Journal of perioperative practice
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This paper discusses airway management in the post anaesthetic care unit (PACU). Many patients will be extubated on arrival to the PACU, however a small number will need further support with tracheal intubation. Patient assessment is a key role for the PACU staff and using the ABCDE approach will provide a systematic method for assessing the patient and determining suitability for extubation. Care of the patient following extubation is also described.
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Mechanical ventilatory support is a major component of the clinical management of critically ill patients admitted into intensive care. Closely linked with the developments within critical care medicine, the use of ventilatory support has been increasing since the polio epidemics in the 1950s (Lassen 1953). ⋯ Though ventilator appearance and design may have changed quite significantly and the variety of options for support extensive, the basic concepts of mechanical ventilatory support of the critically ill patient remains unchanged. This paper aims to outline these concepts so as to gain a better understanding of mechanical ventilatory support.
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Thoracic surgical procedures account for only a small fraction of all surgery undertaken in the NHS. Thoracic surgery is performed in specialist centres as patients often suffer serious co-morbidities and require vigilant care and observation by staff involved in their treatment. Anaesthesia for thoracic surgery challenges the theoretical and practical experience of all involved. This review briefly summarises the anaesthetic skills and knowledge required to deliver a safe and professional service to patients with thoracic pathology.
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Securing the airway is a core skill in anaesthesia, the gold standard of which is tracheal intubation. Normally this is achieved after induction of anaesthesia. However, some circumstances demand an awake approach. ⋯ Using the fibreoptic laryngoscope is the most widely used technique in the UK with minimal patient discomfort and a wide margin of safety. When compared with attempts at difficult direct laryngoscopy, awake fibreoptic intubation provides excellent cardiovascular stability when performed under good topical anaesthesia and conscious sedation. Understanding the equipment used as well as preparing the patient and being aware of potential pitfalls are important elements to performing a successful awake intubation.
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Tracheal intubation is used when a clear airway is difficult to achieve with a face mask or laryngeal mask, or if there is a risk of dislodgement of other forms of airway control. Tracheal intubation is considered to be an important part of patient management when a major intraoperative complication develops (for example anaphylaxis, massive haemorrhage or malignant hyperpyrexia).