BMC anesthesiology
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Ultrasonography has been used to predict the necessary endotracheal tube (ETT) size by measuring the cricoid cartilage diameter. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of ultrasound to predict ETT size for pediatric patients with congenital scoliosis. ⋯ Ultrasound is a reliable tool to predict ETT size for pediatric patients with thoracic or lumbar scoliosis. However, pediatric patients with cervical lateral bending will need an ETT smaller than the size predicted by ultrasonography.
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The 4th National Audit Project of The Royal College of Anaesthetists and The Difficult Airway Society (NAP4) reported a higher incidence of supraglottic airway device (SAD) related pulmonary aspiration in obese patients especially with the first-generation SADs. The latest single-use SAD, the Protector™ provides a functional separation of the respiratory and digestive tracts and its laryngeal cuff with two ports allowing additional suction in tandem with the insertion of a gastric tube. The laryngeal cuff of LMA Protector™ allows a large catchment reservoir in the event of gastric content aspiration. ⋯ We conclude that the LMA Protector™ was associated with easy, expedient first attempt insertion success, demonstrating high oropharyngeal pressures and good anatomical position in the moderately obese population, with relatively low postoperative airway morbidity.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition and the identification of the underlying direct (pulmonary) or indirect (non-pulmonary) cause is mandatory for a successful treatment. Intragastric balloon (IGB) therapy is a minimal invasive and supposedly harmless option to reduce body weight for the growing number of obese people. We present a case of a young patient who developed a direct ARDS due to initially undiagnosed abdominal pathologies caused by an IGB therapy. ⋯ This case illustrates that a patient presenting with direct ARDS may have upper abdominal pathologies caused by a rare complication of a supposedly harmless treatment.
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Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Outcome impact of individualized fluid management during spine surgery: a before-after prospective comparison study.
Individualized fluid management (IFM) has been shown to be useful to improve the postoperative outcome of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. A limited number of clinical studies have been done in orthopaedic patients and have yielded conflicting results. We designed the present study to investigate the clinical impact of IFM in patients undergoing major spine surgery. ⋯ In patients undergoing major spine surgery, the implementation of IFM was associated with a significant decrease in postoperative morbidity.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Intraoperative mechanical ventilation practice in thoracic surgery patients and its association with postoperative pulmonary complications: results of a multicenter prospective observational study.
Intraoperative mechanical ventilation may influence postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Current practice during thoracic surgery is not well described. ⋯ PPCs occurred frequently and prolonged hospital LOS following thoracic surgery. Proportionally large tidal volumes and high driving pressure were commonly used in this sub-population. However, large RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.