Laryngeal mask airway facilitates a safe and smooth emergence from anesthesia in patients undergoing craniotomy: a prospective randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal extubation under deep anesthesia (deep extubation) has been proved to present stable hemodynamics and steady intracranial pressure during emergence from anesthesia in patients undergoing craniotomy. This study aims to examine, in comparison with deep extubation, if a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) could provide a safer and smoother emergence from anesthesia in patients undergoing craniotomy. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on patients undergoing elective craniotomy for brain tumors. After the complement of the surgical procedure, the patients had anesthesia maintained with end-tidal sevoflurane concentration 2.5% and also fully regained muscle power (Time Zero), they were randomly assigned to ETT Group (n = 29) for deep extubation or to LMA Group (n = 29), where the endotracheal tube was replaced by a laryngeal mask airway. The primary outcomes were respiratory complications, airway interventions and hemodynamic changes through emergence from anesthesia till 30 min following Time Zero. The secondary outcomes were re-operation incidence in 24 h, stay time in the intensive care unit and postoperative hospital days. RESULTS: At 5 min before Time Zero either oxygen partial pressures (PaO2) or carbon dioxide partial pressures (PaCO2) between the two groups were comparable. No significant PaCO2 change was noted in both groups in 5 min after Time Zero, yet there was a remarkably lower PaO2 in ETT Group at that time point, 188.9 (± 71.1) in ETT Group vs 264.4 (± 85.4) in LMA Group. In ETT Group, coughs and snores were considerably more frequent, and thus more interventions were needed to maintain adequate respiration. From Time Zero on, blood pressures (systolic, diastolic and mean) and heart rates in ETT Group were generally higher than those in LMA Group, but the differences were insignificant at all time points except heart rate at 10 min after Time Zero. The secondary outcomes between the two groups were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with deep extubation, a LMA, as a temporary airway replacement, facilitates a safer and smoother emergence from anesthesia for patients undergoing craniotomy, in terms of better oxygen saturation, fewer respiratory complications and fewer airway interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was conducted after receiving approval from Institutional Review Board of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taiwan (registration number 202102115A3; January 27, 2022), and the clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05253404) on 23 February 2022.

A preinstalled nasopharyngeal airway in the right nasal passageway to facilitate nasogastric intubation in anesthetized and intubated patients: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nasogastric intubation (NGI) is usually challenging in patients under general anesthesia, with reported success rate at the first attempt to be less than 50%. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a preinstalled nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) in the right nasal passageway can facilitate NGI in anesthetized and intubated patients. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial including 108 patients scheduled for elective intra-abdominal surgeries requiring a nasogastric tube (NGT) was conducted. Fifty-three patients were randomized to receive NGI through a preinstalled NPA in the right nasal passageway (Group NPA) and 55 patients to receive NGI via the right nostril (Group O). The primary outcomes were success rates of NGI at first attempt, success rates of NGI in accumulative attempts, durations of successful NGI at the first attempt and success rates of NGI for the rescuing methods. The secondary outcomes were bleeding incidence and hemodynamic changes induced by NGI. RESULTS: Success rate of NGI at the first attempt was 83.0% in Group NPA compared with 47.3% in Group O [P < 0.001; absolute risk reduction (ARR) = 35.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 19.1-52.4%; relative risk reduction (RRR) = 67.8%] and success rate of NGI in accumulative attempts (two attempts maximum) was 88.7% in Group NPA compared with 63.6% in Group O (P = 0.002; ARR = 25.0%, 95% CI = 9.7-40.4%; RRR = 68.9%). Duration for NGI successful at the first attempt in Group NPA was significantly longer than that in Group O (56.3 vs. 27.1 s; P < 0.001; Mean difference = 29.2 s, 95% CI = 20.0-38.4 s). Neither bleeding incidence nor hemodynamic response is significantly different between the two study groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates a preinstalled NPA in the right nasal passageway facilitates NGI in anesthetized and intubated patients as an initial NGI method and as a rescuing method for patients undergoing two unsuccessful initial attempts of NGI without a preinstalled NPA. However, the NPA method proved to take more time than the routine method for NGI successful at the first attempt. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was conducted after receiving approval from Institutional Review Board of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou branch, Taiwan (registration number 201800138A3; April 11, 2018), and the clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03697642; Principal Investigator: Ting-Yang Huang; Date of registration: October 4, 2018; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT03697642 ).

The Clarus Video System (Trachway) and direct laryngoscope for endotracheal intubation with cricoid pressure in simulated rapid sequence induction intubation: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: During an emergency endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence induction intubation (RSII) with cricoid pressure (CP) is frequently implemented to prevent aspiration pneumonia. We evaluated the CVS in endotracheal intubation in RSII with CP, in comparison with a direct laryngoscope (DL). METHODS: One hundred fifty patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the CVS as a video stylet (CVS-V) group, the CVS as a lightwand (CVS-L) group and DL group. Primary outcomes were to assess the power of the CVS, compared with DL, regarding the first attempt success rate and intubation time in simulated RSII with CP. Secondary outcomes were to examine hemodynamic stress response and the incidence of complications. RESULTS: The first attempt success rates within 30 s and within 60 s were higher in CVS-V and DL group than those in CVS-L group (p = 0.006 and 0.037, respectively). The intergroup difference for intubation success rate within 30 s was nonsignificant and almost all the patients were successfully intubated within 60 s (98% for CVS-L and DL group, 96% for CVS-L group). Kaplan-Meier estimator demonstrated the median intubation time was 10.6 s [95% CI, 7.5 to 13.7] in CVS-V group, 14.6 s [95% CI, 11.1 to 18.0] in CVS-L group and 16.5 s [95% CI, 15.7 to 17.3] in DL group (p = 0.023 by the log-rank test). However, the difference was nonsignificant after Sidak's adjustment. The intergroup differences for hemodynamic stress response, sore throat and mucosa injury incidence were also nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: The CVS-D and DL provide a higher first attempt intubation success rate within 30 and 60 s in intubation with CP; the intubation time for the CVS-V was nonsignificantly shorter than that for the other two intubation methods. Almost all the patients can be successfully intubated with any of the three intubation methods within 60 s. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03841890 , registered on February 15, 2019 (retrospectively registered).

Clinical comparisons between GlideScope video laryngoscope and Trachlight in simulated cervical spine instability.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the time taken for tracheal intubation, hemodynamic changes, and perioperative morbidities between the GlideScope (GS) video laryngoscope and the Trachlight (TL) with manual inline stabilization. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, randomized study. SETTING: Operating room. PATIENTS: 60 ASA physical status I and II patients scheduled for elective surgery with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to the GS group or TL group (n = 30 for each group). MEASUREMENTS: Noninvasive blood pressure and heart rate at preinduction; preintubation and one, three, and 5 minutes after successful intubation; grade of face mask ventilation; number of intubation attempts; intubation time; apnea duration; mucosal trauma; lip or dental injury; and presence of hypoxia, were all recorded. MAIN RESULTS: The intubation attempts and perioperative safety data were comparable between the two groups. Intubation time and apnea duration were significantly shorter in the TL group than the GS group. All variables one minute after intubation were greater than baseline values except systolic blood pressure (SBP) in TL group. Both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the degree of change of SBP from the baseline value one minute after intubation in TL group were significantly less than those of the GS group. CONCLUSIONS: Trachlight offers a faster intubation and a milder hemodynamic response than GS.

Pneumothorax after central venous cannulation via the infraclavicular axillary vein--a case report.

