Effect of neck extension on the advancement of tracheal tubes from the nasal cavity to the oropharynx in nasotracheal intubation: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians sometimes encounter resistance in advancing a tracheal tube, which is inserted via a nostril, from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx during nasotracheal intubation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neck extension on the advancement of tracheal tubes from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx during nasotracheal intubation. METHODS: Patients were randomized to the 'neck extension group (E group)' or 'neutral position group (N group)' for this randomized controlled trial. After induction of anesthesia, a nasal RAE tube was inserted via a nostril. For the E group, an anesthesiologist advanced the tube from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx with the patient's neck extended. For the N group, an anesthesiologist advanced the tube without neck extension. If the tube was successfully advanced into the oropharynx within two attempts by the same maneuver according to the assigned group, the case was defined as 'success.' We compared the success rate of tube advancement between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients in the E group and 33 in the N group completed the trial. The success rate of tube passage during the first two attempts was significantly higher in the E group than in the N group (93.8% vs. 60.6%; odds ratio = 9.75, 95% CI = [1.98, 47.94], p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Neck extension during tube advancement from the nasal cavity to the oropharynx before laryngoscopy could be helpful in nasotracheal intubation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03377114 , registered on 13 December 2017.

Effect of remote ischaemic conditioning on coagulation function as measured by whole blood impedance aggregometry and rotational thromboelastometry in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: A randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) has been shown to prevent platelet activation during ablation for atrial fibrillation. RIC has also been associated with more postoperative transfusion in the off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB) patients. We evaluated the effects of RIC on coagulation function in OPCAB patients. METHODS: A total of 58 patients undergoing OPCAB were randomised to the RIC or control group. In the RIC group, four cycles of 5 min of ischaemia and 5 min of reperfusion were applied twice to the upper arm after the induction of anaesthesia (preconditioning), and after the completion of coronary anastomoses (postconditioning). Whole blood impedance aggregometry (Multiplate®) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) were performed before the induction of anaesthesia, at the end of surgery, and at postoperative day 1. RESULTS: The trend towards a decrease in adenosine diphosphate-induced whole blood aggregation at the end of surgery was greater in the RIC group than in the control group, but this effect was not statistically significant (-10.4 [18.1] vs. -5.7 [24.8] U, P = 0.424). In ROTEM® analysis, the EXTEM area under the velocity curve was lower in the RIC group than in the control group at the end of surgery (3567 [1399-5794] vs. 5693 [4718-6179] mm∗100, respectively; P = 0.030). A tendency of larger perioperative blood loss was identified in the RIC group. CONCLUSIONS: Although some parameters indicated a tendency for hypocoagulation in the RIC group at the end of surgery, most effects were not statistically significant. RIC does not significantly affect perioperative platelet aggregability and coagulation in patients undergoing OPCAB.

Anaphylactic reaction after local lidocaine infiltration for retraction of retained teeth.

Although allergic reactions are not rare complications in drug use, anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions to some widely used drugs can embarrass clinicians because anaphylaxis is not easily diagnosed at the time of the event and treatment is unfamiliar to many. Lidocaine is a very popular drug in dental procedures and anaphylactoid reaction to it has been rarely reported. Clinicians who use lidocaine daily should, however, be aware of the possibility of anaphylaxis after its use. Once it occurs, anaphylaxis can be fatal, but if it is quickly diagnosed or suspected, treatment is simpler than most clinicians believe. An 86-year-old woman experienced an anaphylactic reaction 30 min after local infiltration of lidocaine for retraction of retained teeth. The dentist called an anesthesiologist for assistance. Fortunately, an anaphylactic reaction was quickly suspected and after subsequent rapid treatment with the administration of fluid and drug therapy, the patient recovered completely.

