Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block for parathyroidectomy during pregnancy:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary hyperparathyroidism(PHPT)is the most common cause of pregnancyrelated hypercalcemia.PHPT can cause maternal and fetal complications in pregnant women.General anesthesia for non-obstetric surgery in pregnant women is associated with maternal hazards and concerns regarding long-term neonatal neurocognitive effects.Surgical removal of the lesion in mid-pregnancy is currently the primary treatment option for pregnant patients with PHPT.However,the blood calcium concentration at which surgery should be considered remains under discussion due to the risk of miscarriage.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old nulliparous woman at 11 wk of gestation was admitted to our hospital for parathyroidectomy.The patient had a history of intrauterine fetal death with unknown etiology at 16 wk of gestation 1 year prior.Her blood test results showed that the serum calcium level was elevated to 12.9 mg/dL,and the parathyroid hormone level was elevated to 157 pg/mL.In a neck ultrasound,it revealed a 0.8 cm×1.5 cm sized oval,hypoechoic mass in the upper posterior of the left thyroid gland,which was compatible with parathyroid adenoma.Superficial cervical plexus block(SCPB)for parathyroidectomy was performed.After surgery,the obstetrician checked the status of the fetus,and there were no abnormal signs.Since then her calcium level returned to normal values after one week of surgery and a healthy male neonate of 2910 g was delivered vaginally at 38 wk of gestation.CONCLUSION Our case suggests that SCPB can be an anesthetic option for parathyroidectomy during the first trimester of pregnancy.

A three-dimensional digital visualization model of cervical nerves in a healthy person

Three-dimensional reconstruction nerve models are classically obtained from two-dimensional images of ＂visible human＂ frozen sections. However, because of the flexibility of nerve tissues and small color differences compared with surrounding tissues, the integrity and validity of nerve tissues can be impaired during milling. Thus, in the present study, we obtained two-dimensional data from a healthy volunteer based on continuous CT angiography and magnetic resonance myelography. Semi-automatic segmentation and reconstruction were then conducted at different thresholds in different tissues using Mimics software. Small anatomical structures such as muscles and cervical nerves were reconstructed using the medical computer aided design module. Three-dimensional digital models of the cervical nerves and their surrounding structures were successfully developed, which allowed visualization of the spatial relation of anatomical structures with a strong three-dimensional effect, distinct appearance, clear distribution, and good continuity, precision, and integrality. These results indicate the validity of a three-dimensional digital visualization model of healthy human cervical nerves, which overcomes the disadvantages of milling, avoids data loss, and exhibits a realistic appearance and three-dimensional image.

Improved C_(3-4) transfer for treatment of root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk Animal experiments and clinical application

Experimental rats with root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk were treated with the improved C34 transfer for neurotization of 05-6. Results showed that Terzis grooming test scores were significantly increased at 6 months after treatment, the latency of C5-6 motor evoked potential was gradually shortened, and the amplitude was gradually increased. The rate of C3 instead of C5 and the C4 ＋ phrenic nerve instead of C6 myelinated nerve fibers crossing through the anastomotic stoma was approximately 80%. Myelinated nerve fibers were arranged loosely but the thickness of the myelin sheath was similar to that of the healthy side. In clinical applications, 39 patients with root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk were followed for 6 months to 4.5 years after treatment using the improved C3 instead of C5 nerve root transfer and C4 nerve root and phrenic nerve instead of C6 nerve root transfer. Results showed that the strength of the brachial biceps and deltoid muscles recovered to level IIHV, scapular muscle to level Ill-W, latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major muscles to above level Ⅲ, and the brachial triceps muscle to level 0 Ill. Results showed that the improved 03-4 transfer for root avulsion of the brachial plexus upper trunk in animal models is similar to clinical findings and that C3-4 and the phrenic nerve transfer for neurotization of C5-6 can innervate the avulsed brachial plexus upper trunk and promote the recovery of nerve function in the upper extremity.

Combined sevoflurane-dexmedetomidine and nerve blockade on post-surgical serum oxidative stress biomarker levels in thyroid cancer patients

BACKGROUND The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing annually.Clinical routine thyroid surgery can be performed under a cervical plexus block,but cannot mediate the stress response during the surgery.If thyroid surgery is performed under nerve block,an inappropriate level of blockade may occur.Similarly,the stress response caused by surgery is more serious than that caused by conventional anesthesia.Therefore,it is important to combine blockade with more effective anesthesia methods.AIM To investigate the effects of combining sevoflurane-dexmedetomidine inhalation general anesthesia with the cervical plexus nerve block on the post-surgical levels of the serum oxidative stress biomarkers levels in thyroid cancer patients.METHODS We enrolled 96 thyroid cancer patients admitted to the hospital between January 2019 and December 2020.Participants were divided into a control group(n=47)and an experimental group(n=49).The experimental group received a combination of inhaled sevoflurane-dexmedetomidine and cervical plexus block,while the control group received conventional general anesthesia.The groups were compared for serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)before and after surgery,and the adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)and norepinephrine(NE)levels at 1 and 12 h postsurgery.The Bispectral index(BIS)and the incidence of anesthesia side effects were also compared.RESULTS Following surgery,MCP-1 was significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group,whereas GSH-Px was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.001).The serum ACTH and NE levels were significantly lower in the experimental group than those the control group at 1 and 12 h post-surgery(P<0.001).BIS was significantly lower in the experimental group than that in the control group at 20 minutes into the operation,but the direction of the difference was reversed at eye opening(P<0.001).The incidence of side effects was 10.20%(5/49)and 12.76%(6/47)in the experimental and control groups,respectively,the difference being non-significant.CONCLUSION Sevoflurane-dexmedetomidine inhalation general anesthesia combined with cervical plexus nerve block can reduce the postoperative stress and inflammatory responses in thyroid cancer patients,while maintaining high anesthesia effectiveness and safety.