British journal of anaesthesia
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The single tapered dilator (STD) percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) technique now appears to be the single most common method of performing a tracheostomy in the critical care unit (CCU). ⋯ PDT performed by the STD technique is a relatively safe procedure with more than 96% of procedures performed without any early or late complications. Using this technique, more than 97% of tracheostomies undertaken during the study period were performed percutaneously. Further audit at a national level is warranted to fully evaluate long-term complications after PDT.
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Comparative Study
Incidence of venous gas embolism during robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is lower than that during radical retropubic prostatectomy.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) is gaining popularity as a less traumatic and minimally invasive alternative to open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and grade of venous gas embolism (VGE) during RALRP compared with those during RRP using transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). ⋯ In contrast to general belief, VGE occurred less frequently during RALRP. Although the VGE in this study did not cause any cardiorespiratory instability, close monitoring for possibly fatal VGE must be considered during both types of radical prostatectomy because those who undergo radical prostatectomy frequently have cardiopulmonary co-morbidities.