Sudden complete obstruction of breathing circuit during postural change upon completion of thoracic spinal surgery in a pediatric patient.
Positioning patients during the perioperative period is a common event to anesthesiologists. A variety of complications may arise during this cumbrous moment. We describe a rare circumstance that we came across immediately after changing the posture of a pediatric patient at the end of thoracic spinal surgery. A total occlusion of the combined heat-moisture exchanger (HME) and bacterial/viral filter was responsible for breathing circuit obstruction. The use of the combined HME and bacterial/viral filter is not entirely riskless during general anesthesia.
Wang
Ying-Ming
YM
Department of Anesthesiology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, 386, Ta-Chung 1st Rd, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 813, R.O.C. ymwang@isca.vghks.gov.tw
Chen
Cheng-Show
CS
Chung
Nien-Chun
NC
Ye
Xuan-De
XD
Liu
Kang
K
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*