It has ever been reported that central venous cannulation via the infraclavicular axillary vein (IAV) could cause pneumothorax. However, recently at our hospital, a 66-year-old female patient undergoing craniectomy for brain tumor sustained pneumothorax after cannulation of the IAV for intraoperate monitoring. The complication was not recognized until a postoperative chest X-ray had been taken. The departmental panel on morbidity reviewed the anatomy of the infraclavicular area to explore the possible causes of the incident. As to prevention of pneumothorax, we also bring forward some important points for discussion that have not been discoursed in previous reports.

Renal vascular injury during percutaneous nephrolithotomy and migration of a double-J catheter fragment into pulmonary artery in the following nephrectomy--a case report.

A 60-year-old male underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for left renal stone at a community hospital. The surgery was, in general, unremarkable and a double-J ureteral catheter was placed before completion of surgery. Dyspnea, irritability, hypotension and flank pain developed in the recovery room. In addition, pleural effusion and elevation of the left hemidiaphragm were revealed on chest roentgenogram, and mild hypoxemia and respiratory acidosis were also detected by gas analysis. He was transferred to our hospital for further management. After arrival at our hospital, we decided to reintubate the patient and transfer him to the intensive care unit (ICU). There, the vital signs deteriorated, so an emergent laparotomy was performed and left nephrectomy was done because of severe and unmanageable renal hemorrhage. A catheter fragment was found to be missing after left kidney was dissected. During the search for the missing fragment, pulseless electrical activity (PEA) happened. The patient recovered shortly after the use of vasopressors. Postoperatively, a chest X-ray (CXR) taken to search for the missing section of the cather revealed that there was a catheter-like foreign body in the heart, which was also demonstrated by computed tomography (CT) scan. The catheter fragment was quickly removed soon via percutaneous angiography. The patient was discharged 2 weeks later. We present this case with two iatrogenic complications, each in two consecutive renal procedures, to emphasize the importance of vigilance in anesthesia.

Frequent use of alternative airway techniques makes difficult intubations less and easier.

BACKGROUND: This study is to evaluate how alternative airway techniques work at different scenarios of difficult airways in our department where those techniques are popularized in daily practice. METHODS: This is an open and observational study. Ten thousand two hundred and twenty nine adult patients were included in the 7-month period of investigation. When a difficult intubation was recognized, the responsible anesthesiologist would complete a questionnaire that was designed to explore the possible causes relative to the difficulty, i.e. the laryngoscopic view grade, the muscle relaxant administered during induction, any difficulty of mask ventilation, the eventually successful intubation technique, and the recommendation on the next intubation to the same patient. RESULTS: About 22% of the patients received various airway techniques for intubation other than laryngoscopic technique in general anesthesia. Laryngoscopic intubation was planned firstly on 8,058 cases; the incidence of difficult intubation was 0.44% (36/8058). Laryngoscopic view was found to be grade 2 in 10 patients, grade 3 in 24, and grade 4 in 2 patients, respectively. In these difficult airway intubations were accomplished ultimately with a conventional laryngoscope in 13 patients, a lighting stylet in 20 patients, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in 2 patients, and surface tactile oral intubation (STOI) in 1 patient. As to these patients with difficult airways who would undergo general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation next time awake intubation was suggested only to 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: In elective general anesthesia, frequent use of the alternative airway techniques, such as LMA for a surgical procedure of short duration and lighting stylet for a possibly difficult airway, will decrease the events of difficult intubations. Lighting stylet seems more advantageous than laryngoscope in management of difficult intubation caused by poor laryngoscopic view.

The valid time of soda lime could be safely prolonged according to the inspired pressure of carbon dioxide.

