Chlamydia psittaci Pneumonia in a patient with motor neuron disease: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Motor neuron disease (MND) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive loss of motor neurons. Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) is a rare etiology of community-acquired pneumonia characterized primarily by respiratory distress. We reported a case of C. psittaci pneumonia complicated with motor neuron disease (MND). CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old male was referred to the Shaoxing Second Hospital at January, 2022 complaining of fever and fatigue for 2 days. The patient was diagnosed of MND with flail arm syndrome 1 year ago. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of sputum obtained through bedside fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed C. psittaci infection. Then doxycycline was administrated and bedside fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed to assist with sputum excretion. Computed Tomography (CT) and fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed a significant decrease in sputum production. On day 24 after admission, the patient was discharged with slight dyspnea, limited exercise tolerance. One month later after discharge, the patient reported normal respiratory function, and chest CT showed significant absorption of sputum. CONCLUSIONS: The mNGS combined with bedside fiberoptic bronchoscopy could timely detect C. psittaci infection. Bedside fiberoptic bronchoscopy along with antibiotic therapy may be effective for C. psittaci treatment.

A missed diagnosis of sputum crust with fiberoptic bronchoscope causing extubation failure: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoscopic biopsy are the established methods for diagnosing and treating sputum crust. However, sputum crust in concealed locations can sometimes be missed or undiagnosed, even with bronchoscopy. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 44-year-old female patient who experienced initial extubation failure and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) due to the missed diagnosis of sputum crust by FOB and low-resolution bedside chest X-ray. The FOB examination showed no apparent abnormalities prior to the first extubation, and the patient underwent tracheal extubation 2 h after aortic valve replacement (AVR). However, she was reintubated 13 h after the first extubation due to a persistent irritating cough and severe hypoxemia, and a bedside chest radiograph revealed pneumonia and atelectasis. Upon performing a repeat FOB examination prior to the second extubation, we serendipitously discovered the presence of sputum crust at the end of the endotracheal tube. Subsequently, we found that the sputum crust was mainly located on the tracheal wall between the subglottis and the end of the endotracheal tube during the "Tracheobronchial Sputum Crust Removal" procedure, and most of the crust was obscured by the retained endotracheal tube. The patient was discharged on the 20th day following therapeutic FOB. CONCLUSION: FOB examination may miss specific areas in endotracheal intubation (ETI) patients, particularly the tracheal wall between the subglottis and distal end of the tracheal catheter, where sputum crust can be concealed. When diagnostic examinations with FOB are inconclusive, high-resolution chest CT can be helpful in identifying hidden sputum crust.

Anesthesiology trainees performing flexible scope intubation in spontaneously breathing patients in the left lateral position and the supine position: a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Flexible scope intubation is an important airway management skill that requires hands-on training in a real airway. We compared flexible scope intubation by trainees between patients in the left lateral and supine positions. METHODS: Forty patients aged 20 to 80 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I to III were scheduled for elective surgery under general endotracheal anesthesia in Ramathibodi Hospital from February 2020 to June 2020. Patients were randomly assigned to be intubated in one of two positions: supine (Group S) or left lateral (Group L). Trainees performed flexible scope intubation in sedated patients under the supervision of an attending anesthesiologist. Intubation success, time to successful intubation, number of attempts, airway adjustment maneuvers, and hemodynamic changes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Patient characteristics did not differ between groups except for Mallampati airway classification. The rate of successful intubation on the first attempt and intubation time did not significantly differ between groups. The proportion of patients who required a jaw thrust during intubation was significantly lower in Group L (10.5% vs. 85%; P < 0.01). Blood pressure and oxygen saturation declined in both groups after intubation. The relative risk of desaturation in patients in the left lateral position compared with the supine position was 0.44 (0.1649-1.1978). CONCLUSION: The rate of successful flexible scope intubation on the first attempt and intubation time did not differ between the groups. The proportion of patients who required a jaw thrust maneuver was significantly lower in patients in the left lateral position. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/ ( TCTR20200208001 ) on 08/02/2020.

