Articles: intubation.
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Ultrasonography has been used to predict the necessary endotracheal tube (ETT) size by measuring the cricoid cartilage diameter. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of ultrasound to predict ETT size for pediatric patients with congenital scoliosis. ⋯ Ultrasound is a reliable tool to predict ETT size for pediatric patients with thoracic or lumbar scoliosis. However, pediatric patients with cervical lateral bending will need an ETT smaller than the size predicted by ultrasonography.
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The 4th National Audit Project of The Royal College of Anaesthetists and The Difficult Airway Society (NAP4) reported a higher incidence of supraglottic airway device (SAD) related pulmonary aspiration in obese patients especially with the first-generation SADs. The latest single-use SAD, the Protector™ provides a functional separation of the respiratory and digestive tracts and its laryngeal cuff with two ports allowing additional suction in tandem with the insertion of a gastric tube. The laryngeal cuff of LMA Protector™ allows a large catchment reservoir in the event of gastric content aspiration. ⋯ We conclude that the LMA Protector™ was associated with easy, expedient first attempt insertion success, demonstrating high oropharyngeal pressures and good anatomical position in the moderately obese population, with relatively low postoperative airway morbidity.
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Endotracheal suctioning (ES) provokes a cumulative hemodynamic response by activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic circuits in the central nervous system. In this proof-of-concept study, we aimed to analyze hemodynamic changes during ES in ventilated subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients and investigated whether the associated hemodynamic changes relate to the time to arousal and functional outcome. ⋯ Augmentation in heart rate may quantify the hemodynamic response during endotracheal suctioning in brain-injured patients. The value as a biomarker to early discriminate the time to arousal and functional outcome in acutely brain-injured patients needs prospective confirmation.