In cases of a difficult intubation where numerous intubation methods, including laryngoscopy, have failed, yet oral intubation is still necessary, the method of tube exchange after fiberoptic nasal intubation may be attempted. Fiberoptic nasal intubation allows intubation to be performed relatively easily when the laryngeal view grade is poor. We report a case in which our attempt at oral intubation for total maxillectomy with laryngoscopy and fiberoptic oral intubation had failed due to an unexpected difficult airway; subsequently, we successfully completed the surgery by performing fiberoptic nasal intubation to secure the airway, followed by using a tube exchanger to exchange to an oral endotracheal tube.
Humans ; Intubation ; Laryngoscopy ; Methods

BACKGROUND: An unexpected difficult intubation can be very challenging and if it is not managed properly, it may expose the encountered patient to significant risks. The intubation difficulty scale (IDS) has been used as a validated method to evaluate a global degree of intubation difficulty. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of unexpected difficult intubation using the IDS. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 951 patients undergoing elective surgery in a single medical center. Patients expected to have a difficult intubation or who had history of difficult intubation were excluded. Each patient was assessed by the IDS scoring system with seven variables. Total prevalence of difficult intubation and the contributing individual factors were further analyzed. RESULTS: For the 951 patients, the difficult intubation cases presenting IDS > 5 was 5.8% of total cases (n = 55). The prevalence of Cormack-Lehane Grade 3 or 4 was 16.2% (n = 154). Most of the difficult intubation cases were managed by simple additional maneuvers and techniques such as stylet application, additional lifting force and laryngeal pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Unexpected difficult airway was present in 5.8% of patients and most was managed effectively. Among the components of IDS, the Cormack-Lehane grade was most sensitive for predicting difficult intubation.
Humans ; Intubation* ; Lifting ; Methods ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

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

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: 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

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

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