European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of Bullard and Airtraq laryngoscopes with conventional laryngoscopy in a manikin study of simulated difficult intubation.
When airway management is difficult, various measures can be taken to facilitate tracheal intubation. The Bullard and Airtraq laryngoscopes were developed for this purpose. We hypothesised that the Bullard and Airtraq laryngoscopes would perform better than a conventional laryngoscope in the management of a simulated difficult airway. We also hypothesised that the indirect laryngoscopes would perform comparably. ⋯ In a moderately difficult airway scenario, all laryngoscopes performed equally well. However, in a more difficult airway scenario, the Bullard and Airtraq laryngoscopes performed better than the conventional laryngoscope, with the Bullard device performing better than the Airtraq. This may be in part related to differing prior experiences of operators with the respective airway devices.
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Preoperative cognitive impairment (PreCI), amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI; a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease) and multiple domain MCI with amnesia (mdMCI+a) identify preoperative cognitive abnormalities in patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). ⋯ PreCI, aMCI and mdMCI+a identified preoperative cognitive abnormalities in different groups of patients scheduled for CABG surgery. The findings emphasise that identification of patients with preoperative cognitive dysfunction is methodology-dependent. The optimal approach to subsequently identify patients who may be at greatest risk of progressive cognitive deterioration after CABG surgery remains to be determined.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effects of cognitive impairment on anaesthetic requirement in the elderly.
Patients with dementia have a lower bispectral index score (BIS) when awake than age-matched healthy controls. ⋯ The baseline BIS value was lower in patients with cognitive impairment than in those with normal cognitive function. The former received less propofol during induction and eye opening time was longer. On the basis of our findings from the recovery period, we suggest that the recommended target BIS value for adequate anaesthesia in the general population is inappropriate for patients with cognitive impairment.
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Job satisfaction is defined as an employee's positive reaction towards his/her work. Changes in health policies, which are seen as a threat to the autonomy of health workers, are associated with a decrease in satisfaction levels, increase burnout among physicians, and may impair the quality and safety of care. The work environment of anaesthesiologists include stressful areas such as the operating theatre, the ICU, and the emergency setting, and this has been linked to higher levels of stress and lower satisfaction. ⋯ Within organisations there needs to be the will to evaluate employees' satisfaction, to improve their work environment and to develop strategies and coping mechanisms for professional stress. Personal wellness should also be nurtured, as a satisfactory work-life balance and an adequate social support network might act as a buffer for dissatisfaction and burnout. Improvement in satisfaction might create a positive work climate that would benefit both the safety of our patients and our profession.