Airway Management During the Last 100 Years.

A large variety of airway devices, techniques, and cognitive tools have been developed during the last 100 years to improve airway management safety and became a topic of major research interest. This article reviews the main developments in this period, starting with modern day laryngoscopy in the 1940s, fiberoptic laryngoscopy in the 1960s, supraglottic airway devices in the 1980s, algorithms for difficult airway in the 1990s, and finally modern video-laryngoscopy in the 2000s.

Combined epidural-general anaesthesia vs general anaesthesia in neonatal gastrointestinal surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Post-operative ileus is a frequent complication of gastrointestinal surgery under general anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether combined epidural-general anaesthesia is associated with expedited gastrointestinal function recovery in neonates undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial including 60 neonates who underwent gastrointestinal surgery at a university hospital was performed. Thirty neonates received combined epidural-general anaesthesia (CEGA), and 30 neonates received general anaesthesia (GA) alone. The primary outcome was the post-operative time to tolerance of full enteral nutrition. The secondary outcomes were the post-operative time defaecation, the duration of nasogastric drainage, and infections. RESULTS: After excluding two neonates from the CEGA group, where repeated attempts at epidural catheterization were unsuccessful, a total of 58 patients completed the study (CEGA: 28; GA: 30). Full enteral nutrition was tolerated earlier in CEGA vs the GA group (4.0 vs 8.0 days; P = .0001). Time to defaecation was shorter in the CEGA group (3.5 vs 5.0 days; P = .0001). Duration of nasogastric drainage was similar between groups (7.0 vs 7.0 days; P = .9502). Fewer patients in the CEGA group experienced post-operative infection (35.7% vs 60.0%; P = .038). CONCLUSION: Combined epidural-general anaesthesia is associated with expedited gastrointestinal function recovery and a lower infection risk after gastrointestinal surgery in neonates.

Postoperative analgesia by adding acupuncture to conventional therapy, a non-randomized controlled trial.

Background Postoperative pain is common in patients hospitalized in surgical departments, yet it is currently not sufficiently controlled by analgesics. Acupuncture, a complementary medical practice, has been evaluated for its benefits in postoperative pain with heterogeneous results. We tested the feasibility of a controlled study comparing the postoperative analgesic effect of acupuncture together with standard-of-care to standard-of-care only. Methods In this pilot non-randomized controlled study conducted at a tertiary medical center in Israel, patients received either acupuncture with standard-of-care pain treatment (acupuncture group) or standard-of-care treatment only (control group) following surgery. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ratings for pain level at rest and in motion were evaluated both at recruitment and two hours after treatment. Acupuncture-related side effects were reported as well. Results We recruited 425 patients; 336 were assigned to the acupuncture group and 89 to the control group. The acupuncture group exhibited a decrease of at least 40% in average level of pain both at rest (1.8±2.4, p<0.0001) and in motion (2.1±2.8, p<0.0001) following acupuncture, whereas the control group exhibited no significant decrease (p=0.92 at rest, p=0.98 in motion). Acupuncture's analgesic effect was even more prominent in reducing moderate to severe pain at baseline (VAS ≥4), with a decrease of 49% and 45% of pain level at rest and in motion respectively (p<0.001), compared with no significant amelioration in the control group (p=0.20 at rest, p=0.12 in motion). No major side effects were reported. Conclusion Integrating acupuncture with standard care may improve pain control in the postoperative setting.

A comparison between the Supreme laryngeal mask airway and the laryngeal tube suction during spontaneous ventilation: A randomized prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Supreme laryngeal mask airway (SLMA) and the laryngeal tube suction-disposable (LTS-D), both second-generation supraglottic airway devices, have a record of efficiency when used for airway management in mechanically ventilated patients, during general anesthesia. There is no published data comparing these two devices in patients breathing spontaneously during general anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty patients with normal airways undergoing elective general anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation were randomized to airway management with a SLMA or LTS-D. Efficacy and adequacy of oxygenation and ventilation were compared. RESULTS: No cases of desaturation of oxygen saturation (SpO2) values of less than 95% occurred with either device. The mean difference for SpO2 between the two devices (0.7%) has no clinical significance. Slight hypercapnia was noted with both devices to acceptable values during spontaneous ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Both SLMA and LTS-D are suitable and effective for airway management in patients breathing spontaneously during general anesthesia for minor surgery of short duration.

Inter-center comparison of EasyTube and endotracheal tube during general anesthesia in minor elective surgery.