Augmentation of curved tip of left-sided double-lumen tubes to reduce right bronchial misplacement: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: During intubation with a blind technique, a left-sided double-lumen tube (DLT) can be misdirected into the right bronchus even though its curved tip of the bronchial lumen turns to the left. This right bronchial misplacement may be associated with the tip angle of DLTs. We thus performed a randomized trial to test the hypothesis that the DLT with an acute tip angle enters the right bronchus less frequently than the tube with an obtuse tip angle. METHODS: We randomized surgical patients (n = 1427) receiving a polyvinyl chloride left-sided DLT. Before intubation, the curved tip was further bent to an angle of 135° and kept with a stylet inside in the curved-tip group, but not in the control group. After the tip was inserted into the glottis under direct or video laryngoscopy, the stylet was removed and the DLT was advanced into the bronchus with its tip turning to the left. We checked which bronchus was intubated, and the time and number of attempts for intubation. After surgery, we assessed airway injury, sore throat, and hoarseness. The primary outcome was the incidence of right bronchial misplacement of the DLT. RESULTS: DLTs were misdirected into the right bronchus more frequently in the control group than in the curved-tip group: 57/715 (8.0%) vs 17/712 (2.4%), risk ratio (95% CI) 3.3 (2.0-5.7), P < 0.001. The difference was significant in the use of 32 (P = 0.003), 35 (P = 0.007), and 37 (P = 0.012) Fr DLTs. Intubation required longer time (P < 0.001) and more attempts (P = 0.002) in the control group. No differences were found in postoperative airway injury, sore throat and hoarseness. CONCLUSIONS: Before intubation of left-sided DLTs, augmentation of the curved DLT tip reduced the right bronchial misplacement and facilitated intubation without aggravating airway injury.

Ultrasound assessment of the anatomic landmarks for spinal anesthesia in elderly patients with hip fracture: A prospective observational study.

Tuffier line is a common landmark for spinal anesthesia. The 10th rib line has been suggested as a new landmark to predict the intervertebral levels. We evaluated the accuracy of these 2 anatomic landmarks for identifying the L4-L5 intervertebral space using ultrasonography in elderly patients with hip fracture.Seventy-nine elderly patients scheduled for hip fracture surgery under spinal anesthesia were included. In the lateral decubitus position with the fracture side up, the L4-L5 intervertebral space was identified alternately using Tuffier line, a line drawn between the highest points of both iliac crests, and the 10th rib line. The 10th rib line, an imaginary line that joints the 2 lowest points of the rib cage, passes through the L1-L2 intervertebral space or the body of L2. The L4-L5 intervertebral space was determined by the counting-down method from the 10th rib line. Then, the estimated intervertebral spaces were evaluated using ultrasonography.The L4-L5 intervertebral space was correctly identified in 47 (59%) patients with Tuffier line and 45 (57%) patients with the 10th rib line (P = .87). The estimation ratio related to the intervertebral levels was not different between the 2 landmarks (P = .40). The wrong identifications of intervertebral level with Tuffier line and the 10th rib line was observed in the following order: L3-L4 intervertebral space: 27% vs 24%, L5-S1 intervertebral space: 9% vs 16%, and L2-L3 intervertebral space: 5% vs 3%, respectively.Tuffier line and the 10th rib line may be unreliable to estimate the intervertebral space for spinal anesthesia in elderly patients with hip fracture.

Effect of Case Volume on Mortality After Pediatric Liver Transplantation in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether institutional case-volume affects clinical outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the database of Korean National Healthcare Insurance Service. Between January 2007 and December 2016, 521 pediatric liver transplantations were performed at 22 centers in Korea. Centers were categorized according to the average annual number of liver transplantations: >10, 1 to 10, and <1. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality rates in the high-, medium-, and low-volume centers were 5.8%, 12.5%, and 32.1%, respectively. After adjustment, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in low-volume centers (adjusted odds ratio, 9.693; 95% confidence interval, 4.636-20.268; P < 0.001) and medium-volume centers (adjusted odds ratio, 3.393; 95% confidence interval, 1.980-5.813; P < 0.001) compared to high-volume centers. Long-term survival for up to 9 years was better in high-volume centers. CONCLUSIONS: Centers with higher case volume (>10 pediatric liver transplantations/y) had better outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation, including in-hospital mortality and long-term mortality, compared to centers with lower case volume (≤10 liver transplantations/y).