Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Brain imaging studies suggest that loss of consciousness induced by general anesthetics is associated with impairment of thalamic function. There is, however, limited information on the time course of these changes. We recently obtained intracranial electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from the ventroposterolateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus and from the motor cortex during induction of anesthesia in three patients to study the time course of the alterations of cortical and thalamic function. ⋯ We conclude that induction of anesthesia with propofol in these patients was associated with concurrent alterations of cortical and sensory thalamic activity.
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Observational Study
Tracheal palpation to assess endotracheal tube depth: an exploratory study.
Correct placement of the endotracheal tube (ETT) occurs when the distal tip is in mid-trachea. This study compares two techniques used to place the ETT at the correct depth during intubation: tracheal palpation vs placement at a fixed depth at the patient's teeth. ⋯ Tracheal palpation requires no special equipment, takes only a few seconds to perform, and may improve ETT placement at the correct depth. Further studies are warranted.