of hypotension was not significant in both groups. The use of vasopressors was also similar between groups. Group B showed a lower oxygen saturation trend (p-value 0.04). The trends of heart rate and tympanic temperature were not significant in both groups. No patients had episodes of bradycardia or oxygen desaturation. Conclusions: In this study, intravenous magnesium sulphate 50 mg/kg is the lowest effective dose for prevention and treatment of high-grade shivering post-SAB without significant hemodynamic adverse events.

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa fungemia is rare and highly resistant to antifungal therapy. We herein report a case involving a 31-year-old male admitted after a high-velocity road traffic accident. He sustained a grade IV liver injury with right hepatic vein thrombosis, which necessitated an urgent laparotomy. Post-operatively, repeated imaging of the abdomen revealed the presence of a biloma. Percutaneous subdiaphragmatic drainage was carried out but appeared ineffective, prompting a second surgery for an urgent hemi-hepatectomy. The patient was then nursed in the intensive care unit (ICU); however, during his stay in the ICU, he became more sepsis, which was evident by worsening ventilatory support and a rise in septic parameters from the biochemistry parameters. Despite intravenous piperacillin–tazobactam and fluconazole, his septic parameters did not improve and a full septic workup was conducted and was found to be positive for Rhodotorula mucilaginosa from the blood cultures. After discussion with the infectious disease physicians and clinical microbiologists, it was decided to initiate a course of intravenous meropenem and amphotericin B based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, considering the patient’s extended ICU stay and catheter use. Eventually, after successfully weaning off mechanical ventilation, the patient was discharged from ICU care. This case underscores the necessity of individualized approaches, combining timely imaging, appropriate drainage techniques, and tailored treatments to optimize outcomes for such intricate post-traumatic complications.