Novel use of balloon-tipped bronchial blockers to occlude neonatal tracheoesophageal fistula: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Management of the airway and ventilation in neonates with a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) remains a significant challenge. The routine method of intubation involves placement of the tracheal tube tip beyond the fistula opening followed by isolation of the fistula from ventilation using the inflated cuff. When the fistula opening is close to the carina or below the level of the carina, the traditional technique is not suitable for adequate ventilation. Moreover, this method fails to prevent gastric insufflation. CASE PRESENTATION: We herein report a series of 10 newborns with TEFs (1,090-3,080 g) who underwent bronchoscopic insertion of a 5-Fr balloon-tipped bronchial blocker (BTBB) for temporary occlusion of the fistula. In seven newborns, placement of the BTBB was easily and quickly achieved with no incorrect placements. In addition, we successfully utilized the inner hollow cavity of the BTBB for gastric decompression in six neonates with severe gastric distension. However, three failed placements occurred in premature infants (<2,000 g) because the narrow cricoid cavity was too small to accommodate a 2.8-mm fiberoptic bronchoscope and a BTBB. The procedure was well tolerated by all infants, and no significant adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate that BTBBs can provide durable blockage of the fistula opening and should be considered as a treatment modality for infants with large carinal TEFs. Moreover, BTBB placement is neither arduous nor time-consuming. The hollow center, small round balloon, and 30-degree angled tip of the BTBB make this device feasible for clinical application, especially for neonates with severe gastrointestinal distension.

Migration of ingested sharp foreign body into the bronchus: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body ingestion is a common emergence in gastroenterology. Foreign bodies are most likely to be embedded in the esophagus. The sharp ones may penetrate the esophageal wall and lead to serious complications. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old Chinese female was admitted to our hospital with a 4-day history of retrosternal pain and a growing cough after eating fish. Chest computed tomography scan indicated that a high-density foreign body (a fish bone) penetrated through the esophageal wall and inserted into the left main bronchus. First, we used a rigid esophagoscope to explore the esophagus under general anesthesia. However, the foreign body was invisible in the side of the esophagus. Then, the fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed. We divided the fish bone, which traversed the left main bronchus, into two segments under holmium laser and removed the foreign body successfully. The operation time was short and there were no complications. The patient was discharged 1 week postoperatively and was symptom free even under a liquid diet. CONCLUSIONS: There are several challenges in the management of this rare condition. We applied the technique of interventional bronchoscopy to the management of esophageal foreign body flexibly in an emergency. A surgery was avoided, which was more invasive and costly.

Effects of head positions on awake fiberoptic bronchoscope oral intubation: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are many factors affecting the success rate of awake orotracheal intubation via fiberoptic bronchoscope. We performed this study was to investigate the effects of head positions on awake Fiberoptic bronchoscope oral intubation. METHODS: Seventy-five adult patients, received general anaesthesia were included in this study. After written informed consent, these patients were undergoing awake orotracheal intubation via fiberoptic-bronchoscope and according to the head position, the patients were randomized allocated to neutral position group (NP group), sniffing position group (SP group) or extension position group (EP group). After sedation the patients were intubated by an experienced anesthesiologist. The time to view the vocal cords, the percentage of glottic opening scores (POGO), the time to insert the tracheal tube into trachea and the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for ease experienced of passing the tracheal tube through glottis, the hemodynamic changes and the adverse events after surgery were recorded. RESULTS: The time to view the vocal cords was significantly shorter and the POGO scores was significantly higher in the EP group compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05); The SpO2 in the EP group was higher than NP group at before intubation and higher than SP group and NP group at immediate after intubation (P < 0.05); The time to insert the tracheal tube into trachea, the VAS scores for passing the tracheal tube through glottis, the coughing scores had no significant differences among groups (P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences regard to the incidence of postoperative complications, mean arterial pressure and heart rate among the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The head at extension position had a best view of glottic opening than neutral position or sniffing position during awake Fiberoptic bronchoscope oral intubation, so extension position was recommended as the starting head position for awake Fiberoptic bronchoscope oral intubation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov. no. NCT02792855. Registered at https://register.clinicaltrials.gov on 23 september 2017.

