Background: Video laryngoscopy is beneficial in difficult airway intubation; however, various factors complicate the process. These devices come in different designs, and their usefulness may vary by type. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of several video laryngoscopic .instruments across three simulated difficult intubation scenarios using manikin models. Methods: Training simulators for tracheal intubation were set to four conditions: (i) Normal (mouth opening:50 mm, normal neck); (ii) Head tilt disorder (mouth opening: 50 mm, rigid neck); (iii) Trismus (mouth opening:20 mm, normal neck); and (iv) Head tilt disorder + trismus (mouth opening: 20 mm, rigid neck). Seventeen dental anesthesiologists attempted oral tracheal intubation using the following video laryngoscopes: Airway Scope;McGRATH (Normal blade [size 3]); McGRATH (X-blade); and i-view. Evaluated parameters included total intubation time, glottic visualization time, tube induction time, success rate, and difficulty grading of tracheal intubation (Cormack-Lehane classification and the Numerical Rating Scale [NRS]). Statistical analysis was conducted using mixed models, incorporating two-way ANOVA, Tukey’s test, two-way ANOVA without repeated measures, and Kruskal-Wallis test, with P < 0.05 deemed statistically significant. Results: Intubation time using i-view was significantly longer for head tilt disorder and trismus compared to other video laryngoscopes (head tilt disorder: P < 0.001 for all, trismus: P = 0.021 vs. Airway Scope, P = 0.028 vs. X-blade). The Cormack-Lehane grade was notably high (P = 0.001) for tracheal intubation with i-view in the head tilt disorder scenario, with intubation failing in three cases. In the combined situation of head tilt disorder and trismus, intubation time with Airway Scope was shorter (P < 0.001 vs. X-blade), achieving a success rate of 100%. However, all attempts with i-view were unsuccessful. The NRS score was significantly higher for i-view compared to the other video laryngoscopes (P < 0.001). Conclusion Video laryngoscopy effectiveness varies by type in difficult tracheal intubation cases. The Airway Scope or McGRATH instrument appears more suitable for such cases, as indicated by the metrics of intubation time, success rate, and difficulty level.

Objective: To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment. Methods: An analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and March 2021, and required mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the incidence of PICS physical impairment (Barthel Index≤90) after one year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment by adjusting ICU mobility scale (IMS) during seven-day following ICU admission, and clinically relevant risk factors. Results: The analysis included 259 patients, 54 of whom developed PICS physical impairment one year later. In 81 patients, physical therapists intervened within seven days of ICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean IMS by day seven of admission between the early and non-early rehabilitation patients (0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that early rehabilitation interventions were significantly associated with a low incidence of PICS physical impairment (odds ratio, 0.294; 95% confidence interval, 0.123–0.706; p=0.006). Conclusion Early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists were an independent factor associated with the decreased development of PICS physical impairment at one year, even though early rehabilitation had no significant effect on IMS.

Objective: To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment. Methods: An analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and March 2021, and required mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the incidence of PICS physical impairment (Barthel Index≤90) after one year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment by adjusting ICU mobility scale (IMS) during seven-day following ICU admission, and clinically relevant risk factors. Results: The analysis included 259 patients, 54 of whom developed PICS physical impairment one year later. In 81 patients, physical therapists intervened within seven days of ICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean IMS by day seven of admission between the early and non-early rehabilitation patients (0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that early rehabilitation interventions were significantly associated with a low incidence of PICS physical impairment (odds ratio, 0.294; 95% confidence interval, 0.123–0.706; p=0.006). Conclusion Early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists were an independent factor associated with the decreased development of PICS physical impairment at one year, even though early rehabilitation had no significant effect on IMS.

