Pharyngeal oxygen delivery device sustains manikin lung oxygenation longer than high-flow nasal cannula.

Purpose: Hypoxemia during a failed airway scenario is life threatening. A dual-lumen pharyngeal oxygen delivery device (PODD) was developed to fit inside a traditional oropharyngeal airway for undisrupted supraglottic oxygenation and gas analysis during laryngoscopy and intubation. We hypothesized that the PODD would provide oxygen as effectively as high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) while using lower oxygen flow rates. Methods: We compared oxygen delivery of the PODD to HFNC in a preoxygenated, apneic manikin lung that approximated an adult functional residual capacity. Four arms were studied: HFNC at 20 and 60 liters per minute (LPM) oxygen, PODD at 10 LPM oxygen, and a control arm with no oxygen flow after initial preoxygenation. Five randomized 20-minute trials were performed for each arm (20 trials total). Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were used with statistical significance of P < 0.05. Results: Mean oxygen concentrations were statistically different and decreased from 97% as follows: 41 ± 0% for the control, 90 ± 1% for HFNC at 20 LPM, 88 ± 2% for HFNC at 60 LPM, and 97 ± 1% (no change) for the PODD at 10 LPM. Conclusion: Oxygen delivery with the PODD maintained oxygen concentration longer than HFNC in this manikin model at lower flow rates than HFNC.

Changing the Culture: Increasing and Sustaining Anesthesiology Resident Physician Publication Rates.

Background: Academic inquiry is foundational to the advancement of medicine and resident training and must be demonstrated to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Past attempts at increasing publication rates have failed to identify educational best practice models. Our aim was to increase resident publication rates via culture and value changes that are universally implementable, affordable, effective, and sustainable. Methods: In 2018, a multifaceted initiative was implemented to shift departmental values and foster a culture of academic productivity. This culture change stressed the value of scientific publication through frequent, consistent messaging from department leaders. In addition, residents were provided the freedom to choose their scholarly activities. In this retrospective cohort innovation, resident authors were identified for 4 academic years before and after the intervention and publication rates were determined (2014-2018 vs 2018-2022). Resident authors and publications per resident per year were compared using descriptive statistics and Student t test. Results: The pre- and postintervention groups included 38 and 37 residents, respectively. Resident-authored publications increased from 7 preintervention to 24 postintervention, representing 343% of baseline. Mean ± SD publications per resident per year similarly increased 357% from 0.183 ± 0.16 to 0.654 ± 0.11 postintervention. Unpaired t test analysis demonstrated a significant difference in total publications per year (P = .002) and authorship rate (P = .003). Conclusions: A multifaceted academic initiative resulted in a threefold increase in resident publication rates. This initiative demonstrates that local advocacy by leaders, freedom of choice for authors, and supportive departmental culture are driving factors in publication rates.

Late Airway Compromise Secondary to Dural Tear and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak.

Background: While dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery is common, a dural tear is a rare complication. Airway compromise resulting from cerebrospinal fluid collection is an even rarer complication that has only been described to occur in the first few days postoperatively. Case Report: A 55-year-old male presented with progressive dysphagia and respiratory compromise 3 weeks after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery at C3-C6. Imaging demonstrated extensive fluid collection in the retropharyngeal space and lateral neck, resulting in displacement of the cricoid cartilage rightward and anteriorly while also narrowing the pharyngeal space. After the patient's airway was secured by awake fiberoptic intubation, the fluid was determined to be cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a cervical dural tear. The tear was identified and repaired. The patient was extubated the next day, and a lumbar drain was placed to reduce the strain on the repair. After 11 days in the hospital, the patient made a full recovery. Conclusion: Dural tears following cervical disc surgery are rare and almost always identified in the immediate postoperative period; however, a dural tear should still be considered when a patient presents with a fluid collection at a later date. While techniques for securing the airway would not be different based on the type of fluid, knowing that the fluid collection is CSF could prompt the anesthesia team to place a lumbar drain.

A Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Update: Current information on New Drugs, Old Drugs, Rescue/Treatment, Combination Therapies and Nontraditional Modalities.

