Anaesthesia
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Comparative Study
The ability of bispectral index to detect intra-operative wakefulness during total intravenous anaesthesia compared with the isolated forearm technique.
It has been suggested that monitoring during total intravenous anaesthesia should include aspects of brain function. The current study used a manually adjusted target-controlled infusion of propofol for anaesthesia, guided to a bispectral index range of 55-60. Intra-operative responsiveness, as assessed by the isolated forearm technique, was compared with whether the bispectral index predicted/identified a patient's appropriate hand movements in responses to commands. ⋯ For patients who responded more than once during surgery the bispectral index value associated with a response was not constant. Although there was no difference in the median (IQR [range]) effect site propofol concentration between intra-operative responses (2.0 (1.5-2.3 [1.2-4.0]) μg.ml(-1)) and eye opening after surgery (2.1 (1.7-2.8 [1.5-3.9]) μg.ml(-1)), the median (IQR [range]) bispectral index value at eye opening after surgery was significantly higher than that associated with responses during surgery: 75 (70-78 [51-93]) vs 61 (52-67 [37-80]) respectively, (p < 0.001). The manual control of propofol intravenous anaesthesia to target a bispectral index range of 55-60 may result in an unacceptable number of patients who are conscious during surgery (albeit without recall).
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Nasotracheal intubation with three indirect laryngoscopes assisted by standard or modified Magill forceps.
We assessed the effect of modifying standard Magill forceps on the laryngeal introduction of an Eschmann stylet during nasotracheal intubations with three indirect laryngoscopes (Airtraq™, C-MAC(®) or GlideScope(®)) in patients with predicted difficult intubation. We allocated 50 participants to each laryngoscope. The stylet was advanced by one forceps followed by the other (standard or modified), with each sequence allocated to 25/50 for each laryngoscope. ⋯ An Eschmann stylet was advanced into the trachea less often with the standard forceps (65% vs 93%, p < 0.0001). Mean (SD) time for stylet advancement was longer with the standard forceps, 38 (30) vs 19 (19) s, p < 0.0001. In conclusion, the modified Magill forceps facilitated nasotracheal intubation, independent of the type of indirect laryngoscope.