Comparison of the standard laryngeal mask airway and the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway in obese patients.

BACKGROUND: The ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) may have advantages over the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in obese patients. We tested this hypothesis in a clinical setting. METHODS: Sixty obese patients (BMI >30) were randomized to receive mechanical ventilation (tidal volume 7 ml kg(-1), PEEP 10 cm H(2)O), through either the PLMA or the LMA. A gastric tube was used in all patients. Cuff pressure was set at 60 cm H(2)O and increased progressively until excessive leak occurred. The incidence of sore throat was assessed at recovery and after 1 week. RESULTS: The mean leak fraction was 6.1 (SD 2.9)% with the LMA and 6.4 (3.5)% with the PLMA (P=0.721). With the PLMA, with no sign of ventilation problems, the drainage tube was not patent in three patients. The cuff pressure was >100 cm H(2)O in 38% of the LMA group and 7% of the PLMA group (P=0.05). The incidence of sore throat was similar in both groups and it was similarly scored in the recovery room and 1 week after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Both the PLMA and the LMA can be used for mechanical ventilation of obese patients. The patency of the PLMA drainage tube needs to be checked constantly even when an optimal airtight seal is present. In obese patients the LMA requires a greater cuff pressure than the PLMA, but sore throat is not related to the cuff pressure. Sore throat assessment in the recovery room appears as reliable as assessment later.

Impact of laryngeal mask airway and tracheal tube on pulmonary function during the early postoperative period.

BACKGROUND: The tracheal tube (TT) produces reversible bronchoconstriction and increases pulmonary airway resistance compared to the laryngeal mask airway (LMA). The possible persistence of this effect in the postoperative period has not been studied. The aim of this study was to compare the early postoperative pulmonary function in healthy patients undergoing minor surgical procedures with the LMA or with the TT. METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled for saphenous vein stripping under general anaesthesia were randomised to receive the LMA or the TT. Before anaesthesia and 20 min after LMA or TT removal, pulse oxymetry values (SpO(2)) were recorded and patients performed forced spirometry in the supine position. RESULTS: Preoperative pulmonary function was normal in both groups. There were no differences between groups in the preoperative respiratory function test and SpO(2). Following surgery SpO(2), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) decreased in both groups. The FEV1/FVC did not change in either of the groups. In the TT group, compared to patients using the LMA, there was a greater relative decrease of SpO(2) (2.7 +/- 2.7% vs. 1.3 +/- 2.2%, P=0.017), FEV1 (17.6 +/- 12.2% vs. 8 +/- 17.4%, P=0.008), FVC (15.8 +/- 12.4% vs. 9 +/- 13.4%, P=0.023) and PEF (20.6% +/- 15.3% vs. 8.1 +/- 33.3%, P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates greater early postoperative respiratory restrictive syndrome and lower arterial oxygen saturation following tracheal intubation compared to LMA use in patients without respiratory disease.

[Salmonella C infection of aortic abdominal aneurysm]. / Infezione di aneurisma dell'aorta addominale da salmonella di gruppo C.

The infected aneurysms of the aorta represent the 0.65% of all the aneurysms and they are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The vascular infections from Salmonella are not particularly frequent, even if in the last years their reports are more numerous. The authors report their experience in the surgical treatment of one case of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta infected by group C Salmonella, making a review of the Literature on this matter.

[True aneurysm of the profunda femoris artery. Case report and literature review]. / Aneurisma vero dell'arteria femorale profonda. Caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

Aneurysms of the profunda femoris artery rarely occur as an isolated lesion because of anatomical position and characteristics of wall tissue. The case of a 79-year-old man admitted to the hospital because of acute pain and swelling of the right leg with pulsating tumor in the groin is reported. Duplex scanning and angiography, performed in order to establish the diagnosis and to plan the operation, demonstrated a right large aneurysm of the deep femoral artery (8 x 12 cm). At operation, the aneurysm was resected associated to a PTFE Stretch graft replacement because the autogenous saphenous vein was not available. A review of the literature on the clinical manifestation and management in emergency or elective surgery of the isolated true atherosclerotic aneurysm of the deep femoral artery, is presented.

[Aneurysm of the celiac trunk. Presentation of a clinical case and review of the literature]. / Aneurisma del tripode celiaco. Presentazione di un caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

The aneurysms of the celiac trunk are the rarest aneurysms of the visceral arteries. From 1958 only 69 cases have been reported in the international literature. They are frequently asymptomatic and their discovery is more often occasional. They can rupture in 15-20% of the cases with a mortality approaching 80% of the cases. This explains the need of a surgical treatment even in the asymptomatic cases. Personal experience in the surgical treatment of a case of aneurysm of the celiac trunk is reported and a survey of the literature on this matter is made.