This article's objective is to present the latest evidence and information on the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). PONV continues to affect 30% of the surgical population causing patient dissatisfaction, extending length of stay, and increasing overall costs. This review includes the introduction of 2 new intravenous formulations of antiemetics (amisulpride, aprepitant), updates on nontraditional therapies, suggestions for combination prophylaxis, emerging data on rescue treatment, and considerations for special populations and settings. Both of the new antiemetics provide promising options for pharmacologic interventions for PONV with favorable safety profiles.

Lipid 20% emulsion ameliorates the symptoms of olanzapine toxicity in a 4-year-old.

Olanzapine (Zyprexa; Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN) is an antipsychotic medication that has been useful in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In cases of overdose, cardiovascular and neurologic changes are seen. Lipid emulsion has proven successful in relieving the toxicity associated with overdose of lipid-soluble drugs. We present a case report of a 4-year-old child who presented with tachycardia and agitation, followed by somnolence after presumed accidental olanzapine ingestion. Treatment with lipid emulsion resulted in amelioration of the symptoms. Inadvertent discontinuation of a lipid emulsion infusion led to recurrence of symptoms, which quickly resolved with an additional loading dose of lipid emulsion.

Full flexion of the hips and knees in the supine position to treat an episode of acute hypotension and pulseless electrical activity in a patient with severe aortic stenosis.

This is a case report of a 77-year-old man with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent removal of an impacted ureteral stone under general anesthesia. During emergence from general anesthesia, his legs were lowered from lithotomy position, resulting in sudden hypotension with progression to pulseless electrical activity. The legs were raised and placed into full flexion of the hips and knees. This maneuver was temporally related to a return of spontaneous circulation and full recovery. Possible mechanisms for this effect are discussed.

Perioperative ischemic optic neuropathy: a case control analysis of 126,666 surgical procedures at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic optic neuropathy is the most common cause of perioperative vision loss. The authors sought to determine its incidence and identify risk factors that may contribute to perioperative ischemic optic neuropathy associated with nonophthalmologic surgical procedures at their institution. METHODS: Seventeen patients who experienced perioperative ischemic optic neuropathy were included in a retrospective chart review case-control study. The authors matched each patient with two control patients who had a similar surgical procedure but did not lose vision. They analyzed multiple perioperative variables for the case and control groups. RESULTS: From among 126,666 surgical procedures performed during the study period, the authors identified 17 patients with perioperative ischemic optic neuropathy, yielding an overall incidence of 0.013%. There were no hemodynamic variables that differed significantly between the ischemic optic neuropathy patients and the matched control patients. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that perioperative ischemic optic neuropathy can occur in the absence of atypical fluctuations in hemodynamic variables during the perioperative period.

Implications of endotracheal tube placement in a patient with a true tracheal bronchus.

We report a rare anatomic abnormality, a true tracheal bronchus, where the right upper bronchus originates directly from the supracarinal trachea. This unusual anatomic variant can be problematic for the anesthesiologist if it is unrecognized. It can lead to hypoventilation of the right upper bronchus or cause confusion in placement of a double-lumen endotracheal tube if the carina is misidentified, as demonstrated in our case report. Successful isolation of the right lung requires understanding and rapid recognition of the anomaly.

Morphine attenuates microvascular hyperpermeability via a protein kinase A-dependent pathway.

BACKGROUND: A recently published study from our laboratory demonstrated that morphine sulfate (MS) attenuates microvascular hyperpermeability after hemorrhagic shock in rats. MS binds to the mu receptors located on the surface of endothelial cells. Activation of the endothelial cell mu receptors has been shown by several investigators to stimulate adenylate cyclase. We hypothesize that MS binding to the mu receptor on endothelial cells increases cyclic adenosine monophosphate via adenylate cyclase activation. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate inhibits the phosphoinositide/MAP kinase hyperpermeability pathway via the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent inhibition of Raf-1. METHODS: Studies were conducted in five groups of urethane-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats: Group 1--control group, Group 2--a non-receptor-blocking adenylate cyclase inhibitor: SQ22536, at 100 microg/kg (n = 5), Group 3--a PKA inhibitor: H89, at 10 microg/kg, Group 4--a morphine sulfate (10 microg/kg) and PKA inhibitor group, and Group 5--an adenylate cyclase inhibited and morphine (10 microg/kg) group. Intravital microscopy in mesenteric postcapillary venules and rat lung microvascular endothelial cell monolayers were used to measure permeability. RESULTS: Adenylate cyclase and PKA inhibition resulted in vascular hyperpermeability. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated an increase in vascular hyperpermeability after inhibition of adenylate cyclase via SQ22536, a nonreceptor inhibitor. This increase in hyperpermeability was attenuated when treated with MS. Morphine did not attenuate hyperpermeability after blockage following PKA with H89 suggesting the action of MS is upstream of PKA and PKA dependent.

