British journal of anaesthesia
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Comparative Study
Comparison of three cuffed emergency percutaneous cricothyroidotomy devices to conventional surgical cricothyroidotomy in a porcine model.
Emergency cricothyroidotomy is a potentially life-saving procedure in the 'cannot intubate cannot ventilate (CICV)' scenario. Although surgical cricothyroidotomy remains the technique recommended in many 'CICV' algorithms, the insertion of a tracheostomy as a cannula over a trocar, or using the Seldinger method, may have advantages as they are more familiar to the anaesthetist. We compared the utility of three cuffed cricothyroidotomy devices: cuffed Melker®, Quicktrach 2®, and PCK® devices, with surgical cricothyroidotomy. ⋯ The Melker® and Quicktrach 2® devices appear to hold particular promise as alternatives to surgical cricothyroidotomy. Further studies, in more clinically relevant models, are required to confirm these initial positive findings.
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The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between perioperative complications and the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery who had undergone preoperative polysomnography (PSG). ⋯ In obese patients evaluated before operation by PSG before bariatric surgery and managed accordingly, the severity of OSA, as assessed by the AHI, was not associated with the rate of perioperative complications. These results cannot determine whether unrecognized and untreated OSA increases risk.
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Opinions about satisfaction with care are rarely obtained from children and few studies of this type exist in the area of paediatric anaesthesia. In this study, we developed a comprehensive self-administered questionnaire to measure the level of paediatric and, as a substitute in younger children, parental satisfaction with anaesthesia. In addition, we aimed to identify factors influencing satisfaction and compare results between hospitals. ⋯ Our psychometric questionnaire provides a novel approach to paediatric patient satisfaction with anaesthesia care and covers areas deemed important by children, parents, and carers. Significant differences between satisfied and dissatisfied groups and between participating hospitals were found.
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The aim of this study was to assess any interaction between ondansetron and paracetamol on a model of post-fracture pain in mice. ⋯ We found that paracetamol 100 mg kg⁻¹ blocked the development of hyperalgesia and allodynia after fracture pain and ondansetron did not modify the antinociceptive effect of paracetamol in this model.