British journal of anaesthesia
-
High-flow, heated, and humidified nasal oxygen therapy (HFNO) is frequently used in critical care and perioperative settings for a range of clinical applications. Much of the benefit of HFNO is attributed to generation of modest levels of positive airway pressure. Concern has been raised that this positive airway pressure may cause gastric insufflation, potentially increasing the risk of regurgitation and aspiration in an unprotected airway. ⋯ NCT03134937.
-
Upper-limb trauma is a common indication for surgery in children, and general anaesthesia remains the method of choice for these procedures, even though suitable techniques of brachial plexus block are available and fast provision of regional anaesthesia offers a number of distinct advantages. ⋯ NCT03842423.
-
Bedside measures of patient effort are essential to properly titrate the level of pressure support ventilation. We investigated whether the tidal swing in oesophageal (ΔPes) and transdiaphragmatic pressure (ΔPdi), and ultrasonographic changes in diaphragm (TFdi) and parasternal intercostal (TFic) thickening are reliable estimates of respiratory effort. The effect of diaphragm dysfunction was also considered. ⋯ ΔPes and ΔPdi are adequate estimates of inspiratory effort. Diaphragm ultrasonography is a reliable indicator of inspiratory effort in the absence of diaphragm dysfunction. Additional measurement of parasternal intercostal thickening may discriminate a low inspiratory effort or a high effort in the presence of a dysfunctional diaphragm.