European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Sore throat following three adult supraglottic airway devices: A randomised controlled trial.
Sore throat is a common complaint after surgery. It affects patient satisfaction and can affect activity after discharge. The supraglottic airway device (SAD) offers an alternative to traditional tracheal intubation with potential benefit in preventing sore throat. ⋯ The incidence of postoperative sore throat was not significantly different between the three SADs studied.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of laryngeal mask airway insertion methods, including the external larynx lift with pre-inflated cuff, on postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications: A randomised clinical trial.
Postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications are commonly reported following laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion. After induction of anaesthesia, the airway structures fall backwards under the influence of gravity, and this may contribute to difficulty in placement of a LMA. External airway alignment by lifting the larynx during insertion of an airway may avoid collision of the airway with laryngeal structures. ⋯ The external larynx lift technique was associated with a lower incidence of blood on the airway at removal, suggesting that the method may decrease trauma to the tissues of the upper airway during insertion.
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Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a rare complication of thoracic cardiovascular surgery. In severe cases, life-threatening airway obstruction may occur. ⋯ The identification of these risk factors may facilitate screening for VCP before extubation and possibly help anaesthesia personnel to be prepared to treat VCP-related airway obstruction should it occur.
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No currently used tracheal tube offers full protection against aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions into the lower airways. ⋯ A 'pressure seal' incorporated in a double-cuffed tracheal tube prevented fluid passage into the lower airways. Clinically, this may translate into absence of inflow of bacteriologically contaminated secretions into the lungs and thus a lower incidence of ventilator-associated infection.
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Letter Observational Study
Better safe than sorry: An observational study of #ESALondon tweets.