BACKGROUND: The EasyTube® (EzT) is a supraglottic airway device (SAD) enabling ventilation irrespective of its placement into the esophagus or trachea. Data obtained on SADs from multicenter studies, performed in highly specialized centers cannot always be transferred to other sites. However, data on comparability of different sites are scarce. This study focused on inter-site variability of ventilatory and safety parameters during general anesthesia with the EzT. METHODS: 400 patients with ASA physical status I-II undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgery in four medical centers (EzT group (n = 200), ETT group (n = 200)). Mallampati classification, success of insertion, insertion time, duration of ventilation, number of insertion attempts, ease of insertion, tidal volumes, leakage, hemodynamic parameters, oxygenation, and complications rates with the EasyTube (EzT) or endotracheal tube (ETT) in comparison within the sites and in between the sites were recorded. RESULTS: Intra-site and inter-site comparison of insertion success as primary outcome did not differ significantly. The inter-site comparison of expiratory minute volumes showed that the volumes achieved over the course of anesthesia did not differ significantly, however, mean leakage at one site was significantly higher with the EzT (0.63 l/min, p = 0.02). No significant inter-site differences in heart rate, blood pressure, or oxygenation were observed. Sore throat and blood on the cuff after removal of the device were the most frequent complications with significantly more complications at one site with the EzT (p = 0.01) where insertion was also reported significantly more difficult (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Performance of the EzT but not the ETT varied between sites with regard to insertion difficulty, leakage, and complications but not insertion success, ventilation, hemodynamics, and oxygenation parameters in patients with ASA physical status 1-2 during general anesthesia undergoing minor elective surgery.

Perioperative Risks of Dietary and Herbal Supplements.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing surgery often use Dietary and Herbal Supplements (DHS). We explored the risk of DHS-drug interactions in the perioperative setting. METHODS: In this cross-sectional prospective study, participants hospitalized for surgery completed a questionnaire regarding DHS use. We used pharmacological databases to assess DHS-drug interactions. We then applied univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to characterize patients at risk for DHS-drug interactions. RESULTS: Of 526 interviewees, 230 (44%) patients reported DHS use, with 16.5% reporting using DHS that could potentially interact with anesthesia. Twenty-four (10%) patients used DHS that could potentially interact with antithrombotic drugs taken perioperatively. The medical files of three patients included reports of intraoperative bleeding. The patient files of only 11% of DHS users documented DHS use. CONCLUSIONS: DHS use poses a significant health risk due to potential interactions. Guidelines should emphasize perioperative management of DHS use.

Effectiveness of integrating individualized and generic complementary medicine treatments with standard care versus standard care alone for reducing preoperative anxiety.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Preoperative anxiety is commonly reported by people undergoing surgery. A significant number of studies have found a correlation between preoperative anxiety and post-operative morbidity. Various methods of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) were found to be effective in alleviating preoperative anxiety. This study examined the relative effectiveness of various individual and generic CAM methods combined with standard treatment (ST) in relieving preoperative anxiety, in comparison with ST alone. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Holding room area PATIENTS: Three hundred sixty patients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly divided into 6 equal-sized groups. Group 1 received the standard treatment (ST) for anxiety alleviation with anxiolytics. The five other groups received the following, together with ST (anxiolytics): Compact Disk Recording of Guided Imagery (CDRGI); acupuncture; individual guided imagery; reflexology; and individual guided imagery combined with reflexology, based on medical staff availability. MEASUREMENTS: Assessment of anxiety was taken upon entering the holding room area (surgery preparation room) ('pre-treatment assessment'), and following the treatment, shortly before transfer to the operating room ('post-treatment assessment'), based on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) questionnaire. Data processing included comparison of VAS averages in the 'pre' and 'post' stages among the various groups. MAIN RESULTS: Preoperatively, CAM treatments were associated with significant reduction of anxiety level (5.54-2.32, p<0.0001). In contrast, no significant change was noted in the standard treatment group (4.92-5.44, p=0.15). Individualized CAM treatments did not differ significantly in outcomes. However, CDRGI was less effective than individualized CAM (P<0.001), but better than ST (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Individual CAM treatments integrated within ST reduce preoperative anxiety significantly, compared to standard treatment alone, and are more effective than generic CDRGI. In light of the scope of preoperative anxiety and its implications for public health, integration of CAM therapies with ST should be considered for reducing preoperative anxiety.

Establishing a definitive airway in the trauma patient by novice intubators: A randomised crossover simulation study.

