Background/Objectives: Remimazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine, promotes quick and consistent recovery from anesthesia. However, flumazenil's rapid antagonistic effects on benzodiazepines during the emergence from anesthesia are thought to increase the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). This study aimed to compare the rate of PONV in monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with remimazolam versus conventional MAC with dexmedetomidine. Methods: This single-center retrospective study included all cases with transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR) performed using MAC at our institution between January 2019 and April 2023. The patients were divided into remimazolam and dexmedetomidine-propofol groups based on the anesthetic method used. We used propensity score matching at a 1:1 ratio to account for the patient backgrounds. The primary outcome measure was the rate of PONV within 48 h. Secondary outcome measures included the severity of PONV and the number of antiemetics administered. Results: This study included 177 subjects. Following propensity score matching, 61 patients were allocated to each group. The incidence of PONV within 48 h after surgery was 4.92% in the remimazolam group and 3.28% in the dexmedetomidine-propofol group, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.817). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the secondary outcomes, including the severity of PONV (p = 0.190) and the use of antiemetics (p = 0.690). Conclusions: In TAVR with MAC and remimazolam, the incidence of PONV within 48 h was comparable to that of dexmedetomidine.

The transcarotid approach was introduced in Japan in April 2024 as an alternative approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Because carotid artery blood flow is reduced on one side during the procedure, there is a risk of intraoperative brain stroke. Therefore, it is crucial to check for cerebral complications immediately after the procedure. We report a case involving an 87-year-old female who underwent transcarotid TAVR under general anesthesia with remimazolam and remifentanil. The operation was completed in a short period. There was no evidence of hypotension during the induction of anesthesia, and intraoperative blood pressure control was easy. However, there was a decrease in local oxygen saturation for approximately nine minutes intraoperatively. Following the administration of flumazenil, the patient was quickly awakened, and neurological findings were confirmed to be normal. The patient was discharged without complications. Our findings suggest that remimazolam, an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, is feasible for the transcarotid TAVR procedure due to its minimal circulatory impact and ability to facilitate rapid and reliable arousal.

BACKGROUND Prevention of lethal arrhythmias in congenital long QT syndrome type 1 (LQT1) requires avoidance of sympathoexcitation, drugs that prolong QT, and electrolyte abnormalities. However, it is often difficult to avoid all these risks in the perioperative period of open heart surgery. Herein, we report hypokalemia-induced cardiac arrest in a postoperative cardiac patient with LQT1 on catecholamine. CASE REPORT A 79-year-old woman underwent surgical aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis. Although the initial plan was not to use catecholamine, catecholamine was used in the Postoperative Intensive Care Unit with attention to QT interval and electrolytes due to heart failure caused by postoperative bleeding. Serum potassium levels were controlled above 4.5 mEq/L, and no arrhythmic events occurred. On postoperative day 4, the patient was started on insulin owing to hyperglycemia. Cardiac arrest occurred after the first insulin dose; the implantable cardioverter defibrillator was activated, and the patient's own heartbeat resumed. Subsequent examination revealed that a marked decrease in serum potassium level had occurred after insulin administration. The electrocardiogram showed obvious QT prolongation and ventricular fibrillation following R on T. Thereafter, under strict potassium management, there was no recurrence of cardiac arrest events. CONCLUSIONS A patient with LQT1 who underwent open heart surgery developed ventricular fibrillation after Torsades de Pointes, probably due to hypokalemia after insulin administration in addition to catecholamine. It is important to check serum potassium levels to avoid the onset of Torsades de Pointes in patients with long QT syndrome. In addition, the impact of insulin administration was reaffirmed.

BACKGROUND Brugada syndrome is a potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia characterized by incomplete right bundle-branch block (RBB) and characteristic ST-segment elevation in the anterior electrocardiogram (ECG) leads. This report is of a case of type 2 Brugada syndrome, and discusses the importance of preoperative history and ECG evaluation. CASE REPORT A 32-year-old man was scheduled for tympanoplasty. His preoperative ECG revealed saddleback-type J waves in V₂ (>2 mm) and ST increase (>1 mm) detected 1 week before elective surgery, but the ECG 1 year before showed normal. He had no notable past history. Anesthesia was induced with remifentanil and propofol, and maintained with sevoflurane in combination with remifentanil. Routine monitoring of vital signs was supplemented with V2 monitoring on the ECG. The heart rate was maintained at above 60 beats/min using ephedrine. The course of the operation was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS We managed anesthesia for a patient with a type 2 Brugada syndrome ECG without events, probably because he had no notable past history such as syncope. Type 2 and type 3 Brugada syndrome ECGs are difficult to recognize, and patients with them are considered to be less risky than a patient with a type I ECG. However, as Brugada syndrome ECG is dynamic and changeable, a type 2 or 3 Brugada syndrome ECG can change to a type I ECG under some conditions, and thus should not be overlooked, and the patient's past history or symptoms, such as syncope, should be carefully investigated.

In a patient with very long-chain acyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency, metabolism of fatty acids is impaired and a supply of alternative energy is limited when glucose level is insufficient on starvation. A 37-year-old woman with VLCAD deficiency was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst and was scheduled for laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Glucose was administered intravenously with the start of fasting. Anesthesia was induced with remifentanil, midazolam, and thiamylal, maintained with desflurane and remifentanil. Body temperature was maintained at 36.2–36.7 °C. During anesthesia, hypoglycemia did not occur, creatine kinase levels were in the normal range, and myoglobinuria was not detected. No shivering was observed after extubation. Glucose was administered to avoid perioperative hypoglycemia. Body temperature was controlled to avoid shivering, which would otherwise increase skeletal muscle energy needs. Blood creatine kinase did not increase, and myoglobinuria was not detected; thus, rhabdomyolysis was unlikely to develop.

BACKGROUND: Severe aortic stenosis (AS) is increasing in the aging society and is a serious condition for anesthetic management. However, approximately one-third of patients with severe AS are asymptomatic. Echocardiography is the most reliable method to detect AS, but it takes time and is costly. METHODS: Data were obtained retrospectively from patients who underwent surgery and preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). LVH on ECG was determined by voltage criteria (Sv1 + Rv5 or 6 ≥3.5 mV) and/or the strain pattern in V5 and V6. Severe AS was defined as a mean transaortic pressure gradient ≥40 mmHg or aortic valve area ≤1.0 cm2 by TTE. RESULTS: Data for 470 patients aged 28-94 years old were obtained. One hundred and twenty-six patients had severe AS. LVH on ECG by voltage criteria alone was detected in 182 patients, LVH by strain pattern alone was detected in 80 patients and LVH by both was detected in 55 patients. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that LVH by the strain pattern or voltage criteria, diabetes mellitus, and age were significantly associated with severe AS. The AUC for the ROC curve for LVH by voltage criteria alone was 0.675 and the cut-off value was 3.84 mm V, and the AUC for the ROC for age was 0.675 and the cut-off value was 74 years old. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that patients who are 74 years old or over with LVH on ECG, especially those with DM, should undergo preoperative TTE in order to detect severe AS.