Anaesthesia reports
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Anaesthesia reports · Jul 2020
Case ReportsManagement of tracheostomy-related tracheomegaly in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonitis.
Acquired tracheomegaly is a rare condition associated with pulmonary fibrosis, connective tissue disease and the use of cuffed tracheal tubes. We describe the urgent tracheal re-intubation and subsequent tracheal repair of a previously well 58-year-old man who developed tracheostomy-related tracheomegaly during prolonged mechanical ventilation for coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonitis. Urgent tracheal re-intubation was required due to a persistent cuff leak, pneumomediastinum and malposition of the tracheostomy tube. ⋯ We present a stepwise approach to tracheal re-intubation past a large tracheal dilatation, including the use of an Aintree catheter inserted via the existing tracheal stoma for oxygenation or tracheal re-intubation if required. Computed tomography imaging was valuable in characterising the defect and developing a safe airway management strategy before starting the procedure. This report emphasises the role of planning, teamwork and the development of an appropriate airway strategy in the safe management of complex cases.
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Anaesthesia reports · Jan 2020
Case ReportsAwake tracheal intubation in a suspected COVID-19 patient with critical airway obstruction.
We report the airway management of a patient with suspected COVID-19 with impending airway obstruction requiring urgent surgical tracheostomy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an awake tracheal intubation in a suspected COVID-19-positive patient. ⋯ There is a lack of national and international guidance for awake tracheal intubation and tracheostomy in COVID-19 cases. This report nevertheless addresses the key procedural modifications required.
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Anaesthesia reports · Jan 2020
Case ReportsA junior doctor's experience of critical illness: from treating patients to becoming a patient with COVID-19.
When the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared, it was clear that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) would have far-reaching impacts on medicine, society and everyday life. As a junior doctor working closely with patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, I was aware of my personal risk of exposure to the virus. I assumed that as a fit and well 26-year-old with no comorbidities, if I were to become infected, it was unlikely that COVID-19 would be severe. ⋯ After two further days of rehabilitation, I was discharged home. This reflection is not a junior doctor's view of how COVID-19 was managed by the NHS, but a personal view of my illness from 'the other side of the curtain'. My reflections focus upon the psychological aspects of my experiences, exploring the memories that I formed around the time of critical care, how the fears that I possessed were managed with exceptional communication, and the importance of the wider healthcare team in my recovery.
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Anaesthesia reports · Jan 2020
Case ReportsLocal anaesthetic toxicity during an awake tracheal intubation course.
We report a case of local anaesthetic toxicity in an anaesthetic trainee participating as a subject for an awake tracheal intubation training course. The trainee experienced symptoms of toxicity despite the dose of lidocaine administered being less than the maximum safe dose recommended for airway topicalisation. ⋯ We have now made it our course policy that participants cannot undergo awake tracheal intubation less than 2 weeks before a period of coryzal illness. We recommend that operators remain vigilant for signs of local anaesthetic toxicity when undertaking this procedure and adhere to newly published Difficult Airway Society awake tracheal intubation guidelines.