A simple screening test of filtration efficiency for protecting the gas sampling line from coronavirus using fluorescent microspheres.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus pandemic, preventing contamination of the anesthesia machine, critical to avoid cross-contamination between patients, has proven challenging when treating premature infants and neonates. While attaching a HEPA filter to the endotracheal tube will protect the anesthesia machine and the gas sampling line from contamination, this contribution to the dead space makes ventilation of these small patients challenging. Direct filtration of the gas sampling line eliminates this problem; however, appropriate filters are not readily available. AIMS: Identify a small filter capable of filtering out particles of a size similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus for the gas sampling line. METHODS: We used fluorescence microspheres suspended in a solution for a challenge test to determine the filtration efficiency of various filters. The microspheres varied in diameter (0.02 µm, 0.042 µm, 0.109 µm, and 0.989 µm). A fluorescence plate reader was used to evaluate the degree of fluorescence intensity in the flow-through from various filters and referenced to the fluorescence intensity of the input. RESULTS: AHEPA filter, as recommended as an anti-viral filter, effectively filtered all the particles tested. The B. Braun PERIFIX Flat Epidural Filter was the second most effective filter, filtering particles larger than 0.042 µm. Other filters tested did not filter fluorescence microspheres equivalent in size to a single coronavirus particle (0.07 µm). CONCLUSIONS: Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the Flat Epidural Filter for use as an anesthesia machine gas filter, our simple challenge test suggests that it could be used to effectively filter the anesthesia gas sampling line.

Implementation of an Anaesthesia Quality Improvement Programme to Reduce Fibreoptic Bronchoscope Repair Incidents.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the implementation of a comprehensive quality improvement programme (QIP) for reducing the repair rate of the fibreoptic bronchoscope (FOB). METHODS: A three-stage improvement strategy was implemented between January 2013 and December 2016. Stage one is the acquisition of information on violations of practice guidelines, repair rate, cost of repair, and incidence of unavailability of FOB during anaesthesia induction of the previous year through auditing. Stage two is the implementation of a quality improvement campaign (QIC) based on the results of stage one. Stage three is the programme perpetuation through monitoring compliance with policy on FOB use by regular internal audits. The effectiveness was retrospectively analyzed on a yearly basis. RESULTS: The annual repair rate, repair cost, and incidence of FOB unavailability before the QIP implementation were 1%, 18,757 USD, and 1.4%, respectively. After QIC, the repair rate in 2013 dropped by 81% (from 1% in 2012 to 0.19% in 2013, p < 0.05). The annual repair cost fell by 32% from 18,758 USD (2012) to 12,820 USD (2013). Besides, the incidence of FOB unavailability plummeted by 71% from 1.4% to 0.4% during the same period. The annual repair rates and incidence of FOB unavailability remained lower in subsequent three years than those before QIP implementation. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a quality improvement programme was effective for reducing the rate and cost of FOB repair as well as unavailability rate, highlighting its beneficial impact on cost-effectiveness and patient safety in a tertiary referral center setting.

Arthur Guedel and the Ascendance of Anesthesia: A Teacher, Tinkerer, and Transformer.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, anesthesia was an emerging field without permanent departments, exclusive practitioners, or academic residency programs. Instead, surgeons and nurses administered anesthetic gases in an ad-hoc fashion, exposing patients to the perilous risks of general anesthesia. Dr. Arthur Guedel was a general practitioner from rural Indiana who unexpectedly became an integral part of anesthesia's evolution into a safety conscience and formally recognized expertise. Beginning during his military service in World War I, he refined the stages of ether anesthesia and produced the definitive textbook on inhalational anesthetics. During the prolific career that followed, Guedel also introduced ground-breaking devices for patient-controlled analgesia, cuffed endotracheal intubation, and oral airway patency. His inclusive mentorship, collaborative research, and innovative instruments exemplify his role as a multitalented tinkerer, teacher, and transformative leader. This essay examines Guedel's pioneering contributions and the scope of his influence, all of which revolutionized anesthesia and expanded surgeons' operative capability. Through the lens of Guedel's personal and professional life, this essay further illustrates how the diverse, interdisciplinary, and cutting edge characteristics of the practice itself contributed to anesthesia's increased importance in modern medicine.

