ABSTRACT
Appropriate size selection of double?lumen tubes (DLTs) for one?lung ventilation (OLV) in adults is still a humongous task. Several important factors are to be considered like patient height, gender, tracheal diameter, left main bronchial diameter, and cricoid cartilage transverse diameter. In addition to radiological assessment of the airway diameters, the manufacturing details of the particular DLT being used also play a significant role in size selection. Optimal positioning of the appropriately sized DLT is indispensable to avoid complications like airway trauma, cuff rupture, hypoxemia, and tube displacement. It is imperative to know whether the one?size?fits?all dictum holds for DLT size selection as claimed by certain studies. Further randomized studies are required for crystallizing standard protocols ascertaining the correct DLT size. This systematic review article highlights the various parameters employed for DLT size selection and explores the newer DLTs used for adult OLV.
ABSTRACT
Background : Various studies have pinned longevity of protective Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) titres at 2-5 months. The robustness and longevity of the IgG antibody response to COVID-19 infection has been gauged in a cohort of 214 single institutional health care workers by serial quantitative immunometric tests. Currently no separate guidelines exist for vaccination of COVID-survivors and this study provides data to fill this lacuna in knowledge. Methodology : Prospective longitudinal panel survey administered to the same cohort of Health Care Workers (HCW) till such time they got vaccinated under Indian Government’s free vaccination drive for HCW. Depending upon the date of contraction of infection the HCW could be longitudinally monitored for variable periods (2-9 months). The survey questionnaire comprising multiple-choice, dichotomous, matrix and Likert-scale questions was deployed to the respondents online via email/WhatsApp. Data was expressed as box-whisker plots, trendlines and trend areas. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The composite index of ‘Effective Immunity’ was calculated. Results : The mean IgG antibody titre was 11.13±8.6AU at 1-2m, 9.68±8.9AU at 3-4m, 8.35±5.9 AU at 6-7m and 7.87±4.4 AU at 8-9m after first symptom, respectively. The lowest titre at all time points was 0 while the highest titres were 46.8 AU, 56.5 AU, 23.4 AU and 17.4 AU at 1-2m, 3-4m, 6-7m and 8-9m, respectively. Conclusion : Adaptive active immunity acquired through natural infection may last for at least 9 months post-initial exposure and lies in the moderate protection range in 77% HCW, which can be extrapolated to vaccination and immunity passports. Separate vaccination guidelines are required for COVID-survivors. The first shot of vaccine serves as a booster second exposure/booster dose in all COVID-survivors.HCW with low IgG-titre may suffer from a false sense of security. Periodic quantitative IgG-titre based serological tests can help guide timing of second shot of vaccination and predict likelihood of re-infection
ABSTRACT
Anesthetic management of mediastinal masses is challenging. There is abundant literature available on anesthesia management of anterior mediastinal mass. Anesthetic management of posterior mediastinal mass lesions normally have uneventful course. We describe airway collapse and difficult mechanical ventilation in the postoperative period in a patient with posterior mediastinal mass.