Endotracheal intubation is especially necessary for ventilatory care in Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) therapy. In many circumstances it is difficult to obtain an adequate view of the vocal cords, and thus various technics have been used for airway management. Retrograde tracheal intubation was performed on a 73-year old male patient suffering from postoperative noncardiogenic pulmonary edema who needed ventilatory PEEP therapy. This procedure was successful and a tracheostomy was not needed. Following improvement he was discharged with out complication.
Aged ; Human ; Intubation, Intratracheal/methods* ; Male

Conscious Sedation ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; instrumentation ; methods

In cases of multiple facial trauma and other specific cases, the anesthesiologist may be asked to convert an oral endotracheal tube to a nasal endotracheal tube or vice versa. Conventionally, the patient is simply extubated and the endotracheal tube is re-inserted along either the oral or nasal route. However, the task of airway management can become difficult due to surgical trauma or worsening of the airway condition. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was considered a novel method of airway conversion but this method is not useful when there are secretions and bleeding in the airway, or if the anesthesiologist is inexperienced in using this device. We report a successful airway conversion under the aid of both, a fiberoptic bronchoscope and a C-MAC video laryngoscope.
Airway Management ; Bronchoscopes* ; Bronchoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopes* ; Methods

Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tracheotomy ; methods

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal intubation induces clinically adverse cardiovascular changes. Various pharmacological strategies for controlling these responses have been suggested with opioids being widely administered. In this study, the optimal effect-site concentration (Ce) of remifentanil for minimizing hemodynamic responses to fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was evaluated. METHODS: Thirty patients, aged 18-63 years, scheduled for elective surgery were included. Anesthesia was induced with a propofol and remifentanil infusion via target-controlled infusion (TCI). Remifentanil infusion was initiated at 3.0 ng/mL, and the response of each patient determined the Ce of remifentanil for the next patient by the Dixon up-and-down method at an interval of 0.5 ng/mL. Rocuronium was administered after propofol and remifentanil reached their preset Ce; 90 seconds later fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was initiated. Non-invasive blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were measured at pre-induction, the time Ce was reached, immediately before and after intubation, and at 1 and 3 minutes after intubation. The up-and-down criteria comprised a 20% change in mean blood pressure and HR between just prior to intubation and 1 minute after intubation. RESULTS: The median effective effect-site concentration (EC50) of remifentanil was 3.11 ± 0.38 ng/mL by the Dixon's up-and-down method. From the probit analysis, the EC50 of remifentanil was 3.43 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 2.90-4.06 ng/mL). In PAVA, the EC50 and EC95 of remifentanil were 3.57 ng/mL (95% CI, 2.95-3.89) and 4.35 ng/mL (95% CI, 3.93-4.45). No remifentanil-related complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The EC50 of remifentanil for minimizing the cardiovascular changes and side effects associated with fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was 3.11-3.43 ng/mL during propofol TCI anesthesia with a Ce of 4 ug/mL.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Methods ; Propofol

BACKGROUND: This study undertook to compare the effect-site concentration of remifentanil for prevention of hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation, employing the single-lumen tracheal tube and the double-lumen bronchial tube during total intravenous anesthesia. METHODS: Based on the nature of the surgery, 38 patients undergoing general anesthesia were assigned either to the single-lumen tube group or the double-lumen tube group. Anesthesia was induced by a target controlled infusion of propofol, with an effect-site concentration of 4 µg/ml. Remifentanil was then administered to the first patient in each group, with an effect-site concentration of 3.5 ng/ml. Subsequent concentration of remifentanil was determined by hemodynamic responses of the previous patient to intubation, based on the up-and-down method. RESULTS: The effect-site concentrations of remifentanil for prevention of hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation in 50% of patients (EC₅₀) were 2.8 ng/ml (95% CI, 2.0–3.7 ng/ml) in the single-lumen tube group, and 2.9 ng/ml (95% CI, 2.5–3.2 ng/ml) in the double-lumen tube group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The effect-site concentration of remifentanil for prevention of hemodynamic responses to endotracheal intubation did not differ during total intravenous anesthesia, using either the single-lumen tracheal tube or the double-lumen bronchial tube.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Endotracheal ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Methods ; Propofol

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laryngeal contact granuloma is benign inflammatory disease induced by excessive mechanical contact of larynx such as endotracheal intubation, voice abuse, laryngeal microsurgery as well as laryngopharygeal reflux. Because it is caused by various risk factors, multiple treatment modalities are required. The purpose of study is to evaluate treatment effect of topical steroid through nasal cavity in contact granuloma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty-two patients were enrolled in this study with exception of intubation granuloma. Patients were classified with four groups (Proton pump inhibitor (PPI), Nasal steroid spray (SPR), PPI+SPR, Observation) according to treatment modality. RESULTS: Patients who treated with PPI (Odds ratio 2.45, p=0.03) and combination of PPI and SPR (Odds ratio 2.88, p<0.01) had significantly better response than patients who not treated with medical therapy. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy of nasal steroid spray and PPI is effective for contact granuloma of larynx and considered as a treatment of choice rather than PPI only treatment.
Granuloma ; Granuloma, Laryngeal ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Larynx ; Methods ; Microsurgery ; Nasal Cavity ; Risk Factors ; Voice