Application of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the removal of adult airway foreign bodies.

BACKGROUND: Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a rapid, cost effective and safe procedure. AIM: To analyze demographic information and endoscopic findings in adult patients with airway foreign body aspiration and its removal. METHODS: Fifty-seven adults (40 males, 17 females; average age 40 years old) with airway foreign body aspiration were analyzed. Cough (37, 65%) was the most common clinical presentation. The most common foreign body was bone followed by dental prosthesis and food debris. RESULTS: In the current study, 42 out of the 57 (74%) airway foreign bodies were successfully removed under flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. However, it was failed in 15 patients and thus, rigid bronchoscopy was used to remove foreign bodies successfully in 13 of the 15 patients. Thoracotomy was performed for the 2 patients whose foreign body removal was unsuccessful even with rigid bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study revealed that flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a safe and effective procedure for the removal of adult airway foreign bodies in the majority of cases. Rigid bronchoscopy can be a backup procedure in case flexible bronchoscopy is failed.

An investigation of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia-positive culture caused by fiberoptic bronchoscope contamination.

BACKGROUND: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SMA) is present in hospital environments and has been one of the pathogens that cause nosocomial contamination and infections. To investigate the occurrence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SMA) in bronchoscope lavage fluid (BALF) among 25 cases treated in the Division of Infection and to trace the contamination source and transmission route. METHODS: 25 cases of SMA positive BALF occurring from May 11 to August 10, 2018 were tested for drug sensitivity. Environmental hygiene conditions were investigated to identify the source of contamination and the route of transmission. RESULTS: BALF associated SMA was in all cases sensitive to minocycline, levofloxacin and chloramphenicol and resistant to ceftazidime and imipenem. 92.3% of samples were sensitivity to compound sulfamethoxazole. Investigation of environmental hygiene parameters revealed SMA growing on the inner wall of the fiberoptic bronchoscope as a likely source of contamination. CONCLUSION: Incomplete cleaning and sterilization of the fiberoptic bronchoscope led to SMA nosocomial contamination. Strict sterilization procedures are required to prevent and control nosocomial contamination.

Comparison of vocal cord view between neutral and sniffing position during orotracheal intubation using fiberoptic bronchoscope: a prospective, randomized cross over study.

BACKGROUND: In intubation using fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB), partial or complete obstruction of upper airway makes the FOB insertion difficult. Thus, maneuvers to relieve such obstructions are recommended. There have been no studies to determine whether the sniffing or neutral position is superior for this purpose. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the effects of these two positions including vocal cord view. METHODS: Fifty-four patients scheduled to receive general anesthesia by orotracheal intubation were eligible for inclusion in the study with informed consent. After confirmation of proper head positioning depending on the group, the view of the vocal cord was acquired in each position. Images were reviewed using the percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score. RESULTS: A total of 106 images of vocal cords from 53 patients were obtained. The mean of difference of POGO score was 11.09, higher for the neutral position and standard deviation was 23.73 (p = 0.002). Neutral position increased POGO score in 31 patients and decreased POGO score in 13 patients compare to sniffing position (p = 0.017). There were no significant differences between the two head positions with regard to intubation time or degree of convenience during intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Neutral position improved the view of glottic opening than sniffing position during oral fiberoptic intubation. However, there was no difference in the difficulty of tube insertion between the two positions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov identifier: NCT02931019 , registered on October 12, 2016.

Supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation assisted fiberoptic intubation in a paralyzed patient with morbid obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia is a major concern and cause of morbidity or mortality during tracheal intubation after anesthesia induction in a pathological obese patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We introduce a case using Supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation (SJOV) to promote oxygenation/ventilation during fiberoptic intubation in a paralyzed patient with morbid obesity and OSA. CASE PRESENTATION: A 46-year-old man weighting 176 kg with BMI 53.7 kg/m2 was scheduled for gastric volume reduction surgery to reduce body weight under general anesthesia. SpO2 decreased during induction, and two hand pressured mask ventilation partial failed. We then placed WEI Nasal Jet Tube (WNJ) in the patient's right nostril to provide SJOV. Then fiberoptic bronchoscopy guided endotracheal intubation was performed via mouth approach, and vital signs were stable. The operation was successfully completed after 3 h. Patient recovered smoothly in hospital for 8 days and did not have any recall inside the operating room. CONCLUSION: SJOV via WNJ could effectively maintain adequate oxygenation/ventilation during long time fiberoptic intubation in an apnea patient with morbid obesity and OSA after partial failure of two hand pressured mask ventilation, without obvious complications. This may provide a new effective approach for difficult airway management in these patients.

A Randomized Controlled Study of the Use of Video Double-Lumen Endobronchial Tubes Versus Double-Lumen Endobronchial Tubes in Thoracic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) use (1) during verification of initial placement and (2) for reconfirmation of correct placement following repositioning, when either a double-lumen tube (DLT) or video double-lumen tube (VDLT) was used for lung isolation during thoracic surgery. DESIGN: A randomized controlled study. SETTING: Single-center university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 80 patients who were 18 years or older requiring lung isolation for surgery. INTERVENTIONS: After institutional review board approval, patients were randomized prior to surgery to either DLT or VDLT usage. Attending anesthesiologists placed the Mallinckrodt DLT or Vivasight (ET View Ltd, Misgav, Israel) VDLT with conventional laryngoscopy or video laryngoscopy then verified correct tube position through the view provided with either VDLT external monitor or FOB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data collected included: sex, body mass index, successful intubation and endobronchial placement, intubation time, confirmation time of tube position, FOB use, quality of view, dislodgement of tube, and ability to forewarn dislodgement of endobronchial cuff and complications. FOB use for verification of final position of the tube (VDLT 13.2% [5/38] v DLT 100% [42/42], p < 0.0001), need for FOB to correct the dislodgement (VDLT 7.7% [1/13] v DLT 100% [14/14], p < 0.0001), dislodgement during positioning (VDLT 61.5% [8/13] v DLT 64.3% [9/14], p = ns), dislodgement during surgery (VDLT 38.5% [5/13] v DLT 21.4% [3/14], p = ns), and ability to forewarn dislodgement of endobronchial cuff (VDLT 18.4% [7/38] v DLT 4.8% [2/42], p = 0.078). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a reduction of 86.8% in FOB use, which was a similar reduction found in other published studies.

Metatropic dysplasia-a skeletal dysplasia with challenging airway and other anesthetic concerns.

BACKGROUND: Metatropic dysplasia is a rare form of skeletal dysplasia requiring multiple anesthetics for surgical and imaging procedures, most of which are orthopedic procedures. We provide centralized care to patients with skeletal dysplasia at our tertiary care pediatric hospital, and we were able to collect the largest number of metatropic dysplasia patients reported to date. AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to describe and characterize the anesthetic difficulties in this high-risk population. METHODS: Medical charts of all patients with metatropic dysplasia were reviewed to collect data, including anesthetics performed, difficulties, and complications related to the anesthetic care, co-morbid conditions, and related events. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with metatropic dysplasia underwent 188 anesthetics with 61% of the anesthetics having been administered for orthopedic procedures. Fourteen of 23 (60.8%) progressively became difficult to intubate over the course of their care, with 12 out of 14 having undergone cervical spine fusion. These 14 patients had a total of 133 procedures. Sixty procedures (45.1%) had an airway described as difficult. Glidescope was the difficult airway tool most commonly used (68%) with flexible fiberoptic scope used 12% and Miller or Macintosh blade used 18% of the time. In addition to the airway difficulties, spinal canal narrowing or stenosis was widely prevalent, and no neuraxial anesthetic was performed in any of our patients. CONCLUSION: Difficult airway is the most common co-morbid condition present in patients with metatropic dysplasia, especially if their cervical spine has been fused. Familiarity with the difficulties involving the airway and its management is critical in safe and successful management of anesthesia in this high-risk population.