BACKGROUND: Establishing a definitive airway, defined as a tube placed in the trachea with cuff inflated below the vocal cords, is standard of care in pre-hospital airway management of the trauma patient. However, in this setting, and using manual in-line stabilisation of the neck, success rate of intubation by inexperience providers is suboptimal. The use of supraglottic airway devices that allow blind tracheal intubation has been suggested as an alternative method by the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) programme of the American College of Surgeons. We aimed to compare intubation with the standard intubation technique (direct laryngoscopy [DL]) with blind intubation through an intubating-laryngeal mask airway (I-LMA) during manual in-line stabilisation of the neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomised, crossover manikin study was performed with 29 emergency medical technicians undergoing training for paramedic status. Outcome measures were success rate in one intubation attempt, duration of intubation, and assessment of ease-of-use. RESULTS: Study subjects had a higher success rate of tracheal intubation with I-LMA than with DL (27/29 vs. 18/29, p<0.025), and I-LMA was assessed as easier to use (4 vs. 3, p<0.0001). Longer duration of intubation was found with I-LMA compared to DL (54.2 vs. 42.8s, p<0.002). Success rate of correct placement of I-LMA within the airway was 28/29 (96.5%). Time to achieve correct placement of I-LMA within the airway was shorter than duration of tracheal intubation with DL (26.9 vs. 42.8s, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Novice intubators had a higher success rate of intubation with I-LMA than with DL, but duration of intubation was longer with I-LMA. Time to achieve correct placement of I-LMA within the airway was shorter than duration of tracheal intubation with DL. Findings of this simulation study suggest that in the presence of manual in-line stabilisation of the neck, I-LMA-guided intubation is the preferred technique for novice intubators.

The effect of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia versus general anesthesia on the recovery time of intestinal function in young infants undergoing intestinal surgery: a randomized, prospective, controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the rate of restoration of gastrointestinal (GI) function following combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia compared with general anesthesia in young infants undergoing elective intestinal surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Operating room and neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital. SUBJECTS: 50 young infants undergoing elective intestinal surgery. INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS: 50 young infants were randomly allocated to two groups of 25 patients each, a general anesthesia group and a CSE anesthesia group. The two groups were further divided into two subgroups according to whether the surgical procedure was performed on the small or large intestine. The main outcome of this study was to measure the recovery times of GI function by determining the time to the first postoperative stool, duration of nasogastric feeding, and onset time of full enteral nutrition. The secondary outcome was to detect adverse events postoperatively. MAIN RESULTS: Recovery of intestinal function was faster (P < 0.0001) and the frequencies of postoperative abdominal distension and pneumonia were less (P < 0.04) in infants who were anesthetized with CSE anesthesia than general anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia leads to faster restoration of GI function while reducing adverse events in infants who require elective intestinal surgery.

Totally laparoscopic resection of a rare duodenal tumour.

A 39-year-old woman presented to the gastroenterology clinic with recurrent right-upper-quadrant pain and elevated liver enzymes. Endoscopy revealed a small submucosal mass at the edge of the major duodenal papilla, which was not amenable to endoscopic resection. The mass was successfully resected by laparoscopy. The papilla was subsequently reconstructed and a cannula inserted in the common bile duct. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the third postoperative day. Subsequent pathological examination of the excised mass revealed a gangliocytic paraganglioma. Six weeks later, the patient was free of symptoms and the cannula was removed by duodenoscopy.

Improved outcomes in paediatric anaesthesia: contributing factors.

PURPOSE: To discuss developments in paediatric anaesthesia and explore the factors which have contributed to improved anaesthetic-related patient outcomes. METHODS: Narrative review of findings in the literature retrieved from MEDLINE/Pubmed and manual search. RESULTS: Adverse perioperative outcomes related to anaesthesia have been extensively debated over the past few decades, with studies implicating factors such as major human error and equipment failure. Case series and event registries have enlightened physicians on sources of error and patient risk factors such as extremes of age, comorbidity and emergent circumstances. Anaesthetic-related deaths in children fell from 6.4 per 10,000 anaesthetics in the early 1950s to as low as 0.1 per 10,000 anaesthetics by the end of the century. Advances in anaesthetic agents, techniques, monitoring technologies and training programmes in paediatric anaesthesia play a vital role in driving this downward trend. CONCLUSION: Despite substantial progress, there is still much room for improvement in areas such as adverse-event reporting, anaesthetic-related risk and late neurocognitive outcomes. Systematic reviews comparing paediatric patient outcomes after neuroaxial block versus general anaesthesia are currently unavailable. The future of paediatric anaesthesia will most likely be influenced by much-needed large prospective studies, which can provide further insight into patient safety and service delivery.