Lipid Emulsion Rescue of Amniotic Fluid Embolism-Induced Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report.

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare and often fatal complication that occurs in the peripartum period. We present a patient with an AFE who developed disseminated intravascular coagulation and cardiovascular collapse who may have benefitted from intravascular lipid emulsion rescue. This is the first published case in which lipid emulsion was a part of the successful treatment of AFE.

Morphine sulfate attenuates hemorrhagic shock-induced hyperpermeability.

Morphine sulfate is often administered for patients requiring surgical intervention for the control of hemorrhage. Recent data implicate morphine as an immune modulator that affects white blood cells and increases infection rates. In addition, morphine releases histamine, an inflammatory mediator that increases microvascular permeability. Both of these actions of morphine could aggravate the inflammatory progress after hemorrhagic shock. In this study, we evaluated the role of morphine sulfate on microvascular permeability and its effects on leukocyte adherence after hemorrhagic shock. After a control period, blood was withdrawn to reduce the mean arterial blood pressure to 40 mm Hg for 1 h in urethane-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Mesenteric postcapillary venules in a transilluminated segment of small intestine were examined to quantify changes in permeability and leukocyte adherence. The rats received an IV injection of fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine albumin during the control period. The fluorescent light intensity emitted from the fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine albumin was recorded with digital microscopy within the lumen of the microvasculature and compared with the intensity of light in the extraluminal space over time. These images were downloaded to a computerized image analysis program that quantitates changes in light intensity. This change in light intensity represents albumin extravasation. In addition, bright-field images were recorded on compact disk for playback to determine leukocyte adherence. Leukocytes stationary for more than 30 s or longer in a 100-micron segment of venule was considered adherent. Our results demonstrated a marked increase in fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine albumin leakage into the extravascular space after hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhagic shock was also associated with an increase in leukocytes adhering to the postcapillary venular endothelium. Morphine sulfate 10 microg/kg given before the shock period, attenuated both the hyperpermeability (P < 0.05) and the increase in leukocyte adherence (P < 0.05) after hemorrhagic shock. These results suggest that instead of aggravating the inflammatory response after hemorrhagic shock, morphine may provide protection to the microvasculature.

Table tipping and a near-miss fall after unlocking a surgical table holding a morbidly obese patient.

Presented is a case report of a morbidly obese patient who experienced a near-miss fall in the operating room due to several factors. We present the importance of recognizing the change in fulcrum location on a Steris 4085 operating table when the bed is in the unlocked versus the locked position. This small change, in the presence of morbid obesity and reverse orientation of the table, can lead to an unsafe situation in which the patient's weight can cause the table to tip. We present potential ways to avoid this complication.

Use of ultrasound guidance to remove entrapped stimulating popliteal catheters.

Peripheral nerve catheters are beneficial for continuous pain relief following surgery or trauma to an extremity. However, spring-loaded peripheral nerve catheters can become uncoiled and entrapped, resulting in difficulty in catheter removal. We present two cases where ultrasound guidance provided significant assistance in the safe removal of entrapped peripheral nerve catheters without neurologic sequelae. One of the catheters was adhered to nearby tissue, and one had become uncoiled and anchored in place by the distal tip. Guidelines for the safe management of entrapped catheters are suggested, including the use of saline injections through the catheter under ultrasound guidance to assist in the evaluation and removal of the catheters.