AANA journal
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Comparative Study
A comparison of preoperative airway assessment techniques: the modified Mallampati and the upper lip bite test.
The purpose of this study was to compare the preoperative anesthetic airway evaluation methods of the modified Mallamapti test (MMT) and upper lip bite test (ULBT) with the direct laryngoscopic views obtained during tracheal intubation. Positive relationships were predicted for the MMT and ULBT with direct laryngoscopic view and between the MMT and ULBT. We assessed 50 patients' airways preoperatively by MMT and ULBT. ⋯ The ULBT was superior to the MMT in every measure in this study: sensitivity (55% vs 11%), specificity (97% vs 75%), positive predictive value (83% vs 9%), and accuracy (90% vs 64%). The findings of this study support those of a previous study of the ULBT. Because of the ease of the ULBT and the promising results of this small study, we recommend further research with a larger, more diverse sample.
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Review Case Reports
Impact of pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) in pregnancy: a case report.
This case report reviews anesthetic management and medical considerations for a pregnant patient with a history of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). The 24-year-old woman, gravida 2, paragravida 0, spontaneous abortion 1, was in active labor at an estimated 38 weeks' gestation and had been given a diagnosis of PTC 4 years earlier. This patient first experienced global headaches and blurred vision at age 20 years. ⋯ The patient was free of PTC symptoms on admission for labor. A lumbar epidural was placed for labor analgesia. The patient delivered a healthy infant after approximately 10.5 hours of patient-controlled epidural analgesia.
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Review Case Reports
Risk, benefits and complications of epidural steroid injections: a case report.
Acute low back pain, radiculopathy, and associated disabilities have a prevalence of 2% in the United States, which represents a significant health problem and a major cause of workplace absence. The condition primarily affects 25- to 45-year-old men and women. Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are commonly administered to relieve this pain and improve mobility without surgery. ⋯ It reviews the risks, benefits, side effects, complications, and contraindications to ESI and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia consensus recommendations for the performance of neuraxial procedures in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy. It is imperative that any provider who performs ESIs know the risks, benefits, complications, and contraindications for this procedure. Practitioners must also be able to recognize and manage or appropriately refer patients having immediate or delayed complications related to the placement of an ESI.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The use of ultrasound for placement of intravenous catheters.
Ultrasound has been used to aid cannulation of veins of the neck, chest, antecubital fossa, and femoral vein. This investigation compared the traditional method of peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulation of veins of the hands and forearms with ultrasound-guided IV cannulation of these veins. After obtaining institutional review board approval and written informed consent, 35 adult subjects with a history or suspicion of difficult IV cannulation were prospectively enrolled with 16 subjects randomly assigned to the traditional group and 19 to the ultrasound group. ⋯ No significant differences were noted between groups in demographics, time to successful cannulation, number of attempts, and number of subjects in whom IV cannulation was successful on the first attempt. Ultrasound was as efficacious as the traditional method of IV cannulation in this subset of patients. Future investigations should examine the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided technique of IV cannulation of these veins in patients in whom the traditional method failed.
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An extensive literature review was undertaken to evaluate the best anesthetic practice for carotid endarterectomy surgery. Two anesthetic techniques were evaluated: general anesthetic with an endotracheal tube and regional anesthetic block. Three variables were reviewed with respect to significant clinical outcomes based on anesthetic technique. ⋯ According to the literature, there is an advantage to performing regional anesthesia with respect to cost and neurologic status. Information analyzed was inconclusive with respect to hemodynamic stability and anesthetic technique. We conclude that regional anesthesia may have some slight advantages; however, more investigation is warranted.