Journal of clinical anesthesia
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To determine the incidence and etiology of cardiopulmonary arrest during emergency intubation in the remote location by comparing two periods (1990-1995 vs. 1995-2002) at the same institution to assess whether immediate access to advanced airway devices and endotracheal tube-verifying devices altered the incidence of hypoxemia-driven cardiac arrest. ⋯ Cardiac arrest during emergency tracheal intubation outside the OR is relatively common compared with the OR environment. Airway-related complications played a prominent role, either singly or in combination with the patient's underlying physiological state. Immediate access to advanced airway devices and endotracheal tube-verifying devices appear to have a significant impact on the incidence of hypoxemia-driven cardiac arrest.
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To determine the influence of profiling and incentives on anesthesiologist behavior in relation to several key indicators of performance. ⋯ Tracking and rewarding physician performance with monthly profiling and a financial incentive given to the best in a peer group improves anesthesiologist performance in several key areas.
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Case Reports
Emergency airway management with a laryngeal mask airway in a patient placed in the prone position.
Accidental extubation of a patient while placed in the prone position is a life-threatening, anesthesia-related complication. We describe a case of accidental extubation of the trachea during spine surgery in a patient placed in the prone position. We successfully managed this emergent problem by inserting a Laryngeal Mask Airway while maintaining the patient in the same position.