BACKGROUND: The glottis can be exposed by a Glidescope(R) during endotracheal intubation using either the epiglottis or valleculae elevation method. We compared the epiglottis and valleculae elevation methods for endotracheal intubations performed with a Glidescope(R) using differences in success rate, time spent for tracheal intubation and percent of glottic opening. METHODS: Forty medical students without experience using a Glidescope(R) participated in this prospective, randomized study in which they intubated a tracheal tube into a manikin. All participants performed tracheal intubation using the 2 forementioned methods. Twenty students exposed the vocal cord by placing the blade tip in the valleculae (valleculae elevation method; VEM). The other 20 students directly elevated the epiglottis with the blade (epiglottis elevation method; EEM). We separated intubating time into 3 parts: turnaround time to exposing the vocal cord, tube passing time and first ventilating time. RESULTS: The success rate of tracheal intubation using VEM (86.7%, 104/120) was higher than that using EEM (65.8%, 79/120) (p < 0.001). VEM resulted in a lower total intubation time (VEM vs. EEM, 23.5 +/- 5.3 vs. 29.0 +/- 8.7, p = 0.001). The key factor of this difference was the tube passing time (VEM vs. EEM, 7.4 +/- 2.5 vs. 12.8 +/- 7.4, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Exposing the vocal cord by using VEM during tracheal intubation with a Glidescope(R) can increase the success rate of tracheal intubation and shorten the time of endotracheal intubation in novices.
Epiglottis ; Glottis ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopes ; Manikins ; Methods* ; Prospective Studies ; Students, Medical ; Vocal Cords

BACKGROUNDThymokidney has been reported as an approach for a vascularized thymus for transplantation to induce donor specific tolerance. A completely thymectomized model which ensures that the obtained thymus is not injured has not been developed yet and it would be useful for evaluating autologous thymokidney function in rats.

METHODSAdult Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 150 - 300 g (n = 30) underwent non-invasive intubation with the assistance of an improved self-made wedge-shaped cannula made from a 2-ml plastic syringe and transillumination from the anterior tracheal area by an operation spotlight. The rats then received a thoracotomy while their breathing was supported by a small animal ventilator, and both lobes of the thymus were entirely extirpated under a 10× microscope. The postoperative survival rate of the rats was recorded, and changes in the T-cell reservoir from 9 of 30 rats within 21 days after surgery were monitored using flow cytometry. The complete thymectomy rate was confirmed by autopsy and histological examination on 21 days post-operation.

RESULTSThe postoperative survival rate of rats was 100%. The exsected thymus was free of injury and the rate of complete thymectomy was 100%.

CONCLUSIONSThis model has a stable survival rate and complete thymectomy is able to be achieved. The obtained thymus tissue is free of injury and can be used for transplantation.

Animals ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; methods ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thoracotomy ; methods ; Thymectomy ; methods ; Thymus Gland ; surgery

BACKGROUNDThe laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is the most commonly used rescue airway in obstetric anesthesia. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the application of the LMA in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery (CD) for 5 years in our hospital. As a secondary objective, we investigated the incidence of airway-related complication in obstetric general anesthesia (GA).

METHODSWe collected electronic data for all obstetric patients who received GA for CD between January 2010 and December 2014 in Peking University First Hospital. Based on the different types of airway device, patients were divided into endotracheal intubation (ET) group and LMA group. The incidences of regurgitation and aspiration, as well as maternal and neonatal postoperative outcomes were compared between groups.

RESULTSDuring the 5-year study, GA was performed in 192 cases, which accounted for 2.0% of all CDs. The main indications for GA were contraindication to neuraxial anesthesia or a failed block. Among these, ET tube was used in 124 cases (68.9%) and LMA in 56 cases (31.1%). The percentage of critical patients above the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Grade II was 24/124 in ET group and 4/56 in LMA group (P = 0.036). The emergent delivery rate was 63.7% for ET group and 37.5% for LMA group (P = 0.001). None of the patients had regurgitation or aspiration. There were no significant differences in terms of neonatal Apgar scores, maternal and neonatal postoperative outcomes between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggested that GA was mainly used for contraindication to neuraxial anesthesia or a failed block, and emergent CDs accounted for most cases. The second-generation LMA could be used for obstetric anesthesia, but correct position to achieve a good seal is the key to prevent reflux and aspiration. Whether they could replace the tracheal tube in routine practice needs further large prospective studies.

Anesthesia, General ; methods ; Cesarean Section ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; methods ; Laryngeal Masks ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies