Awake Nasal Fiberoptic Intubation in Lateral Position for Severely Obese Patients with Anticipated Difficult Airway: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for difficult intubation. To safely manage and overcome airway challenges in severely obese patients with a suspected difficult airway, awake fiberoptic intubation is recommended. We aimed to investigate the utility of awake nasal fiberoptic intubation in severely obese patients with suspected difficult airway while positioning them in the lateral decubitus position. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial compared lateral and supine positions for awake nasal fiberoptic intubation in severely obese patients with an anticipated difficult airway by assessing the success rate, time needed to secure the airway, peri-procedural adverse events, and postoperative satisfaction of patients. RESULTS: Sixty patients with a median age of 37 [inter-quartile range (IQR): 29-44] years were included, of which 47 (78.3%) were females. The median body mass index (BMI) was 45.5 [IQR: 42.5-50.8] kg/m2. The success rate of fiberoptic intubation was 100% in both groups. The time needed to successfully secure the airway was 188 [148.8-228.8] seconds (s) in the lateral position, compared to 214.5 [181.8-280.5] s in supine position (p = 0.019). Intraprocedural cough was more common in the supine position group (n = 8; 26.7%), compared to the lateral position group (n = 3; 10%; p = 0.095). Postoperative sore throat was more common in the lateral position group (n = 12; 40%) compared to the supine position (n = 5; 16.7%; p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Intubation in the lateral position is a promising technique that is equivalent to the routine supine position during fiberoptic intubation. In fact, intubation in the lateral position took less time to successfully secure the airway.

Combining Stellate ganglion block and intravenous regional anesthesia to treat complex regional pain syndrome: A 19-years' experience in a tertiary center.

OBJECTIVES: To study reduction in pain score after treatment with intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) and Stellate ganglion block (SGB) combination on complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS) patients and to quantify patients' satisfaction with treatment and occurrence of complications. METHODS: This is a record-based retrospective review carried out in 2020, targeting patients treated in the University of Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan, over the years 2002-2020. RESULTS: Among 99 patients, a significant drop in pain scores occurred in 88% of the patients' sample. Gender, age, type of CRPS, and duration of symptoms didn't affect statistical results. An average of 8.6 sessions needed to achieve 50% drop in pain score, and 2-3 sessions for first clinical improvement. Patients with previous application of plaster of Paris had increased success rates. CONCLUSION: We find it practical, inexpensive, safe, and straightforward to combine SGB with IVRA for CRPS patients.

Perioperative Outcomes in COVID-19 Obstetric Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section: A Prospective Observational Study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) adds more challenges to the perioperative management of parturients. The aim of this study is to examine perioperative adverse events and hemodynamic stability among COVID-19 positive parturients undergoing spinal anesthesia. This prospective observational investigation was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Jordan between January and June 2021, during which 31 COVID-19 positive parturients were identified. Each COVID-19 positive parturient was matched with a COVID-19 negative parturient who received anesthesia under similar operating conditions as a control group. Of the 31 COVID-19 patients, 22 (71%) were otherwise medically free, 8 (25.8%) were emergency cesarean sections. The sensory level of spinal block after 10 min was T8 (T6-T10) among COVID-19 positive group, compared to T4 (T4-T6) among control group (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in heart rate, SBP, DBP, and MAP intraoperatively (p > 0.05). Twelve (36.4%) neonates born to COVID-19 positive patients were admitted to NICU, compared to four (11.8%) among control group (p = 0.018). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications. In conclusion, spinal anesthesia is considered a safe anesthetic technique in COVID-19 parturients, and therefore it is the anesthetic method of choice for cesarean deliveries among COVID-19 patients.