Anesthesiology clinics
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Anesthesiology clinics · Jun 2015
ReviewClinical evaluation and airway management for adults with cervical spine instability.
Airway management of patients with cervical spine instability may be difficult as a result of immobilization, and may be associated with secondary neurologic injury related to cervical spine motion. Spinal cord instability is most common in patients with trauma, but there are additional congenital and acquired conditions that predispose to subacute cervical spine instability. Patients with suspected instability should receive immobilization during airway management with manual in-line stabilization. The best strategy for airway management is one that applies the technique with the highest likelihood of success on the first attempt and the lowest biomechanical influence on a potentially unstable spine.
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It is wise to plan and prepare for the unexpected difficult airway. Although it is essential to take a history and examine every patient prior to airway management, preoperative anticipation of a difficult airway occurs in only 50% of patients subsequently found to have a difficult airway. ⋯ The modified Mallampati test and the measurement of thyromental distance are unreliable for prediction of difficult tracheal intubation. Knowledge of risk factors for various airway management techniques may help when devising an airway management plan.
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Anesthesiology clinics · Jun 2015
ReviewObstructive sleep apnea, sleep disorders, and perioperative considerations.
Data suggest that surgical patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be difficult to ventilate and intubate, and may be prone to postoperative complications. This article addresses the identification of patients at risk for OSA, epidemiology of the disorder, and treatment options, as well as the perioperative management of this population.