Uso del TotalTrack VLM para intubación endotraqueal urgente en vía aérea difícil prevista con obstrucción por lesiones ocupantes de espacio y distancia interdental reducida / Use of the TotalTrack VLM for emergent endotracheal intubation in predicted difficult airway with obstruction by expanding space-occupying lesions and reduced interincisor opening

La afección cervical aguda puede determinar un serio compromiso de la vía aérea como consecuencia de la distorsión anatómica secundaria a la obstrucción o desviación de la vía aérea superior, escenarios en los que cualquier dispositivo puede fracasar. El paso de un fibrobroncoscopio para exponer la glotis puede ser muy difícil, y la traqueotomía puede ser imposible o arriesgada en casos avanzados. Presentamos el uso del TotalTrack VLM en cirugía urgente para asegurar la vía aérea en 2 pacientes no cooperadores con vía aérea difícil debido a una angina de Ludwig y a un hematoma cervical, respectivamente, ambos acompañados de trismus (AU)

Acute cervical pathology may lead to serious airway compromise resulting from anatomical distortion secondary to obstruction or deviation of the upper airway, scenarios where any airway device can be fallible. Passage of a fiberoptic bronchoscopy to expose the glottis may be very difficult and tracheostomy may be impractical or risky in advanced cases. We present the use of the TotalTrack VLM to secure the airway for emergent surgery in 2 uncooperative patients with difficult airway due to Ludwig's angina and neck hematoma, respectively, both accompanied by trismus (AU)

Aislamiento pulmonar en pacientes con resecciones pulmonares previas: bloqueo lobular selectivo secuencial con bloqueador bronquial Fuji Uniblocker® / Lung isolation in patients with previous lung resections: Selective sequential lobar blockade using a Fuji Uniblocker® endobronchial blocker

El aislamiento pulmonar es obligado durante la cirugía torácica, al permitir la visualización y manipulación por parte del cirujano del pulmón intervenido. La aparición de hipoxemia durante el aislamiento pulmonar es habitual, y aún es más frecuente en aquellos pacientes con reserva funcional pulmonar disminuida. Presentamos 2 casos clínicos de pacientes con antecedentes de resección pulmonar previa izquierda (1.° lobectomía inferior izquierda y 2.° lobectomía inferior izquierda y segmentectomía del lóbulo superior izquierdo), en los que se realizó bloqueo lobular secuencial selectivo (BLSS), con BB Fuji Uniblocker® para la realización de resecciones atípicas de pulmón derecho (LSD, LM y LID). En nuestra experiencia la técnica fue satisfactoria, el campo quirúrgico fue óptimo y no registramos ningún tipo de complicación intra o postoperatoria derivada de su uso, pudiendo ser una alternativa al aislamiento pulmonar tradicional, en pacientes con función respiratoria comprometida (reserva funcional escasa o resecciones pulmonares previas) (AU)

Lung isolation is essential during thoracic surgery, as it allows the thoracic surgeon to visualise and work in the surgical field. The occurrence of hypoxaemia during lung isolation is common, and is even more so in patients with decreased pulmonary functional reserve. The clinical cases are presented of 2 patients with a history of left pulmonary resections (1st left lower lobectomy, 2nd left lower lobectomy and left upper lobe segmentectomy), in which sequential selective lobar blockade was performed with Fuji Uniblocker® endobronchial blocker for performing right lung atypical resections (right upper lobe, middle lobe, and right lower lobe). In our experience the technique was successful, the surgical field was optimal and no intra- or post-operative complications were found. This technique may be an alternative to traditional lung isolation in patients with compromised respiratory function (low functional reserve or previous contralateral lung resections) (AU)

A case of severe perioperative hypoxia in uncorrected tetralogy of fallot: anesthetic management / Caso de hipoxia perioperatoria grave en tetralogía de Fallot no corregida: tratamiento anestésico

Tetralogy of fallot (TOF) is one of the most common congenital heart disease (CHD) in children. With the development of pediatric surgery and intensive care units, increasing number of grown-up CHD patients are presenting for non-cardiac surgeries. Non-operated TOF patients suffer from chronic hypoxia and decreased pulmonary blood flow resulting in considerable alteration in the physiology. The optimal management of these patients, therefore, require a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of the uncorrected TOF. We hereby report a case of successful management of a 10-year-old child with an uncorrected TOF posted for tibial external fixation device (AU)

La tetralogía de Fallot (TF) es una de las cardiopatías congénitas más habituales en niños. Con el desarrollo de la cirugía pediátrica y las unidades de cuidados intensivos cada vez se presentan más casos de pacientes adultos con cardiopatías congénitas para cirugías no cardíacas. Los pacientes con TF no operada padecen hipoxia crónica y un flujo sanguíneo pulmonar reducido, lo que supone una alteración considerable de la fisiología. El manejo óptimo de estos pacientes requiere, por tanto, un profundo conocimiento de la fisiopatología de la TF no corregida. El presente artículo expone el caso de tratamiento exitoso de un paciente de 10 años con TF no corregida intervenido con dispositivo de fijación externa tibial (AU)

Alternative Use of an Oral Endotracheal Tube Fastener in a Patient with Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa.

