Blood transfusion demands in a tertiary otolaryngology, head and neck centre: A 5-year retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively analyse and report the utilisation of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in a tertiary otolaryngology, head and neck centre in the United Kingdom. BACKGROUND: Twenty-seven per cent of RBC transfusions were for surgical indications in a 2014 England and North Wales survey. Currently, there is limited literature on RBC transfusions in Otolaryngology. METHODS/MATERIALS: All inpatients admitted primarily under the care of the Otolaryngology, Head and Neck service between January 2015 and December 2019 were analysed. The primary outcomes of interest were number of units of RBC transfused over 5 years and distribution across clinical indications. Secondary outcome measure was cost of RBC transfusions over the same time period. RESULTS: Most patients receiving transfusions are aged in their sixth and seventh decades. Epistaxis patients utilised 105 RBC units over the 5 years (56% of total RBC units) with emergency epistaxis accounting for 78% of use. Post-operative Head & Neck Cancer surgery with and without reconstruction required 47 RBC units over 5 years (25% of total RBC units). The mean cost incurred by the department over the 5-year period was £6171.49 (SD 1460.25). The cost has fallen by over £2000 over the 5-year period. CONCLUSION: Blood transfusion use has fluctuated over the last 5 years. Epistaxis and post-operative Head and Neck cancer cases account for significant use compared with other patient groups. Prehabilitation strategies will add value towards mitigating future consumption of RBC.

Depth of central venous catheterization by intracardiac electrocardiogram in adults.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheterization is done frequently in cardiac surgery and intensive care settings. Faulty positioning of the catheter can cause many complications. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to study the average depth of insertion and formulate a general guideline through the right internal jugular vein (IJV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The right IJV was cannulated over a period of four months and catheter tip positioning was guided by means of an intracardiac electrocardiogram (ECG). Insertion depth was registered at the position of maximum P wave amplitude and the catheter was fixed after withdrawing 2 cm. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to categorize any relationship between plots of distance versus patient's height, and regression lines and equations were also calculated. Bland-Altman analysis of data was done to compare the old formulae with our derived formulae. RESULTS: A total of 155 adult patients were studied. Distances measured were found to be highly correlated with a patient's height, followed by body surface area (BSA) and weight. For right IJV cannulation in valvular surgeries in adults, the depth of insertion (cm) was (height in cm / 15) + 2 ± 1.58 (SD) and in non-valvular surgeries in adults, it was (height in cm/15) + 1.4 ± 1.47 (SD). The bias was very small when the new formulae were compared to the existing formulae. CONCLUSIONS: The devised formulae predicted the required depth of catheters thereby reducing the possibility of complications and need for radiographic confirmation.

Anaesthetic management for caesarean section in a case of previously operated with residual pituitary tumour.

Successful anaesthetic management for caesarean section in a case with previous pituitary tumour resection, with residual tumour, is reported. The pituitary gland undergoes global hyperplasia during pregnancy. Functional pituitary tumours may exhibit symptomatic enlargement during pregnancy. Growth hormone secreting tumour is associated with acromegaly which has associated anaesthetic implications of difficult airway, systemic hypertension, and diabetes and electrolyte imbalance. Intracranial space occupying lesions can increase intra cranial pressure and compromise cerebral perfusion or cause herniation. We report management of this case.

Nasogastric tube insertion using different techniques in anesthetized patients: a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: It is often difficult to correctly place nasogastric (NG) tubes under anesthesia. We hypothesized that simple modifications in technique of NG tube insertion will improve the success rate. METHODS: Two hundred patients were enrolled into the study. The patients were randomized into four groups: control, guidewire, slit endotracheal tube, and neck flexion with lateral neck pressure. The starting point of the procedure was the time when NG tube insertion was begun through the selected nostril. The end point was the time when there was either a successful insertion of the NG tube or a failure after two attempts. The success rate of the technique, duration of insertion procedure, and the occurrence of complications (bleeding, coiling, kinking, and knotting, etc.) were noted. Chi2, analysis of variance, and Student's t-test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Success rates were higher in all intervention groups compared with the control group. The time necessary to insert the NG tube was significantly longer in the slit endotracheal tube group. Kinking of the NG tube and bleeding were the most common complications. CONCLUSION: The success rate of NG tube insertion can be increased by using a ureteral guidewire as stylet, a slit endotracheal tube as an introducer, or head flexion with lateral neck pressure. Head flexion with lateral neck pressure is the easiest technique that has a high success rate and fewest complications.