Articles: intubation.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 1992
Comparative StudyQuantification of the jet function of a jet stylet.
The concept and use of a jet stylet as an additional safety measure during tracheal extubation of patients in whom subsequent ventilation and/or reintubation of the trachea may be difficult has recently been described. If jet ventilation through a jet stylet could provide for effective gas exchange, it would allow additional time to assess the need for reintubation of the trachea. We determined the tidal volumes (measured by integrating a pneumotachograph flow signal) that 50-psi jet ventilation, at an inspiratory to expiratory time ratio of 1:1 (unit of time = 1 s), could deliver through small, medium, and large Sheridan tube exchangers into an in vitro lung model that had lung compliances of 50 and 30 mL/cm H2O (six experimental permutations). ⋯ Decreased lung compliance caused decreased VT and end-expiratory volume for all six experimental conditions. The largest VT and minute ventilation (VE) generated were 1680 mL and 51.6 L/min (large tube exchanger, high lung compliance) and the lowest VT and VE were 440 mL and 13.2 L/min (small tube exchanger, low lung compliance), respectively. These findings validate the term "jet stylet" for all three tube exchangers as even the smallest tube exchanger, coupled with a low lung compliance, can provide a VE consistent with total ventilatory support for most clinical situations.
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Case Reports
Massive upper airway bleeding after thrombolytic therapy: successful airway management with the Combitube.
We present the case of a patient who required immediate intubation because of increasing upper airway bleeding. Endotracheal intubation failed because the glottis could not be visualized. An airway control device designed for cases of difficult emergency intubations was used successfully. This device can be inserted without the use of a laryngoscope.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Apr 1992
Comparative StudyComparison of the endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask in airway management by paramedical personnel.
An evaluation of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as a means of airway support when used by paramedical personnel was performed. Forty medical and paramedical students attempted to intubate the tracheas of 40 healthy anesthetized adults with the LMA and a cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT). The number of attempts to achieve correct placement and the time taken to adequately ventilate the lungs were recorded for both devices. ⋯ Five students were unable to intubate the trachea after three attempts with the ETT, but all positioned the LMA satisfactorily on their first try in a mean time of 40 s. We conclude that unskilled operators with minimal training can safely and successfully ventilate unconscious patients more rapidly using the LMA than the ETT. These results suggest the LMA should be available in all areas where resuscitation is performed.