This case report describes the alternative use of an oral endotracheal tube fastener in a pediatric patient with junctional epidermolysis bullosa. The patient underwent dental treatment in the operating room under general anesthesia and had a medical history of junctional epidermolysis bullosa, prior secondary anemia, clubbed feet, and past methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection secondary to blistering. The oral endotracheal tube fastener was used in a nontraditional manner to avoid contact of the oral tube and tape with the epidermis and thus prevent blistering. Lubricated gauze was applied to the patient's eyes for protection, and lubricant was applied to the lips and perioral skin before intubation and during dental treatment. Postoperatively the patient exhibited minimal blistering secondary to intubation and dental treatment.

The disposable Ambu aScope vs. a conventional flexible videoscope for awake intubation -- a randomised study.

BACKGROUND: A new disposable flexible videoscope, the Ambu® aScope, has several potential advantages compared with reusable devices, but it is a prerequisite for its widespread use that it functions sufficiently well in the management of patients in whom difficulty with airway management is anticipated and awake intubation is indicated. METHODS: In a pilot study, 20 patients with normal airways were intubated with the aScope. Subsequently, 40 patients with predicted difficult tracheal intubation were randomly assigned to be intubated awake with either the aScope or the reusable Olympus BF videobronchoscope. RESULTS: All patients were successfully intubated awake. The median total intubation time, including the administration of local anaesthesia, was 278 vs. 234 s in the aScope and Olympus groups, respectively (P = 0.03). In two cases in the aScope group, the image became blurred immediately after the first injection of lidocaine via the injection channel, and the time that it took to replace the scopes was included in the intubation times. CONCLUSION: Both the disposable aScope and the reusable Olympus videoscope allowed safe awake intubation in our elective patients with severely difficult, but uncompromised, airways. The occasional need to employ a spare scope because of malfunctioning would make the disposable aScope less suitable in patients with acutely compromised airways.

Réplica al artículo «Comentarios al artículo Airtraq como dispositivo de primera elección para un lactante con vía aérea difícil conocida» / Reply to the "AIRTRAQ as the Device of Choice for Infants With Known Difficult Airway"

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Office airway surgery.

The emergence and refinement of flexible endoscopes during the second half of the twentieth century has facilitated flexible bronchoscopy's rise as the standard for evaluation of and often intervention in the tracheobronchial tree. Many of these procedures require only topical anesthesia and may be conducted in office settings without sedation. The relocation of procedures previously reserved for the operating room or endoscopy suite confers cost savings, improves provider flexibility, and maintains patient safety while increasing satisfaction and limiting convalescence.

Cuffed endotracheal tubes in infants and children: should we routinely measure the cuff pressure?

OBJECTIVE: Over the past 5 years, there has been a change in the clinical practice of pediatric anesthesiology with a transition to the use of cuffed instead of uncuffed endotracheal tubes in infants and children. However, there are few studies evaluating the current practices of inflation of these cuffs and the intracuff pressures. METHOD: There was no change dictated in clinical practice for these patients. During the first 30 min of the case, the pressure in the cuff was measured using a hand held manometer. Additional data collected included the patient's demographic data (age, weight, and gender), the size of the ETT, whether nitrous oxide was in use, whether the patient was breathing spontaneously or undergoing positive pressure ventilation, and the type of anesthesia provider (resident, fellow, CRNA or SRNA). RESULTS: The cohort for the study included 200 patients ranging in age from 1 month to 17 years and in weight from 3.5 to 99.1 kg. The average cuff pressure was 23 ± 22 cmH(2)O in the total cohort of 200 patients. The cuff pressure was ≥ 30 cmH(2)O in 47 of the 200 patients (23.5%). The average cuff pressure was significantly higher in patients who were 8 years of age or greater compared to younger patients. Additionally, there were significantly more patients with a cuff pressure ≥ 30 cmH(2)O in the ≥ 8 year old age group. Although no difference in the mean cuff pressure was noted when comparing staff anesthesia providers (pediatric anesthesiologist or CRNA) versus trainees (SRNA, anesthesiology resident, medical student or pediatric anesthesiology fellow), the incidence of significantly excessive cuff pressures (≥ 60 cmH(2)O) was higher in the trainee group versus the faculty group (12 of 99 versus 2 of 101, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Using current clinical practice to inflate the cuff, a significant percentage of pediatric patients have an intracuff pressure greater than the generally recommended upper limit of 30 cmH(2)O.

