Anaesthesia
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Provision of one lung ventilation can be technically challenging, particularly for anaesthetists who are only occasionally required to isolate one lung from the other. A new double lumen endotracheal tube, the Papworth BiVent Tube, has been designed to enable rapid and reliable lung isolation using any bronchus blocker without the need for fibreoptic endoscopic guidance. In this study, an airway-training manikin was used to assess ease of tracheal intubation and lung isolation using the Papworth BiVent tube. ⋯ Ease of lung isolation when using a bronchus blocker was compared to a single lumen tube combined with a bronchial blocker. Tracheal intubation using the Papworth BiVent tube was found to be easier than when using a conventional double lumen endobronchial tube. Lung isolation using the Papworth BiVent tube used in combination with a bronchus blocker was achieved more reliably and rapidly than when using a single lumen tube and bronchus blocker.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Femoral nerve block using ropivacaine 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%: effects on the rehabilitation programme following total knee arthroplasty: a pilot study.
Femoral nerve blockade is recommended for analgesia following total knee arthroplasty. Following implementation of this type of postoperative analgesia in our hospital we found that active mobilization the day after surgery, may be difficult due to insufficient quadriceps muscle strength. We therefore designed a pilot study comparing the effect of ropivacaine 0.1%, 0.05% or 0.025% on the patient's postoperative rehabilitation and analgesia. ⋯ There were no significant differences in the patient's ability to actively mobilize and the pain VAS-scores. The overall satisfaction of the patients with the pain treatment was significantly better (p = 0.049) in the 0.1% compared with the 0.025% group. This pilot-study demonstrated no advantage associated with the use of a ropivacaine concentration less than 0.1%.
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Comparative Study
The effects of head flexion on airway seal, quality of ventilation and orogastric tube placement using the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway.
This prospective self-controlled study was designed to evaluate the influences of head flexion on airway seal, quality of ventilation, and orogastric tube placement through the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (ProSeal LMA) in 80 anaesthetised, paralysed adult patients. After the ProSeal LMA was inserted and the cuff pressure was set at 5.9 kPa, ventilation quality, airway seal pressure, fibreoptic positions of the cuff and the drainage tube, orogastric tube placement and efficacy of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) were assessed in two randomly selected positions: neutral and flexed position. When compared to the neutral head position, the head flexed significantly improved the airway seal pressure and the quality of ventilation of the ProSeal LMA (p < 0.05). ⋯ In conclusion, head flexion improves airway seal and ventilation quality of the ProSeal LMA. However, placement of an orogastric tube via the drainage tube is impaired in the flexed position compared to the neutral position. Fibreoptic scoring of the ProSeal cuff position is not an accurate test to assess the airway seal and ventilation function.
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Oxygen is the commonest drug prescribed in hospitals. The inhaled concentration is altered by the administered oxygen flow rate, the characteristics of the delivery device and the patient's respiratory pattern. Using healthy volunteers we measured the inspired oxygen concentration achieved with different devices both at rest and when the breathing pattern of respiratory failure was simulated by binding the subjects' chests until the forced expiratory volume in 1 s was reduced by > 50% and the respiratory rate was > 25 breaths.min(-1). ⋯ There was no statistically significant change with a nonrebreathing (reservoir) mask at 15 and 110 l.min(-1) or with a Vapotherm 2000i at 40 l.min(-1), humidified, via nasal prongs. We conclude that the F(I)o(2) delivered by high flow devices is unaffected when the breathing pattern of respiratory failure is simulated. The F(I)o(2) achieved at rest by a nonrebreathing mask (0.68) is less than that often quoted in the literature.
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Comparative Study
A needle guidance device compared to free hand technique in an ultrasound-guided interventional task using a phantom.
In this in vitro study, a needle guidance device and a 'free hand' technique for ultrasound guided needle insertion were compared in a simulated ultrasound-guided interventional task using a porcine phantom. Residents inexperienced in using ultrasonography were asked to insert a needle, using an in-plane techniques, and to make contact with metal rods at a depth of 2 and 4 cm in the phantom. ⋯ The residents ranked their satisfaction with the needle-guidance device significantly better than the 'free-hand' technique. This device may be beneficial when performing ultrasound guided peripheral nerve blocks, especially by inexperienced operators.