Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Case Reports
Folding of the epiglottis - an unusual complication to be recognized after laryngoscopic endotracheal intubation.
We report a case of folding of the epiglottis during endotracheal intubation, an unusual complication of intubation. A 36-year-old female patient underwent laryngeal microsurgery for a vocal polyp. Following anesthesia induction, an endotracheal tube (ID = 6.0 mm, cuffed) was advanced through an intubating laryngoscope via the oropharyngeal route. ⋯ There were no sequelae such as laryngeal spasm or vocal cord palsy after the surgery. The "peardrop" phenomenon is suggested as a possible cause of this event. Potential adverse outcomes of this unusual occurrence are reviewed.
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Comparative Study
Establishing a nurse-based, anesthesiologist-supervised inpatient acute pain service: experience of 4,617 patients.
To describe our nurse-based Acute Pain Services (APS) and present the results of 4617 patients treated by our service. ⋯ A nurse-based APS provides effective and safe postoperative pain management.
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A severe limb injury challenges an anesthesiologist's ability to provide care. We describe the difficulties encountered by an anesthesiology resident with a severely injured left arm and present solutions to overcoming an inability to perform traditional direct laryngoscopy. Airway management adjuncts explored include modified left-handed direct laryngoscopy, lighted stylet intubation, fiberoptic intubation, Laryngeal Mask Airway, Combitube, retrograde wire technique, and the eventual conversion to direct laryngoscopy with the right hand with the reversed Macintosh and the Cranwall modification of the Miller blade. The practical and social problems of a disability during residency are also discussed.
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To study labor outcomes in parturients receiving oxytocin for augmentation or induction of labor, in the presence of labor epidural analgesia. ⋯ Patients who have their labor induced request analgesia sooner and are at a higher risk of cesarean section than are patients who go into labor spontaneously. Any study that purports to assess the effects of epidural analgesia in labor should distinguish between induced and augmented/spontaneous labor.
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Management of the difficult airway is an essential skill that should be taught during an anesthesiology residency. However, only a minority of anesthesiology residency programs have formal rotations in advanced airway management. ⋯ We believe that this rotation has been beneficial in improving the residents' exposure to advanced airway techniques, and has dramatically improved their capabilities in this important aspect of anesthetic of anesthetic training. Additionally, the structure of the rotation ensures uniformity in the residents' acquisition of advanced airway skills.