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2ppd smoker, CAD, CABG x5 5 years ago. Optimized. Dilated Cardiomyopathy with EF of 20-25%. For Knee scope that is to last 40 minutes. Chart comes to you for outpatient surgery.
Do you say OK?
Nerve Block?
Move him to inpatient?
A-line on induction?
Single shot femoral block (if you like but not necessary).
LMA GA like everyone else just on induction go slow with the Propofol.
2ppd smoker, CAD, CABG x5 5 years ago. Optimized. Dilated Cardiomyopathy with EF of 20-25%. For Knee scope that is to last 40 minutes. Chart comes to you for outpatient surgery.
Do you say OK?
Nerve Block?
Move him to inpatient?
A-line on induction?

I'd try to talk this guy into a spinal, but if discussion was going nowhere fast, I'd do LMA, no art-line like everybody else, assuming he's been asymptomatic in the 5 years since revascularization.
My question: what do people like for short-acting, "outpatient" spinals? I ask because in this situation I would probably just do 8 mg of hyperbaric bupiv, but am told chlorprocaine is the way to go...what dose of that would you use?
2ppd smoker, CAD, CABG x5 5 years ago. Optimized. Dilated Cardiomyopathy with EF of 20-25%. For Knee scope that is to last 40 minutes. Chart comes to you for outpatient surgery.
Do you say OK?
Nerve Block?
Move him to inpatient?
A-line on induction?
Adhesive arachnoiditis?
could also consider epidural single shot..
I don't know about a spinal... and an ef of 20-25%. I don't think I would do one unless I had an intrathecal catheter and titrated my local... too much effort for a short case.
My plan:
No a line
slow with the propofol
LMA
stick of neo handy
know where the epi is
I probably wouldn't do a spinal just because it is out patient. if I were going to do a spinal I would use chloroprocaine. I have always wanted to do a demerol spinal but probably wouldn't with this guy.
i don't consider his EF to be a problem with the spinal.
Common scenario in my practice. I wouldn't do an A-line and induce with Propofol 60-80 mg I.V. then mask assist with propofol. Check BP one or twice (makes me feel better) and insert LMA. I would probably place a BIS to keep the SEVO or inhalational agent of your choice at a minimum.
If asked to do a Regional by the patient I would do an old fashioned saddle block (patient in sitting position) with a non-cutting needle.
Due to my familiarity and proven safety record I woulg go with Heavy Bupivicaine (about 7 mg). Alternatively, you could consider 15 mg of Isobaric Bupivicaine in the lateral position. Both should minimize spinal induced hypotension. IMHO, the Spinal will dealy this patient's discharge compared to the LMA technique; but, it isn't like he doesn't have the extra hour to spare.😉
What do you all think about N20 in this patient? Forget about the N/V and focus on the positives/negatives of N20 in this scenario. Would you use 50% N20 with the inhalational agent? For this 40 minute case would you get better hemodynamics?
15 mg of iso bupi seems like a lot for a knee scope
Arch, it is a significant dose. Since I use the 0.5% Bupivicaine bottle for my Isobaric Bup despite what the label says I am very familiar with that dose. Perhaps, 2 mls of the 0.5% would be sufficient although my experience is limited here (use ISOBARIC on sick inpatients mostly). In the patient described above I would go with the reliable, predictable saddle block if spinal anesthesia was chosen.
Of what and how much?
20mL 3% chloroprocaine
Anesth Analg 2000;91:860-864 outta the chloroprocaine lovas at VM
Why mess with Propofol and not use Etomidate? Also, although not a big case, but a femoral block may allow you to use less anesthetic. With a pretty sick heart why not take all the help you can get?
I think you mixed up a unit there.
I spent 2 months at VM and learned to LOVE the chlorprocaine spinal. My weapon of choice for outpatient lower extremity ortho. But this guy is getting an LMA unless he is insistent on being awake for surgery. Nothing worse than taking a sick heart s/p spinal into the grey zone between sedation and anesthesia because surgery went just a little longer than expected or the torniquet pain isn't quite covered.
- pod
What do you all think about N20 in this patient? Forget about the N/V and focus on the positives/negatives of N20 in this scenario. Would you use 50% N20 with the inhalational agent? For this 40 minute case would you get better hemodynamics?
Why mess with Propofol and not use Etomidate? Also, although not a big case, but a femoral block may allow you to use less anesthetic. With a pretty sick heart why not take all the help you can get?
I do this all the time, works great for short knee scopes....
Isobaric bupiv spinal 5-6mg with 15 mcg Fent mixed in.
Minimal cardiovasc disturbance, plenty of coverage, pretty fast offset of block. No aline.
Did two of these today already. Just as described. Better have an efficient surgeon though.
Lateral or upright placement?
how long does it last?
when are they ready for D/C?
I think you mixed up a unit there.
I spent 2 months at VM and learned to LOVE the chlorprocaine spinal. My weapon of choice for outpatient lower extremity ortho. But this guy is getting an LMA unless he is insistent on being awake for surgery. Nothing worse than taking a sick heart s/p spinal into the grey zone between sedation and anesthesia because surgery went just a little longer than expected or the torniquet pain isn't quite covered.
- pod
I do this all the time, works great for short knee scopes....
Isobaric bupiv spinal 5-6mg with 15 mcg Fent mixed in.
Minimal cardiovasc disturbance, plenty of coverage, pretty fast offset of block. No aline.
Did two of these today already. Just as described. Better have an efficient surgeon though.
Either sitting or lateral, although most of my colleagues do them lateral, I sit them up and immediately get them supine after the needle is out. I guess they last long enough for about 60-75 minutes of operating time , give or take a few. Maybe you can get lucky after that but I don't count on it.
Usually up walking about 3 hrs or so after removing the needle (or a couple of hours postop for the average one hour case), mostly without much deficit. Still have to worry about a little increased chance of urinary retention compared to general, IMHO. I think there are studies that address that.
Way too long IMO. Knee scopes are leaving our ASC at around 1 hr post-op. With this technique they will need to remain at least another 1.5 hrs.
And if this case is the last one of the day and you have to be around until the last pt is d/c'd then this 1.5 hrs is huge.
Believe me, I tell the pt that the fastest way out of the building is a General anesthetic. I agree with you totally, Noyac. We use General Anesth way more often than spinals for this type of case in our ASC, but I was just saying that this is an option for a low EF kind of guy.
i love spinals, but not in this pt. he will likely need fluid after and i don't like overloading a poopy heart... will probably be okay but why deal with it.
i like etomidate and think it would be good here. sure propofol will probably be okay, but again, why deal with it.
i love nitrous, but not in this pt. in general try to avoid in signif COPDers like i suspect he is at 2ppd, probably didn't start smoking yesterday. probably a short surgery so again would likely be okay, but i wouldn't....
OK, so i get that many people here wont do a spinal because of recovery time...but people REALLY think a spinal in this patient is UNSAFE. OPTIMIZED non-symptomatic CHF with an EF of 25%. Unsafe, seriously??
OK, so i get that many people here wont do a spinal because of recovery time...but people REALLY think a spinal in this patient is UNSAFE. OPTIMIZED non-symptomatic CHF with an EF of 25%. Unsafe, seriously??
i don't consider his EF to be a problem with the spinal.