Background: Video laryngoscopy is beneficial in difficult airway intubation; however, various factors complicate the process. These devices come in different designs, and their usefulness may vary by type. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of several video laryngoscopic .instruments across three simulated difficult intubation scenarios using manikin models. Methods: Training simulators for tracheal intubation were set to four conditions: (i) Normal (mouth opening:50 mm, normal neck); (ii) Head tilt disorder (mouth opening: 50 mm, rigid neck); (iii) Trismus (mouth opening:20 mm, normal neck); and (iv) Head tilt disorder + trismus (mouth opening: 20 mm, rigid neck). Seventeen dental anesthesiologists attempted oral tracheal intubation using the following video laryngoscopes: Airway Scope;McGRATH (Normal blade [size 3]); McGRATH (X-blade); and i-view. Evaluated parameters included total intubation time, glottic visualization time, tube induction time, success rate, and difficulty grading of tracheal intubation (Cormack-Lehane classification and the Numerical Rating Scale [NRS]). Statistical analysis was conducted using mixed models, incorporating two-way ANOVA, Tukey’s test, two-way ANOVA without repeated measures, and Kruskal-Wallis test, with P < 0.05 deemed statistically significant. Results: Intubation time using i-view was significantly longer for head tilt disorder and trismus compared to other video laryngoscopes (head tilt disorder: P < 0.001 for all, trismus: P = 0.021 vs. Airway Scope, P = 0.028 vs. X-blade). The Cormack-Lehane grade was notably high (P = 0.001) for tracheal intubation with i-view in the head tilt disorder scenario, with intubation failing in three cases. In the combined situation of head tilt disorder and trismus, intubation time with Airway Scope was shorter (P < 0.001 vs. X-blade), achieving a success rate of 100%. However, all attempts with i-view were unsuccessful. The NRS score was significantly higher for i-view compared to the other video laryngoscopes (P < 0.001). Conclusion Video laryngoscopy effectiveness varies by type in difficult tracheal intubation cases. The Airway Scope or McGRATH instrument appears more suitable for such cases, as indicated by the metrics of intubation time, success rate, and difficulty level.

Objective: To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment. Methods: An analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and March 2021, and required mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was the incidence of PICS physical impairment (Barthel Index≤90) after one year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment by adjusting ICU mobility scale (IMS) during seven-day following ICU admission, and clinically relevant risk factors. Results: The analysis included 259 patients, 54 of whom developed PICS physical impairment one year later. In 81 patients, physical therapists intervened within seven days of ICU admission. There was no significant difference in mean IMS by day seven of admission between the early and non-early rehabilitation patients (0.70 and 0.61, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that early rehabilitation interventions were significantly associated with a low incidence of PICS physical impairment (odds ratio, 0.294; 95% confidence interval, 0.123–0.706; p=0.006). Conclusion Early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists were an independent factor associated with the decreased development of PICS physical impairment at one year, even though early rehabilitation had no significant effect on IMS.

Background: Video laryngoscopy is beneficial in difficult airway intubation; however, various factors complicate the process. These devices come in different designs, and their usefulness may vary by type. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of several video laryngoscopic .instruments across three simulated difficult intubation scenarios using manikin models. Methods: Training simulators for tracheal intubation were set to four conditions: (i) Normal (mouth opening:50 mm, normal neck); (ii) Head tilt disorder (mouth opening: 50 mm, rigid neck); (iii) Trismus (mouth opening:20 mm, normal neck); and (iv) Head tilt disorder + trismus (mouth opening: 20 mm, rigid neck). Seventeen dental anesthesiologists attempted oral tracheal intubation using the following video laryngoscopes: Airway Scope;McGRATH (Normal blade [size 3]); McGRATH (X-blade); and i-view. Evaluated parameters included total intubation time, glottic visualization time, tube induction time, success rate, and difficulty grading of tracheal intubation (Cormack-Lehane classification and the Numerical Rating Scale [NRS]). Statistical analysis was conducted using mixed models, incorporating two-way ANOVA, Tukey’s test, two-way ANOVA without repeated measures, and Kruskal-Wallis test, with P < 0.05 deemed statistically significant. Results: Intubation time using i-view was significantly longer for head tilt disorder and trismus compared to other video laryngoscopes (head tilt disorder: P < 0.001 for all, trismus: P = 0.021 vs. Airway Scope, P = 0.028 vs. X-blade). The Cormack-Lehane grade was notably high (P = 0.001) for tracheal intubation with i-view in the head tilt disorder scenario, with intubation failing in three cases. In the combined situation of head tilt disorder and trismus, intubation time with Airway Scope was shorter (P < 0.001 vs. X-blade), achieving a success rate of 100%. However, all attempts with i-view were unsuccessful. The NRS score was significantly higher for i-view compared to the other video laryngoscopes (P < 0.001). Conclusion Video laryngoscopy effectiveness varies by type in difficult tracheal intubation cases. The Airway Scope or McGRATH instrument appears more suitable for such cases, as indicated by the metrics of intubation time, success rate, and difficulty level.

