Two months ago a 68-year-old man with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus had a transurethral resection of the prostate under spinal anesthesia with tetracaine plus epinephrine. He now has numbness and tingling in both feet and disturbance of gait. Physical examination demonstrates stocking-type hypesthesia of both feet and ankles. The most likely diagnosis is
(A) anterior spinal artery syndrome
(B) diabetic neuropathy
(C) adhesive arachnoiditis
(D) cauda equina syndrome
(E) peripheral nerve injury from the lithotomy position
A 30-year-old woman underwent emergency cesarean delivery under general anesthesia at 36 weeks' gestation because of preeclampsia. Two hours after the operation, she is still intubated and apneic and cannot be aroused. Deep tendon reflexes are 1+. With mechanical ventilation at an FiO2 of 0.4, PaO2 is 130 mmHg, PaCO2 is 32 mmHg, pH is 7.45, and base excess is -0.6. The most likely cause is
Which of the following statements concerning successful blockade of the femoral nerve is true?
(A) It requires that a paresthesia be elicited prior to injection
(B) It provides motor blockade below the knee
(C) It is accomplished with an injection medial to the femoral artery
(D) It permits surgery for entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
(E) It provides anesthesia to the anterior thigh
E
A 50-year-old patient is undergoing middle ear exploration with isoflurane, nitrous oxide, and oxygen anesthesia. Ventilation is controlled; PetC02 is 35 mmHg, heart rate is 90 bpm, and blood pressure is 120/70 mmHg. Assistance is needed to minimize bleeding in the surgical field. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
(A) Addition of 5 cmH20 positive end-expiratory pressure
(B) Changing the anesthetic agent to halothane
(C) Hyperventilation to a PetC02 of 20 mmHg
(D) Placing the patient in reverse Trendelenburg position
(E) Titration of nitroprusside to a mean arterial pressure of 55 mmHg
D
Intrathecally administered opioids exert their analgesic effects primarily in the