Ease of Intubation with the McGRATH® MAC, C-MAC® or Macintosh Laryngoscopes by Novice Operators in Simulated Difficult Airways – A Manikin Study.

A variety of video laryngoscopes have been introduced to facilitate endotracheal intubations as failed intubations can result in morbidity and mortality. We aimed to compare the use of the conventional Macintosh laryngoscope, McGRATH® MAC and C- MAC® video laryngoscopes among novice operators. 37 medical students were recruited to perform oro-tracheal intubations in a human patient stimulator with simulated ‘difficult airway’ scenario using 3 devices: The Macintosh laryngoscope, McGRATH® MAC and C- MAC® video laryngoscopes. The success rate of tracheal intubation using the C-MAC® video laryngoscope (84%) was higher than both the McGRATH® MAC (59%) and the Macintosh laryngoscope (57%) (p=0.005). The use of video laryngoscopes were associated with lower incidence of oesophageal intubation (p<0.001) and deemed easier to use (p<0.001). Overall, the C-MAC® yielded a higher rate of successful tracheal intubation, a shorter time to glottic visualisation and was deemed to provide the greatest ease of intubation with novice practitioners.

Bilateral adrenal histoplasmosis: endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration as a method of diagnosis and assessment

We report a case of a healthy 78-year-old indonesian man who presented with chronic weight loss, poor appetite and lethargy. CT abdomen showed bilateral adrenal masses. EUS-guided FNA was performed on the left adrenal gland. Histopathology report was Histoplasma Capsulatum. He recovered well with antifungal treatment without any complication. In this case, we found that the role of EUS -guided FNA was not only limited to diagnosis but also helped in the prognosis of the disease since the method was able to assess the general anatomy of the adrenal gland better than other imaging modalities due to its close proximity and direct visualization.

Seasonal prevalence of air-borne pollen and spores in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Aerosampling using Rotorod samplers was conducted in the Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from December 1991 to November 1993. Samples were collected twice a week between 10.00 hours to 12.00 hours. Rods were stained and examined microscopically. A total of 8 and 20 types of pollens and mold spores were collected, respectively. More mold spores were collected than pollens. Grass pollen constituted more than 40 percent of total pollen counts. Gramineae pollen counts peaked in March and September. The most abundant mold spore was Cladosporium followed by Rust, Nigrospora, Curvularia and Smut. Cladosporium counts peaked in February and August. Rust counts peaked in June and December whereas counts for Nigrospora peaked in February and October. Highest counts of Smut were recorded in March and October. Curvularia counts peaked in January, June and September.