Comparison of intubating laryngeal mask airway and fiberoptic bronchoscopy for endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing cervical discectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Direct laryngoscopy is hazardous in patients with cervical posterior intervertebral disc prolapse (PIVD) as it may worsen the existing cord compression. To achieve smooth intubation, many adjuncts such as fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB), video laryngoscopes, lighted stylets, and intubating laryngeal mask airways (ILMAs) are available. However, there is a paucity of literature comparing ILMA with fiberoptic intubation in patients with PIVD. Hence, this study was designed to compare the effectiveness of ILMA technique with FOB to accomplish endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing cervical discectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients of age group 20-60 years, of American Society of Anesthesiologists status I or II, were enrolled in this prospective and randomized study. They were allocated to one of the two groups, ILMA group and FOB group. The patients were intubated orally using either equipment, after dexmedetomidine premedication and induction of general anesthesia. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to find the significance of study parameters on a categorical scale. Paired samples t-test and Student's t-test were used to find the significance of study parameters on a continuous scale. Significance was assessed at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Bronchoscopy was a faster method of securing airway as compared with ILMA (38.13 ± 11.52 vs. 29.83 ± 13.75 s). Tracheal intubation was successful in all 60 patients (100%), belonging to both groups. CONCLUSION: ILMA and FOB were comparable with regards to ease of intubation in terms of time, the number of attempts and hemodynamic stability.

Techniques for the insertion of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway: comparison of the Foley airway stylet tool with the introducer tool in a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Many tools have been developed to facilitate the insertion of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion, which can be impeded by folding of its soft cuff. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of ProSeal LMA insertion guided by a soft, direct optical Foley Airway Stylet Tool (FAST) with the standard introducer tool (IT). METHODS: One hundred sixty patients undergoing general anesthesia using the ProSeal LMA as an airway management device were randomly allocated to either FAST-guided or IT-assisted groups. Following ProSeal LMA insertion, the glottic and esophageal openings were identified using a fiberoptic bronchoscope introduced through the airway and the drain tube. The primary outcomes were time taken to insert the ProSeal LMA and the success rate at the first attempt. Secondary end points included ease of insertion, hemodynamic response to insertion, and postoperative adverse events recorded in the recovery room and on the first postoperative morning. RESULTS: One hundred forty patients were included in the final analysis: 66 in the FAST-guided group and 74 in the IT-assisted group. The success rate of FAST device-guided ProSeal LMA insertion (95.7%) was broadly comparable with IT-assisted insertion (98.7%). However, the time taken to insert the ProSeal LMA was significantly longer when the FAST technique was used (p <0.001). The incidence of correct alignment of the airway tube and the drain tube did not differ significantly between the groups. There were no significant differences in ease of insertion or hemodynamic responses to insertion, except that the incidence of postoperative sore throat was significantly higher in the FAST group on the first postoperative day (22.2% compared with 6.8% in the IT group; p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Both FAST-guided and IT-assisted techniques achieved correct ProSeal LMA positioning, but the IT technique was significantly quicker and less likely to cause a sore throat. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02048657.

Airway and anesthesia management in tracheoesophageal fistula closure implantation: a single-centre retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To review and analyze the airway and anesthesia management methods for patients who underwent endoscopic closure of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and to summarize the experience of intraoperative airway management. METHOD: We searched the anesthesia information system of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University for anesthesia cases of TEF from July 2020 to July 2023 and obtained a total of 34 anesthesia records for endoscopic TEF occlusion. The intraoperative airway management methods and vital signs were recorded, and the patients' disease course and follow-up records were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: The airway management strategies used for TEF occlusion patients included nasal catheter oxygen (NCO, n = 5), high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC, n = 4) and tracheal intubation (TI, n = 25). The patients who underwent tracheal intubation with an inner diameter of 5.5 mm had stable hemodynamics and oxygenation status during surgery, while intravenous anesthesia without intubation could not effectively inhibit the stress response caused by occluder implantation, which could easily cause hemodynamic fluctuations, hypoxemia, and carbon dioxide accumulation. Compared with those in the TI group, the NCO group and the HFNC group had significantly longer surgical times, and the satisfaction score of the endoscopists was significantly lower. In addition, two patients in the NCO group experienced postoperative hypoxemia. CONCLUSION: During the anesthesia process for TEF occlusions, a tracheal catheter with an inner diameter of 5.5 mm can provide a safe and effective airway management method.

