The unique challenges of Brugada syndrome in spinal deformity surgery

Brugada Syndrome (BrS) is a genetic condition associated with ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. In BrS, several pharmacological agents may increase the risk for arrhythmia and total intravenous anesthesia with propofol (TIVA) may be contraindicated due to the increased risk of perioperative cardiac arrest. Anesthesia with halogenated volatile agents has to be used instead, making monitoring of sensory and motor evoked potentials in spine surgery problematic. Furthermore, hyperthermia may induce ventricular arrhythmia in BrS, thus making temperature control of paramount importance. The purpose of this paper is to describe the particular challenges of anesthesia and intraoperative neuromonitoring associated with corrective spinal surgery in an adolescent girl with BrS. We present an analysis of a multidisciplinary approach to performing corrective spine surgery in an otherwise healthy 14-year-old girl with scoliosis. Before surgery, multidisciplinary meetings were conducted, including anesthesia and intensive care, pediatric cardiology as well as the spine team. The surgery was performed with inhalation anesthesia using sevoflurane and cardiac monitoring. Continuous somatosensory potentials were monitored as well as motor evoked potentials. The patient underwent corrective surgery from Th3 to L2. With a multidisciplinary team approach involving anesthesia and cardiology outlining the appropriate precautions, scoliosis correction with intraoperative neuromonitoring, can be safely performed in patients with BrS using inhalation anesthesia

Inflammation reduces osteoblast cytotoxicity induced by diclofenac

BACKGROUND Diclofenac and other NSAIDs are routinely used in the postoperative period. Their effect on fracture healing remains unclear and controversial. OBJECTIVE The primary outcome was to assess the potential cytotoxicity of clinically relevant concentrations of diclofenac on human osteoblasts. DESIGN Laboratory in vitro study. SETTING Institute of Physiology, Zurich, Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich. MATERIALS Monolayers of human osteoblasts. INTERVENTIONS Exposure of human osteoblast monolayers to several concentrations of diclofenac, for different periods of time, with and without an artificially induced inflammatory process. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cell count, cell viability, cell proliferation and apoptosis. RESULTS A concentration-mediated, time and exposure dependent cytotoxic effect of diclofenac-mediated apoptosis was observed. Stimulated inflammatory conditions seemed to reduce toxic effects. CONCLUSION Cytotoxic effects of diclofenac are exposure, time and concentration dependent. Simulating aspects of inflammatory conditions seems to increase resistance to diclofenac cytotoxicity, especially in the presence of higher concentration and longer exposure time