Anaesthesia
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Comparative Study
Laboratory and clinical comparisons of the Streamlined Liner of the Pharynx Airway (SLIPA) with the laryngeal mask airway.
The Streamlined Liner of the Pharynx Airway (SLIPA) is a new inexpensive disposable supraglottic airway designed to seal without the use of an inflatable cuff. It comprises a hollow blow-moulded soft plastic airway shaped to form a seal in the pharynx. Being hollow, liquid entrapment is possible and this may provide effective protection against aspiration. ⋯ Both the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway with an open drainage tube and the SLIPA, but not the standard laryngeal mask airway, provided effective protection against 'aspiration' during positive-pressure ventilation using the model. In a clinical study, 120 patients were randomly allocated to receive controlled ventilation of the lungs via the standard laryngeal mask airway or the SLIPA. Both devices were equally easy to insert and satisfactory for airway management.
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Capnography is considered essential in the management of mechanically-ventilated patients. Helium, as an adjunct to mechanical ventilation, is the subject of renewed interest and used increasingly. However, helium affects the performance of infrared capnometry. ⋯ We found that addition of helium to the gas mixture caused all three capnographs to underestimate the concentration of carbon dioxide. The underestimation increased as the proportion of helium increased. The maximum underestimation (30%) occurred in a 79:21 helium/oxygen mixture.
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Letter Case Reports
Ipsilateral arm swelling--a rare complication of jugular venous catheterisation.