European journal of anaesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of Aintree and Fastrach techniques for low-skill fibreoptic intubation in patients at risk of secondary cervical injury: A randomised controlled trial.
We compared two methods of asleep fibreoptic intubation in patients at risk of secondary cervical injury: the Aintree Intubation Catheter via a classic laryngeal mask airway (cLMA) versus the Fastrach technique via the intubating laryngeal mask airway (iLMA). ⋯ Fibreoptic intubation using the Aintree system was more successful than the Fastrach technique in our population of patients in a neutral position wearing a soft cervical collar. The differences in the time to successful intubation between the two groups are unlikely to be clinically relevant.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Tracheal intubation with a flexible fibreoptic scope or the McGrath videolaryngoscope in simulated difficult airway scenarios: A manikin study.
Flexible fibreoptic endoscopic (FFE) intubation is considered the 'gold-standard' when difficult airway management is anticipated. Several videolaryngoscopes have been developed to facilitate intubation by laryngoscopy. ⋯ The McGrath videolaryngoscope is a valuable device with higher success rate and a quicker performance in simulated difficult airways. In patients, videolaryngoscopy may have a role in difficult airway algorithms, but the optimal device has yet to be found.
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Ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the commonest nosocomial infection in intensive care. Implementation of a VAP prevention care bundle is a proven method to reduce its incidence. The UK care bundle recommends maintenance of the tracheal tube cuff pressure at 20 to 30 cmH₂O with 4-hourly pressure checks and use of tracheal tubes with subglottic aspiration ports in patients admitted for more than 72 h. ⋯ Subglottic secretions leaked past the tracheal tube cuff with all tube types and cuff pressure monitoring strategies in this model. Significantly higher rates were observed with continuous cuff pressure monitoring and significantly lower rates were observed when using a tracheal tube with a subglottic aspiration port. Further evaluation of medical device performance is needed in order to design more effective VAP prevention strategies.