Prospective randomized comparison of the EasyTube and the esophageal-tracheal Combitube airway devices during general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ease of use of two airway devices, the EasyTube (EzT) versus the esophageal-tracheal Combitube (ETC). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS: 80 adult, ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients scheduled for elective surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients' tracheas were intubated with the EzT or the ETC in randomized fashion. MEASUREMENTS: Difficulty of insertion, time to achieve an effective airway, insertion success rate, maneuvers to achieve an effective airway, oropharyngeal leak pressure, intracuff pressure, ventilatory parameters, success rate of gastric tube insertion, and frequency of adverse effects were compared. MAIN RESULTS: Insertion was easier in the EzT than in ETC; insertion of the EzT was rated easy in 36 7 cases and moderately difficult in 4 cases versus 26 and 14 cases, respectively, for the ETC (P = 0.014). Less time was required to achieve an effective airway with the EzT than the ETC: 19.4 ± 5.3 sec versus 30.6 ± 4.1 seconds, respectively (P < 0.001). Oropharyngeal leak pressure was higher with the EzT than the ETC (34.3 ± 5.95 vs 31.6 ± 2.42 cm H(2)O; P = 0.011). Peak airway pressures for the EZT and the ETC were 22.2 ± 0.99 cm H(2)0 and 33.7 ± 1.82 cm H(2)O, respectively (P < 0.001). Gastric tube insertion was successful with both devices; however, the EzT allowed insertion of gastric tubes of wider diameter. No severe perioperative adverse events were recorded for either device. CONCLUSION: The EzT has distinct advantages over the ETC in airway management, including shorter time to achieve an effective airway and easier insertion.

The postoperative occurrence of cardio-respiratory adverse events in small infants undergoing gastrointestinal surgery: a prospective comparison of general anesthesia and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to compare the occurrences of postoperative cardio-respiratory adverse events during an 8-day follow-up period in the neonatal intensive care unit in small infants who underwent elective gastrointestinal surgery under general and combined spinal epidural anesthesia. METHODS: Fifty infants who underwent elective primary gastrointestinal surgery were randomly divided into two anesthetic techniques. General anesthesia (25 patients) and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (25 patients). The frequency and types of postoperative cardiovascular and respiratory adverse events in the two groups were recorded and compared during an 8-day follow-up period in the neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: The total number of postoperative respiratory adverse events and the number of infants who experienced at least one respiratory adverse event were statistically more in infants anesthetised by general anesthesia than in infants who were anesthetised by combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, respectively (p < 0.0001) and (RR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.2-5.3). There were significantly more cardiovascular adverse events in the general anesthesia infants than in the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (p = 0.005). These adverse cardiovascular events were also more resistant to treatment in the general anesthesia infants than in the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia infants (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Compared to general anesthesia, combined spinal-epidural anesthesia reduces the frequency of postoperative respiratory adverse events and improves the postoperative cardiovascular stability in small infants who undergo elective gastrointestinal surgery.

Flexible upper videoendoscopy through a modified endoscopy mask in infants and young children.

UNLABELLED: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is considered an essential diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in the pediatric population. Although generally safe, EGD has the potential for airway complications. We routinely use general anesthesia to carry out EGD in patients younger than 10 years. In the past, these patients received oxygen either through a nasal cannula or were intubated; both modalities have drawbacks and may be associated with complications. Here we report our experience using a modified endoscopy mask, devised primarily for bronchoscopy, for upper endoscopy in children under general anesthesia. RESULTS: Two hundred forty children (122 boys and 118 girls) participated in the study. Age range was 7 to 135 months (mean 60.7 +/- 34.4 months). All patients maintained a stable hemodynamic status throughout the procedure. Ventilation was satisfactory in 230 patients. It was difficult in 9 patients, and external airway maneuvers had to be applied. Ventilation was impossible in only 1 patient (10 months old), and endotracheal intubation was performed. There were no procedure-related complications. CONCLUSION: The modified endoscopy mask is efficient and safe and should be recommended for routine use for upper endoscopy under general anesthesia in children older than 6 months.

Comparison of the CobraPLA (Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway) and the Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique in children under pressure controlled ventilation.

