European journal of anaesthesiology
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Case Reports
The anaesthetic management of a case of severe upper airways obstruction due to an enlarging subglottic benign polyp.
The use of a newly developed aid to jet ventilation of the lungs, a modified Ben-Jet tube (the Hunsaker Monjet tube), is described in a patient with partial upper airway obstruction. This report highlights an unusual use of this device. The Monjet is a fluoroplastic, monitored, self-centring, fine bore tube that can be inserted from the mouth through to the subglottic region. It was originally developed to anaesthetize healthy patients without airway obstruction who were undergoing suspension microlaryngoscopy.
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Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare, genetically determined disorder characterized by excessive susceptibility of the skin and mucosa to separate from the underlying tissues after mechanical trauma. Patients suffering from this disease may have multiple medical problems, but the risk of anaesthesia is attributed mainly to oropharyngeal involvement; airway management may be hazardous and preservation of mucosa and skin integrity problematical. There is a paucity of data in the literature concerning the perioperative management of children with epidermolysis bullosa. We present our experience of managing 54 general anaesthetics (and two local anaesthetics) over the past 20 years. ⋯ With maximal skin and mucous membrane protection, anaesthesia in children with epidermolysis bullosa may be undertaken with few sequelae.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Magnesium as part of balanced general anaesthesia with propofol, remifentanil and mivacurium: a double-blind, randomized prospective study in 50 patients.
To test the hypothesis that magnesium sulphate reduces the amount of remifentanil needed for general anaesthesia in combination with propofol and mivacurium, we studied 50 patients undergoing elective pars plana vitrectomy in a double-blind, randomized prospective fashion. ⋯ We can recommend the use of magnesium sulphate as a safe and cost-effective supplement to a general anaesthetic regimen with propofol, remifentanil and mivacurium, although we cannot clearly distinguish between a mechanism as a (co)analgesic agent at the NMDA-receptor site or its properties as a sympatholytic. The effect of a single bolus dose of 50 mg kg(-1) on induction lasts for about 2 h. For longer cases, either a continuous infusion or repeated bolus doses might be necessary.
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The intubating laryngeal mask is designed to act as a ventilatory device and as an aid to blind tracheal intubation in adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the intubating laryngeal mask for ventilation of the lungs and tracheal intubation in children using video-endoscopic control. ⋯ The size 3 intubating laryngeal mask provides an airway that is easy to establish in children > or = 25 kg with excellent ventilation conditions and allows blind tracheal intubation at the first attempt with a high success rate. Endoscopic monitoring improves its safety and intubation success rate.