Articles: intubation.
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A 5-year retrospective review of airway management by flight nurses was conducted to evaluate airway care and to determine the frequency of surgical cricothyrotomy. Intubation was attempted in 51% of patients, with a success rate of 80%. ⋯ Overall, 87% of patients were successfully intubated and surgical cricothyrotomy was required in only one patient. A greater success rate was achieved when intubations were performed before takeoff than during flight.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1992
Accuracy of the FEF CO2 detector in the assessment of endotracheal tube placement.
The sensitivity and reliability of the FEF end-tidal CO2 detector were investigated for its suitability in the assessment of correct placement of an endotracheal tube. Sensitivity was determined by having eight blinded volunteers observe the color change in the FEF detector with the administration of different volumes and varying CO2 concentrations of gas mixture. The color change in the FEF detector was also assessed during esophageal ventilations before and after administration of carbonated beverage into the stomach of swine and during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in swine. ⋯ The "C" color was displayed during the initial six ventilations in one swine, and esophageal intubation would have been missed. The FEF detector could (by displaying a "C" color) identify one of six correctly intubated swine during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In conclusion, the FEF CO2 detector does not have the characteristics to reliably assess the correct placement of an endotracheal tube.
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Effect of diltiazem on cardiovascular response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation was studied in 20 patients without hypertension and 10 patients with hypertension to be operated on under general anesthesia. The patients were divided into three groups: the first group without hypertension (group C, n = 10) received saline as control, the second group without hypertension (group N, n = 10) received bolus injection of diltiazem, and the third group with hypertension (group H, n = 10) received bolus injection of diltiazem. Diltiazem was administered 2 min before intubation at a dose of 0.2 mg.kg-1 as a bolus injection. ⋯ Changes of heart rate were comparable among the three groups. Complications were not remarkable except one case in which systolic pressure decreased to 80 mmHg. The results suggest that bolus injection of diltiazem at a dose of 0.2 mg.kg-1 attenuates cardiovascular response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation without serious complications.
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Ensuring free passage of air is the first priority in emergency care of patients. Removing obstruction to softtissue, dislodging obstructing foreign bodies and positioning the patient correctly usually secure open airways and respiration in trauma patients. ⋯ Correct control of airways may reduce morbidity and mortality. The author discusses the practical aspects of control of airways and unobstructed respiration.