Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA Comparison of the GlideScope With the Macintosh Laryngoscope for Nasotracheal Intubation in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis.
The GlideScope (GS) video laryngoscope has been proven to be a suitable intubating device for a predicted difficult intubation. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) presented with particularly challenging airway management problems to the anesthesiologists. The benefits of using a GS in these patients have not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the GS, in comparison with the Macintosh laryngoscope, when performing nasotracheal intubation in patients with AS under general anesthesia. ⋯ The GS reduced the difficulty of tracheal intubation and provided a better laryngoscopic view with higher overall success rates and shorter duration of intubation attempts than the Macintosh laryngoscope. In our study, the GS proved to be a better alternative in most cases, compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope, for intubating AS patients who preferred their airway management under general anesthesia.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2014
Web-based Educational Activities Developed by the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC): The Experience of Process, Utilization, and Expert Evaluation.
Web-based delivery of educational material by scientific societies appears to have increased recently. However, the utilization of such efforts by the members of professional societies is unknown. We report the experience with delivery of educational resources on the Web site of the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC), and utilization of those resources by members. ⋯ Educational resources can be developed in a timely manner utilizing member contributions without additional financial implications. However, the member utilization of these resources was lower than expected. These are first estimates of utilization of web-based educational resources by members of a scientific society. Further evaluation of such utilization by members of other societies as well as measures of the effectiveness and impact of such activities is needed.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2014
Risk of Needle-Stick Injuries Associated With the Use of Subdermal Needle Electrodes During Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring.
Subdermal needle electrodes are commonly used during intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM). However, there is an associated risk of needle-stick exposure to the IONM technologist as well as other operating room personnel. We performed a retrospective study to investigate the incidence and circumstances of needle sticks related to the use of subdermal needle electrodes. ⋯ Needle-stick exposure from subdermal needle electrodes during IONM is an infrequent but distressing event occurring in 0.34% of our study group and was not limited to the IONM technologist. Although no infections occurred as a result of needle-stick exposure in this study, steps to minimize needle sticks should be taken during IONM.
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jan 2014
A Retrospective Analysis of Stridor After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.
Transient lower cranial nerve deficits may occur after surgery in the posterior cranial fossa. Stridor has been reported after cerebellopontine angle epidermoid resection. The aim of this retrospective study is to find out whether any preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors lead to stridor after resection of vestibular schwannoma. ⋯ The identification of the exact etiology of stridor often is difficult. Our results suggest that stridor may be more likely in patients who were difficult to intubate, had longer duration of surgery, who develop facial and neck edema and upperlimb weakness, poor cough, and swallowing after surgery. Establishing airway patency with intubation of the trachea may be required if patients develop oxygen desaturation due to stridor.