Anaesthesia and intensive care
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Mar 2009
Case ReportsFibreoptic intubation under general anaesthesia--a simple method using an endotracheal tube as a conduit.
A novel technique for management of the difficult airway is described. The case report describes fibreoptic intubation of a patient who refused awake intubation. ⋯ Connection of the anaesthetic circuit allowed maintenance of anaesthesia, oxygenation and assisted ventilation while flexible bronchoscopy was performed through the tube via a bronchoscopy connector The endotracheal tube was subsequently advanced over the bronchoscope into the trachea. This technique uses readily available materials and can be used where the placement of a laryngeal mask is contraindicated or impossible.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Mar 2009
Comment Letter Case ReportsThe serendipitous origin of ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Jan 2009
Multicenter StudyA survey of anaesthetists' perspectives of communication in the operating suite.
We surveyed 222 anaesthetists attending a University of Western Australia conference (n = 110) and two public hospitals in Perth (n = 112) by anonymous questionnaire in March 2006 regarding communication issues in the operating suite. Forty-one percent (n = 92) responded. Questions concerned communication skills, experiences of good and poor communication and relationship to outcome, attitudes to music and communication courses. ⋯ Sixty-four percent of respondents would attend a communications course voluntarily, with implementation of a compulsory communications course supported by 45%. Most anaesthetists surveyed used staff first names and 94% believed poor communication caused procedural delay. The data suggest that further work is required to improve communication in the stressful operating room environment, particularly at the surgeon/anaesthetist interface.