Anaesthesia
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of the intubating laryngeal mask airway and the Bonfils intubation fibrescope in patients with predicted difficult airways.
Tracheal intubation with the intubating laryngeal mask airway or the Bonfils intubation fibrescope was performed in 80 patients with predicted difficult airways. Mallampati score, thyromental distance, mouth opening and mobility of the atlanto-occipital joint were used to predict difficult airways. ⋯ Tracheal intubation was significantly slower with the intubating laryngeal mask airway than with the Bonfils intubation fibrescope (76 [45-155] s vs. 40 [23-77] s, p < 0.0001. Patients in the Bonfils group suffered less sore throat and hoarseness than those in the other group.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Prevention of postoperative sore throat using capsicum plaster applied at the Korean hand acupuncture point.
In a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled study, we compared the efficacy of capsicum plaster (PAS) applied at the Korean hand acupuncture point for the prevention of postoperative sore throat in 150 patients scheduled to undergo abdominal hysterectomy. The K group had PAS applied at the K-A20 of both hands and placebo tape at both non-acupoints. The PAS was applied prior to induction of anaesthesia and removed 8 h postoperatively. ⋯ The prevalence of moderate to severe sore throat at 24 h was lower for Group K (0%) than for sham and placebo controls (16%[p = 0.038] and 19%[p = 0.032], respectively). There were no differences in the recovery room of the sore throat scores for all groups. We found that the PAS applied at the K-A20 was an alternative method for reducing postoperative sore throat.
-
Comment Letter Historical Article
A response to 'Another look at Dumfries', Martin L V H, Anaesthesia 2004; 59: 180-7.
-
Performance of an oxygen delivery device for weaning potentially infectious critically ill patients.
Oxygen delivery via a heat and moisture exchange filter with an attached T-shaped reservoir satisfies infection control requirements of high efficiency bacterial and viral filtration and low gas flows. In order to assess the performance of such a device in critically ill patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation, we simulated 16 patients using a human patient simulator, measuring fractional inspired oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations and work of breathing at three oxygen flow rates. ⋯ Imposed inspiratory work of breathing was relatively high (mean 0.88 J.l(-1)[SD 0.30]). We conclude that this method of oxygen delivery is only suitable for patients in whom rapid extubation is anticipated.
-
Continuous flow positive pressure devices bridge the gap between mechanical and unsupported ventilation in patients recovering from critical illness. At this point, patients are often fully awake, yet the inflated tracheostomy cuff prevents them from speaking or swallowing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cuff deflation. ⋯ All patients were able to vocalise following cuff deflation. Twelve patients passed a blue dye swallow screen within a day of tolerating cuff deflation. These results suggest that pressures fall slightly following cuff deflation but this is associated with respiratory stability and may allow patients to talk and swallow.