A Practical Guide for Using the EZ-Blocker Endobronchial Blocker: Tips and Tricks After 10 Years of Experience.

The EZ-Blocker (EZB) is a "Y-shaped," semirigid endobronchial blocker used for lung isolation and one-lung ventilation during thoracic surgery. Like many medical tools, initial efforts to use this endobronchial blocker may prove challenging for the uninitiated. However, some tips and tricks can be applied fairly rapidly to aid the clinician in properly placing the device, and, furthermore, may help the clinician get the most out of this innovative device. This article focuses on some of the technical aspects of its placement that the authors have developed over time. Additionally, other facets and potential pitfalls are discussed that relate to intraprocedural issues that may sometimes arise when using this device. The following aspects of the EZB as a lung-isolation device are discussed: standard positioning techniques, alternative positioning techniques, use in pediatric patients, approaches to achieving exceptional lung isolation, advanced uses, and limitations and potential issues. Although some information was taken from the authors' rather extensive experience with using this endobronchial blocker, some of the relevant literature are also reviewed, with the goal of being to improve the reader's knowledge of the device and improve the likelihood of its successful placement. The underlying design of the EZB remains unique among commercially available bronchial blockers in improving positional stability. The Y-shaped conformation, however, can lead to challenges when positioning the device in some patients. Therefore, some very practical tips and tricks are provided to assist the clinician in correctly positioning the device and other hints to improve the quality of lung isolation and surgical conditions.

Thoracic Anesthesia of Patients With Suspected or Confirmed 2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection: Preliminary Recommendations for Airway Management by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology Thoracic Subspecialty Committee.

The novel coronavirus has caused a pandemic around the world. Management of patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection who have to undergo thoracic surgery will be a challenge for the anesthesiologists. The thoracic subspecialty committee of European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology (EACTA) has conducted a survey of opinion in order to create recommendations for the anesthetic approach to these challenging patients. It should be emphasized that both the management of the infected patient with COVID-19 and the self-protection of the anesthesia team constitute a complicated challenge. The text focuses therefore on both important topics.

Innovations to Improve Lung Isolation Training for Thoracic Anesthesia: A Narrative Review.

A double-lumen tube or bronchial blocker positioning using flexible bronchoscopy for lung isolation and one-lung ventilation requires specific technical competencies. Training to acquire and retain such skills remains a challenge in thoracic anesthesia. Recent technological and innovative developments in the field of simulation have opened up exciting new horizons and possibilities. In this narrative review, we examine the latest development of existing training modalities while investigating, in particular, the use of emergent techniques such as virtual reality bronchoscopy simulation, virtual airway endoscopy, or the preoperative 3D printing of airways. The goal of this article is, therefore, to summarize the role of existing and future applications of training models/simulators and virtual reality simulators for training flexible bronchoscopy and lung isolation for thoracic anesthesia.

Selective T3-T4 sympathicotomy versus gray ramicotomy on outcome and quality of life in hyperhidrosis patients: a randomized clinical trial.

Compensatory hyperhidrosis is the leading cause of patients' dissatisfaction after thoracic sympathicotomy. The study aimed to reduce compensatory hyperhidrosis to increase patients' satisfaction. A prospective randomized study on palmar hyperhidrosis, May 2016-September 2019. Twenty-one patients T3-T4 sympathicotomy and 21 T3-T4 gray ramicotomy. Data prospectively collected. Analysis at study's end. Focus on the sweating, temperature, quality of life baseline and postoperatively, compensatory hyperhidrosis, hand dryness, patients' satisfaction, and if they would undergo the procedure again and recommend it. No baseline differences between groups. Hyperhidrosis was controlled postoperatively in all patients. No mortality, serious complications, or recurrences. Sympathicotomy worse postoperative quality of life (49.05 (SD: 15.66, IR: 35.50-63.00) versus ramicotomy 24.30 (SD: 6.02, IR: 19.75-27.25). After ramicotomy, some residual sweating on the face, hands, and axillae. Compensatory sweating worse with sympathicotomy. Satisfaction higher with ramicotomy. Better results with ramicotomy than sympathicotomy regarding hand dryness, how many times a day the patients had to shower or change clothes, intention to undergo the procedure again or recommend it to somebody else, and how bothersome compensatory hyperhidrosis was. T3-T4 gray ramicotomy had better results than T3-T4 sympathicotomy, with less compensatory sweating and higher patients' satisfaction.