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of washout-parametric imaging (WOPI) with that of conventional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (cCEUS) in differentiating focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods: A total of 181 FLLs were imaged with contrast-enhanced ultrasound using Sonazoid, and the recordings were captured for 10 minutes in a prospective setting. WOPI was constructed from three images, depicting the arterial phase (peak enhancement), the early portal venous phase (1-minute post-injection), and the vasculo-Kupffer phase (5 or 10 minutes post-injection). The intensity variations in these images were color-coded and superimposed to produce a single image representing the washout timing across the lesions. From the 181 FLLs, 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 30 non-HCC malignancies, and 30 benign lesions were randomly selected for an observer study. Both techniques (cCEUS and WOPI) were evaluated by four off-site readers. They classified each lesion as benign or malignant using a continuous rating scale, with the endpoints representing "definitely benign" and "definitely malignant." The diagnostic performance of cCEUS and WOPI was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with the DeLong test. Interobserver agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The difference in average AUC values between WOPI and cCEUS was 0.0062 (95% confidence interval, -0.0161 to 0.0285), indicating no significant difference between techniques. The interobserver agreement was higher for WOPI (ICC, 0.77) than cCEUS (ICC, 0.67). Conclusion The diagnostic performance of WOPI is comparable to that of cCEUS in differentiating FLLs, with superior interobserver agreement.

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of washout-parametric imaging (WOPI) with that of conventional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (cCEUS) in differentiating focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods: A total of 181 FLLs were imaged with contrast-enhanced ultrasound using Sonazoid, and the recordings were captured for 10 minutes in a prospective setting. WOPI was constructed from three images, depicting the arterial phase (peak enhancement), the early portal venous phase (1-minute post-injection), and the vasculo-Kupffer phase (5 or 10 minutes post-injection). The intensity variations in these images were color-coded and superimposed to produce a single image representing the washout timing across the lesions. From the 181 FLLs, 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 30 non-HCC malignancies, and 30 benign lesions were randomly selected for an observer study. Both techniques (cCEUS and WOPI) were evaluated by four off-site readers. They classified each lesion as benign or malignant using a continuous rating scale, with the endpoints representing "definitely benign" and "definitely malignant." The diagnostic performance of cCEUS and WOPI was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with the DeLong test. Interobserver agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The difference in average AUC values between WOPI and cCEUS was 0.0062 (95% confidence interval, -0.0161 to 0.0285), indicating no significant difference between techniques. The interobserver agreement was higher for WOPI (ICC, 0.77) than cCEUS (ICC, 0.67). Conclusion The diagnostic performance of WOPI is comparable to that of cCEUS in differentiating FLLs, with superior interobserver agreement.

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of washout-parametric imaging (WOPI) with that of conventional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (cCEUS) in differentiating focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods: A total of 181 FLLs were imaged with contrast-enhanced ultrasound using Sonazoid, and the recordings were captured for 10 minutes in a prospective setting. WOPI was constructed from three images, depicting the arterial phase (peak enhancement), the early portal venous phase (1-minute post-injection), and the vasculo-Kupffer phase (5 or 10 minutes post-injection). The intensity variations in these images were color-coded and superimposed to produce a single image representing the washout timing across the lesions. From the 181 FLLs, 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 30 non-HCC malignancies, and 30 benign lesions were randomly selected for an observer study. Both techniques (cCEUS and WOPI) were evaluated by four off-site readers. They classified each lesion as benign or malignant using a continuous rating scale, with the endpoints representing "definitely benign" and "definitely malignant." The diagnostic performance of cCEUS and WOPI was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with the DeLong test. Interobserver agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The difference in average AUC values between WOPI and cCEUS was 0.0062 (95% confidence interval, -0.0161 to 0.0285), indicating no significant difference between techniques. The interobserver agreement was higher for WOPI (ICC, 0.77) than cCEUS (ICC, 0.67). Conclusion The diagnostic performance of WOPI is comparable to that of cCEUS in differentiating FLLs, with superior interobserver agreement.

Systemic administration of opioids rarely causes pruritus, although its mechanism is still not clearly understood. We report an intractable pruritus induced by a change in the dosage form of opioids with the same dose by the conversion ratio, which promptly disapeared with opioid switching. A 80-year-old female experienced worsening dorsal pain and abdominal pain due to recurrent pancreatic cancer. The relief of pain was insufficient with the administration of oral hydromorphone 10 mg/day, changing to continuous intravenous hydromorphone 3 mg/day considering adjustability. The next day, her pain was reduced, but the pruritus appeared. Administering oral and topical antihistamines was ineffective. Her pruritus tended to worsen with continued administration of continuous intravenous hydromorphone at the same dose. Hence we switched to fentanyl patch 0.6 mg/day. The following day, her pruritus significantly decreased, and two days later, her pruritus almost disappeared. This case suggests that opioids switching to fentanyl patch may be effective to relieve pruritus caused by hydromorphone.