Per-cutaneous dilatation tracheostomy (PCTD) in COVID-19 patients and peri-tracheostomy care: A case series and guidelines.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: COVID 19 patients with severe respiratory failure may require prolonged mechanical ventilation. Placement of a tracheostomy tube often becomes necessary for such patients. The steps of tracheostomy procedure and post tracheostomy care of these patients can be classified as aerosol generating. We wish to highlight our modified technique to address these issues. METHODOLOGY: We performed percutaneous dilation tracheostomy in three clinically challenging COVID-19 patients in our ICU and developed guidelines aiming to minimise aerosolisation during and after the tracheostomy procedure to safeguard healthcare workers. RESULTS: Percutaneous tracheostomy was performed by a team of three experienced anaesthetists and an ICU nurse. CONCLUSION: The decision of surgical or percutaneous tracheostomy should be dependent on the experience of the tracheostomy performer, health-care worker safety, resource availability, and patient-centred care. We believe our modified strategic approach of brief bronchoscopy, minimum PEEP and gas flows and step-wise planned approach for PCDT offers an extra level of safety to healthcare workers.

Anesthetic Management of Advanced Stage Ludwig's Angina: A Case Report and Review With Emphasis on Compromised Airway Management.

Ludwig's angina, although uncommon, remains a potentially life-threatening condition because of the risk of impending airway obstruction. Effective treatment is based on early recognition of the clinical process, with the appropriate use of parenteral antibiotics, securing the airway, and formal surgical drainage of the infection. Awake fiberoptic intubation under topical anesthesia may be the preferred method to secure the airway. Flexible nasotracheal intubation requires skill and experience. When fiberoptic bronchoscopy is not feasible, not available, or has failed, an elective awake cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy are the options. Furthermore, the introduction of newer advanced airway techniques, such as video-assissted laryngoscopy, may allow the clinician additional flexibility in nonsurgical airway management. We present a recent case of a patient with Ludwig's angina, successfully managed at our hospital, with a brief review of airway management options.

Efficacy and safety of extrafascial injection versus intrafascial injection for interscalene brachial plexus block: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) techniques in upper limb and shoulder surgeries. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Medline, and Scopus databases up to May 14th, 2023. We employed a search strategy involving keywords such as "brachial plexus block," "interscalene brachial plexus block," "ISB," "extrafascial," and "intrafascial," without applying search restrictions or filters. Eligible studies consisted of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared extrafascial and intrafascial ISB techniques in adult patients undergoing upper limb and shoulder surgeries. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Our analysis included six RCTs encompassing 485 participants. Extrafascial injection demonstrated superiority over intrafascial injection in reducing the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paresis (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.124 to 0.47, P<0.00001) and preserving respiratory function (MS 0.31, 95% CI 0.1 to 0. 52, P=0.003 FEV1 in liters). Additionally, extrafascial ISB exhibited a lower risk of block-related complications (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.50, P<0.00001). However, the intrafascial technique offered a faster sensory and motor block onset. The duration of sensory block did not significantly differ. The incidence of Horner syndrome showed no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings favor extrafascial ISB techniques because they reduce hemidiaphragmatic paresis, preserve respiratory function, and lower block-related complications. However, further research is necessary to establish their safety and efficacy in specific patient populations.

Stress level assessment among health care workers involved in the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care health care workers (HCWs) are frontlines of this crisis as they deal with critically ill COVID-19 patients which can potentially affect their mental well-being and causes different levels of stress. AIM: To determine the prevalence of stress among HCWs involved in the management of critically ill COVID-19 patient, identify the factors associated with stress, and highlight the availability of psychological support provided to HCWs. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicenter, international study using a web-based questionnaire of 27 questions including the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) for assessment of stress level. Questions to identify factors associated with stress, the psychological support provided, and the sociodemographic characteristics were included. RESULTS: We received a total 1649 responses from 59 countries: 550 (34%) were from Europe, 525 (32.36%) from Asia, 283 (17.44%) from Africa, 177 (11%) from America, and 88 (5.42%) from Australia. The average stress level was 22 points on the PSS denoting moderate stress in 1327 (81.8%) respondents, while 239 (14.73%) respondents had a severe level of stress. Female gender, working in high capacity units and remote areas in addition to lack of psychological support, was significantly associated with stress in our study. CONCLUSION: Stress level was moderate to severe among intensive care HCWs during this pandemic, and many factors were associated with stress emphasizing the importance of psychological support during that unprecedented pandemic.

COVID-19-related Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Adult ICU Patient in Ireland.

Radiologically confirmed, novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related neurological manifestations are being reported with increasing frequency since the outbreak of the disease. We describe a 54-year-old male with COVID-19, who demonstrated radiological and clinical findings of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome(PRES). The proposed mechanism suggested for COVID-19-related PRES is a disease induced inflammatory storm, which causes endothelial injury, resulting in endothelialdysfunction (ED), interstitial fluid extravasation and cerebral edema. Key Words: COVID-19, Encephalopathy, Neurological complications, PRES.

Multi-triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection: A lethal combination.

We report a case of severe COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by fatal co-infection with a multi-triazole resistant Aspergillus fumigatus and highlight the importance of recognising the significance of Aspergillus sp. isolation from respiratory samples. Early diagnosis and detection of triazole resistance are essential for appropriate antifungal therapy to improve outcome in patients with coronavirus associated invasive aspergillosis.

Anaesthestic Management of Removal of Aspirated Hypodermic Needle in Trachea: A Case Report.

Aspiration of foreign body is a very common emergency in paediatric age group. It is very rare in adult population. Moreover common foreign body in adults are food materials. Aspiration of hypodermic needle is very rarely reported. But this can happen accidentally during use of hypodermic needle for dental block. We hereby report such a case of aspiration of hypodermic needle accidentally aspirated during performing a dental block. Aspiration of sharp foreign body and its bronscopic removal can lead to injury to airway. We report successful management of such a case where needle was removed under general anaesthesia successfully using rigid bronchoscope.