Preformación del tubo endotraqueal con forma de "mango" para inserción con el videolaringoscopio Glidescope / Preformed endotracheal tube "handle" for Glidescope videolaryngoscope insertion

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Nuevas aportaciones de la mascarilla laríngea en cirugía ambulatoria. Contribución de la mascarilla laríngea Supreme / No disponible

Desde la introducción de la mascarilla laríngea, su uso se ha expandido especialmente en el contexto de la cirugía ambulatoria. La mascarilla laríngea representa el “patrón oro” de los dispositivos supraglóticos, y es la referencia con la que los nuevos dispositivos deben ser comparados. La presente revisión es una actualización de las principales indicaciones de la mascarilla laríngea en usos avanzados, incluyendo el abordaje de la vía aérea difícil en el paciente intervenido de forma ambulatoria. Así mismo se incluye una revisión de las indicaciones, aportaciones, y ventajas de la mascarilla laríngea Supreme aplicadas al contexto de la cirugía sin ingreso (AU)

Since the introduction of the original laryngeal mask airway(LMA) in the nineties in our country, its use has expanded especially in the context of outpatient surgery. The LMA remains the “gold standard” of the supraglotic devices and the standard by which all other devices should be compared. This review is an update of the main indications of the LMA in advanced applications, including addressing the difficult airway in the patient operated on an outpatient basis. Also includes a review of the information, contributions, and advantages of the LMA supreme applied to the context of day surgery (AU)

Reducing nasopharyngeal trauma: the urethral catheter-assisted nasotracheal intubation technique.

Nasal intubation is an advantageous approach for dental procedures performed in the hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or dental office, when possible. Although many who provide anesthesia services are familiar and comfortable with nasal intubation techniques, some are reluctant and uncomfortable because of lack of experience or fear of nasopharyngeal bleeding and trauma. It has been observed from experiences in various settings that many approaches may be adapted to the technique of achieving nasal intubation. The technique that is described in this paper suggests a minimally invasive approach that introduces the nasoendotracheal tube through the nasopharyngeal pathway to the oropharynx in an expedient manner while preserving the nasopharyngeal structures, thus lessening nasal bleeding and trauma to soft tissues. The technique uses a common urethral catheter and can be incorporated along with current intubation armamentaria. As with all techniques, some limitations to the approach have been identified and are described in this paper. Cases with limited mouth opening, neck injury, and difficult airways may necessitate alternative methods. However, the short learning curve along with the many benefits of this technique offers the anesthesia professional additional options for excellent patient care.

Pilot randomized study comparing two techniques of airway anaesthesia during curvilinear probe endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy (CP-EBUS).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates two different techniques for topically anaesthetizing the airway with lidocaine during curvilinear probe endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy (CP-EBUS): standard injection through the working channel and spray catheter application. METHODS: This was a randomized, non-blinded, single-centre pilot study. Patients with plans for CP-EBUS under moderate sedation were enrolled. All patients received nebulized lidocaine followed by posterior oropharyngeal lidocaine via atomizer and a cotton ball swab using McGill forceps. Patients were then randomly assigned to lidocaine administration using spray catheter instillation or direct application through the working channel. Lidocaine was administered in a uniform fashion by a single investigator throughout the study. The primary end-point was the number of significant coughing episodes in the first 30 min of bronchoscopy. Other end-points included lidocaine and intravenous sedation medication dosage; severe coughing session; and number of transbronchial needle aspirations. RESULTS: Forty patients were included in the study: 20 patients in each group. The median numbers of coughing episodes in the first 30 min were 1 (spray catheter group) and 2 (standard injection group) (P < 0.004). Six patients in the standard installation group experienced severe coughing sessions, while there was none in the spray catheter group (P = 0.02). There were no statistical differences between the groups in the dosage of lidocaine or intravenous sedation medications used. There were a greater number of transbronchial needle aspirations performed in the spray catheter group (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine delivery via the spray catheter reduced the number of significant coughing episodes compared with standard working channel injection during CP-EBUS. Larger studies are needed to confirm these exploratory findings.

Successful management of rabbit anesthesia through the use of nasotracheal intubation.

Although nasotracheal intubation in the rabbit has been briefly described, scientific assessment of the procedure has not been reported. In this report we describe nasotracheal intubation performed in 38 male New Zealand White rabbits (3.0 to 5.5 kg) used for a vascular patch study. The rabbits were placed under general anesthesia twice, with 2 mo between the initial and final intubations. Rabbits were intubated by the oral or nasotracheal route and compared. Previous literature dismissed nasotracheal intubation, citing the possibility of introducing pathogens into the lungs and the necessity of high oxygen flow rates (presumably greater than 3 L/min). However, no clinical signs of respiratory disease were noted among the study animals, nor were high oxygen flow rates necessary. Several key points collectively facilitated a successful procedure. Total relaxation was essential, modification of the classic blind approach eased placement, a correct approach was necessary, and our development of a unique method of securing the tube improved tube management. The findings suggest that nasotracheal intubation can be used as an easy, less traumatic method of rabbit intubation when compared with orotracheal intubation.