British journal of anaesthesia
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Previous studies have identified no strong correlation between patients' height and tracheal length in anaesthetized patients. We have attempted to compare vocal cords-carina distance (VCD) in Chinese patients with the dimensions of five commonly used tracheal tubes. In addition, we attempted to find a surface anatomy measurement that would identify patients with 'short tracheas'. ⋯ A significant number of patients with short VCD in our study group could be at risk of endobronchial intubation with many of the tracheal tubes. Patient height and thyrosternal distance can be useful in predicting short tracheas.
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Effects of temperature gradient correction of carbon dioxide absorbent on carbon dioxide absorption.
The effects of temperature gradients in CO(2) absorbents on water content and CO(2) absorption are not clear. We constructed a novel temperature gradient correction (TGC) canister, and investigated the effects of temperature gradient correction on the water content and longevity (time to exhaustion) of CO(2) absorbent using a simulated anaesthesia circuit. ⋯ Temperature gradient correction prevented a local excessive increase in water content and improved the longevity of CO(2) absorbent.
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Practical, valid and reliable pain measuring tools in neonates are required in clinical practice for effective pain management and prevention of the evaluator bias. ⋯ Based on our findings, we recommended NIPS as a valid, reliable and practical tool.
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Multicenter Study
A Scottish National Prospective Study of airway management skills in new-start SHOs.
There is increasing concern about the ability of junior anaesthetists to manage the airway correctly and alarm that this may lead to adverse events. ⋯ We recommend that facemask anaesthesia is given a high priority in the formative months and that a target number of intubations should be carried out before providing anaesthesia without direct supervision.
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Although tracheostomy tube displacement is uncommon, the management is often difficult and the associated mortality is high. It is important to ensure that the airway is secure and then either replace or reposition the tracheostomy tube. This case report describes the use of an Aintree intubation catheter (C-CAE-19.0-56-AIC, William Cook Europe, Denmark) mounted on an intubating fibre-optic bronchoscope (11302BD1, Karl Storz Endoskope, Germany) to reposition a partially displaced tracheostomy tube.