British journal of anaesthesia
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The applied anatomy of the cricothyroid and cricotracheal region of the neck and a retrograde method of tracheal intubation using the subcricoid region are described. This approach has several advantages, including absence of bleeding complications, as there are no major blood vessels on the cricotracheal membrane, and reduction in the possible development of subglottic oedema and stenosis.
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We have studied the effects of phonation and posture on the Mallampati classification of view of the pharyngeal structures. Differences between observers were allowed for by the experimental design and log-linear modelling. Sixty-four patients were assessed on the ward, sitting upright, with and without phonation, by each of two observers. ⋯ Differences between observers were non-systematic but substantial. About 25% of patients phonated spontaneously. It is recommended that anaesthetists make their own assessments of Mallampati classification, with the patient in either of the postures but always either with or without phonation, and thereby gradually "calibrate" their assessments against the degree of difficulty encountered in intubation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Attenuation of the pressor response to tracheal intubation by magnesium sulphate with and without alfentanil in hypertensive proteinuric patients undergoing caesarean section.
The pressor response to tracheal intubation is known to be exaggerated in patients with gestational proteinuric hypertension (GPH). We have studied the effect of pretreatment with magnesium sulphate 40 mg kg-1 or 30 mg kg-1 with alfentanil 7.5 micrograms kg-1 on this pressor response in 38 patients with moderate to severe GPH. ⋯ There was no significant difference in fetal outcome between groups. Both pretreatment methods produced satisfactory control of catecholamine release.