Comparison of oral fiberoptic intubation via a modified guedel airway or a laryngeal mask airway in infants and children.

BACKGROUND: Though fiberoptic intubation (FOI) is considered the gold standard for securing a difficult airway in a child, it may be technically difficult in an anesthetized child. The hypothesis for this study was that it would be easier to perform FOI via a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) than a modified oropharyngeal airway with the advantage of maintaining anesthesia and oxygenation during the process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 children aged 6 months to 5 years undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomized to two groups to have fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) guided intubation either via a modified Guedel airway (FOB-ORAL) or a classic LMA (FOB-LMA). In the FOB-LMA group, the LMA was removed when a second smaller endotracheal tube was anchored to the proximal end of the tracheal tube in place. RESULTS: Oral fiberoptic intubation was successful in all children. The first attempt success rate was 11/15 (73.33%) in the FOB-LMA group and 3/15 (20%) in the FOB-ORAL group (P = 0.012). Subsequent attempts at intubation were successful after 90° anticlockwise rotation of the endotracheal tube over the FOB. The time taken for fiberoptic bronchoscopy was significantly less in FOB-LMA group (59.20 ± 42.85 sec vs 108.66 ± 52.43 sec). The incidence of desaturation was higher in the FOB-ORAL group (6/15 vs 0/15). CONCLUSION: In children, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and intubation via an LMA has the advantage of being easier, with shorter intubation time and continuous oxygenation and ventilation throughout the procedure. Removal of the LMA following intubation requires particular care.

Clinical application of fiberoptic bronchoscope combined with visual laryngeal mask awake tracheal intubation technique: a case report.

We presented a case of successful awake endotracheal intubation in a patient with a giant goiter and severe tracheal stenosis. The patient had difficulty in airway management during the perioperative anesthesia due to tracheal deviation and stenosis caused by tumor compression. We applied a visual laryngeal mask combined with fiberoptic bronchoscope to visualize the whole procedure of endotracheal intubation, from visually assessing the glottic, subglottic, and the tracheal conditions, to evaluating the pressure of the tumor on the trachea and the maximum tracheal tube diameter that could be passed. During the entire process, the patient remained awake, maintained spontaneous breathing, and actively cooperated with the clinical staff. Hence, we demonstrated that this method is safe, effective, operable, and could be generalized as a form of endotracheal intubation for patients with known difficult airways.

Outcomes of early fiberoptic bronchoscopic sputum aspiration and lavage after thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophageal cancer surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the outcomes of patients who received early fiberoptic bronchoscopic sputum aspiration and lavage after thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy due to esophageal cancer. METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed between March 2020 and June 2022. Patients who were scheduled for thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy due to esophageal cancer were enrolled. Then, these patients were assigned to the control group (traditional postoperative care) and study group (traditional postoperative care with early bronchoscopic sputum aspiration and lavage). The outcomes, which included the length of hospital stay and medical expenses, and postoperative complications, which included pulmonary infection, atelectasis, respiratory dysfunction and anastomotic leakage, were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were enrolled for the present study, and 53 patients were assigned for the control and study groups. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, and location of the esophageal cancer between the two groups. Furthermore, the length of hospital stay was statistically significantly shorter and the medical expenses were lower during hospitalization in the study group, when compared to the control group (12.3 ± 1.2 vs. 18.8 ± 1.3 days, 5.5 ± 0.9 vs. 7.2 ± 1.2 Chinese Yuan, respectively; all, P < 0.05). Moreover, there were statistically significantly fewer incidences of overall complications in study group, when compared to the control group (20.7% vs.45.2%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with esophageal cancer, early fiberoptic bronchoscopic sputum aspiration and lavage after thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy can shorten the length of hospital stay, and lower the medical expense and incidence of postoperative complications.