BACKGROUND: The Laryngeal Mask Airway-Unique (LMAU) and CobraPLA (Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway) are supraglottic airway devices. There are no published studies comparing these devices in children breathing with pressure controlled ventilation (PCV). METHODS: Eighty pediatric patients, scheduled for elective general surgery of short duration, were randomly assigned to have either a CobraPLA or a LMAU used for airway management using PCV. We compared the devices with respect to (i) ability to form an effective cuff seal, (ii) oxygenation, (iii) endtidal carbon dioxide level, (iv) time to achieve an effective airway, (v) airway interventions required for insertion, (vi) fiberoptic score, (vii) respiratory variables and (vii) adverse events. RESULTS: Cuff seal pressure was significantly higher for CobraPLA (27.08 +/- 4.15 cmH(2)O) than for LMAU (20.91 +/- 2.47 cmH(2)O). Oxygenation was similar in both groups while the mean endtidal CO(2) in the CobraPLA group was significantly higher than in the LMAU group (36.47 +/- 1.93 mmHg vs 34.71 +/- 3.05 mmHg, P = 0.021). Time and ease of insertion were similar, with CobraPLA requiring more frequent jaw lift and LMAU requiring more frequent adjustment of the head and neck to achieve a proper position. Fiberoptic scores were excellent with both devices. Respiratory variables were similar with the exception that the plateau pressure and mean peak pressures were significantly lower with CobraPLA. There was a low rate of blood mucosal staining of the devices. No patient in either group reported a sore throat. CONCLUSIONS: Both devices appear to be safe and effective in establishing an adequate airway in healthy children undergoing surgery of short duration with PCV.

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in major abdominal surgery in high-risk neonates and infants.

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE-A) is reportedly safe and effective for the pediatric population in infraumbilical surgery. Our main purpose was to describe our experience of this technique in neonates and infants undergoing elective major upper abdominal surgery. METHODS: Spinal anesthesia was performed in 28 neonates and infants with isobaric bupivacaine 0.5%, 1 mg.kg(-1) followed by placement of a caudal epidural catheter to thoracic spinal segments. The catheter tip position was confirmed radiographically. Respiratory and hemodynamic data were collected before and after the CSE-A and throughout the operation, as a measure of anesthetic effectiveness. Complications related to the anesthesia technique were collected as a measure of the anesthetic technique safety. RESULTS: Satisfactory surgical anesthesia was achieved in 24 neonates and infants, four patients were converted to general anesthesia. Respiratory and hemodynamic variables did not change significantly during surgery, compared with baseline values: oxygen saturation (P = 0.07), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (P = 0.143, P = 0.198 respectively), heart rate (P = 0.080) and respiratory rate (P = 0.127). However, twenty infants were fussy during the surgical procedures and were calmed with intravenous midazolam; our patients required oxygen supplementation and transient manual ventilation intraoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia could be considered as an effective anesthetic technique for elective major upper abdominal surgery in awake or sedated neonates and infants, and could be used cautiously by a pediatric anesthesiologist as an alternate to general anesthesia in high-risk neonates and infants undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery.

The effects of droperidol in perforating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraoperative and postoperative effects of droperidol administered with general anesthesia during perforating keratoplasty. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial. Twenty-seven patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty under general anesthesia were included. Patients were assigned randomly to two groups. Fifteen subjects received droperidol during induction of general anesthesia. Twelve control patients received general anesthesia without droperidol. RESULTS: Droperidol significantly reduced fellow eye intraocular pressure (p < 0.0001). Intraoperative anterior chamber depth was significantly deeper with droperidol (p = 0.0002). Iris bulging was observed in 25% of the control group and 0% with droperidol. There was significantly less postoperative nausea in the droperidol group (p = 0.038). There was less postoperative vomiting in the droperidol group, although the difference was not significant (p = 0.07). Postoperative wound gaping was observed in 2 patients; both of them did not receive droperidol. CONCLUSIONS: Droperidol effectively reduces intraoperative and postoperative complications in keratoplasty surgery.

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy through the laryngeal mask airway in a small, premature neonate.

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was introduced as a supraglottic device in anesthesia for routine use in the normal adult and pediatric population. Because the distal end of properly placed LMA faces the laryngeal inlet, this device can be used as a guide to flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) performance. In this clinical case, we present a small premature neonate with severe congenital biphasic stridor. FFB was performed successfully through the LMA while maintaining a patent airway during general anesthesia and permitting spontaneous respiration, as well as allowing assisted ventilation when necessary. An immediately subglottic intramural mass was revealed and tracheostomy was performed.