Anaesthesia and intensive care
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This is a preliminary report on the use of the modified Airway Management Device in 50 spontaneously breathing patients undergoing elective day care surgery. We were successful in establishing a clear airway in all 50 patients, 46 of these patients had a patient airway on the first attempt. ⋯ Partial airway obstruction during maintenance of anaesthesia occurred in three cases requiring only minor manipulations. Our result showed that the Airway Management Device may be used as an alternative airway management in anaesthesia.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 2004
An assessment of small simulators used to teach basic airway management.
This study assessed small simulators sold for teaching basic airway management. The assessment used criteria based on guidelines produced by the Australian Resuscitation Council and our experience teaching health professional trainees. Criteria included how well the simulators demonstrated manoeuvres to open the airway, mouth-to-mouth and mask-to-mouth expired air resuscitation and artificial ventilation using a bag and mask. ⋯ Generally, models with hard surfaces tended to be less realistic in both look and feel compared to those with flexible "skin". Realism of lung inflation and its relationship to airway opening manoeuvres varied greatly between simulators. The Little Anne small simulator functioned most realistically in our tests.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 2004
Criteria for elective admission to the paediatric intensive care unit following adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnoea.
During the period 1997 to 2002, 42 children were electively admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the John Hunter Children's Hospital following adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnoea. Forty children had a preoperative sleep study, of which 33 were complete polysomnograms. Of the 42 children admitted, 35 required no intervention while seven (17%) required an additional intervention beyond supplemental oxygen. Our criteria for elective admission to Paediatric Intensive Care following adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnoea are presented.
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A total of 222 medicolegal claims involving 160 anaesthetist members of Victoria's largest medical indemnity organization during the period 1980 to 1999 are reported, with 35% of anaesthetists having a claim. There were 49 claims in the first decade and 173 in the second, with 84 related to dental injury being predominant. ⋯ Anaesthetists were joined with surgeons in 17 claims. The average delay between the incident and the resolution of the claim was 11 months for dental claims and 46 months for non-dental ones.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 2004
Historical ArticleLocal anaesthesia--the continuing evolution of spinal needles.