BACKGROUND: Carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbent, a disposable chemical mixture enclosed in a canister of anesthetic breathing systems functions to remove the carbon dioxide expired from the patients during general anesthesia. The timing of replacing the exhausted CO2 absorbent is usually decided by discoloration of the indicator dye or the valid time of use. However, these methods are subjective. We designed a study to validate our idea of replacing the exhausted CO2 absorbent according to the inspired pressure of carbon dioxide (PiCO2) and comparison of the pressure difference between the arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) and end-tidal CO2 in the exhausted and fresh CO2 absorbent circuits. METHODS: Fifty-five adult patients undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgeries were enrolled in this study. All the canisters containing fresh soda lime were labeled with the date of filling and valid time of clinical use. The soda lime was replaced only when the PiCO2 reached 6 mmHg. Before and 20 minutes after the replacement, PaCO2 and end-tidal CO2 were obtained and designated as group-Pre and group-Post, respectively. The pressure differences between PaCO2 and end-tidal CO2 in both groups were checked for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The pressure differences in group-Pre and group-Post were 5.8 +/- 3.4 mmHg and 6.1 +/- 3.3 mmHg, respectively, both of which were not statistically significant (P = 0.62). The PaCO2 in group-Pre and group-Post was 43.7 +/- 4.2 mmHg and 40.9 +/- 4.6 mmHg respectively. The end-tidal CO2 in group-Pre and group-Post was 38 +/- 3.5 mmHg and 35 +/- 3.6 mmHg, respectively. There were significant differences in PaCO2 and end-tidal CO2 between the two groups (P < 0.001). By this determination the valid time of soda lime in Omeda, Cato and Kion anesthesia machines was 57.3 +/- 7.2, 35.6 +/- 6.3 and 21.7 +/- 4.2 hours, respectively, all of which were much longer than 8 hours of routine use previously delimited. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the PiCO2 concentration reached 6 mmHg in the rebreathing circuit with exhausted soda lime, the gradient between the PaCO2 and end-tidal CO2 was of no statistical difference compared with that of the fresh soda lime circuit. Thus the pressure difference was not affected by the exhausted CO2 absorbent in spite of a reach of PiCO2 to 6 mmHg. Under CO2 monitoring, the valid time of soda lime could be safely prolonged until the PiCO2 was elevated to 6 mmHg rather than 8 h strictly pursuant to traditional method of discoloration of indicator dye.

Postoperative pulmonary edema, transfusion-related?--a case report.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a severe reaction between leukocyte antigen and antibody during transfusion of plasma-containing components. Recently, biologically active lipids have been also suggested to cause the disorder. It is a rare, but rather benign pulmonary edema. We report a postoperative pulmonary edema, which was temporally and clinically compatible with TRALI. Because the patient received blood products from 3 or 4 donors and the disorder was not recognized right away, the laboratory task for the definite diagnosis was difficult. Nevertheless, the patient had fully recovered in 36 hours after supportive therapies. Without identifying the blood donor implicated in the disorder, transfusion reactions or TRALI will be inevitable.

Blind nasotracheal intubation is facilitated by neutral head position and endotracheal tube cuff inflation in spontaneously breathing patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate, using an endotracheal tube mounted on a flexible lighted stylet, how the patient's head-neck position and inflation of the endotracheal cuff affect correct alignment of the tube tip with the glottis. METHODS: Eighty-two patients were enrolled. The course of the endotracheal tube in the pharynx was examined by observing the anterior neck for transillumination in each patient under four different intubating conditions. These were: patient's head on pad (8 cm) with the cuff deflated (HP-deflation group); patient's head on pad with the cuff inflated (HP-inflation group); patient's head on bed with the cuff deflated (HB-deflation group); and patient's head on bed with the cuff inflated (HB-inflation group). RESULTS: Both a head on bed (neutral) position or endotracheal tube cuff inflation (15 mL of air) significantly increased the frequency of correct alignment of the tip of the endotracheal tube with the glottis. Blind nasotracheal intubation (BNTI) was successful in 69 patients (84%). Lightwand-assisted nasotracheal intubation was required in 11 of the remaining 13 patients (13%) and fibreoptic bronchoscopy-assisted intubation was performed in the last two patients. CONCLUSION: A neutral position of the head combined with endotracheal tube cuff inflation is recommended for BNTI.