scholarly journals Surgical airway procedures in emergency surgical patients: Results of what has become a back-up procedure

Author(s):  
Gijs J. A. Willinge ◽  
Falco Hietbrink ◽  
Luke P. H. Leenen

Abstract Background Cricothyroidotomy and surgical tracheostomy are methods to secure airway patency. In emergency surgery, these methods are nowadays mostly reserved for patients unsuited for percutaneous procedures. Detailed description of complications and functional outcomes following both procedures is underreported in current literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes following cricothyroidotomy and tracheostomy in this presumed complex population. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, adult emergency surgical patients treated with cricothyroidotomy and/or surgical tracheostomy were included. Postoperative complications and functional outcomes in trauma and non-trauma patients were evaluated. Results Forty-one trauma patients and 11 non-trauma emergency surgical patients (mainly after elective onco-abdominal or vascular surgery) were included. Of 52 patients, seven underwent cricothyroidotomy pre-tracheostomy. Mortality was higher in non-trauma patients (p = 0.04) following both procedures. Over half of patients (56%, n = 29) regained unsupported airway patency with a tendency toward increased tracheostomy removal in trauma patients. Among complications, only pneumonia occurred frequently (60%, n = 31), with no relation to patient type. Other complications included local infection (5.8%, n = 4) and wound dehiscence (1.9%, n = 1). Adverse functional outcomes were frequently observed and were mild and self-limiting. Cervical spinal cord injury reduced overall unsupported airway patency (p = 0.01); with high cervical spinal cord injury related to adverse functional outcomes and increased home ventilation need. Conclusions No major procedure-related complications or functional adverse events were encountered following cricothyroidotomy and surgical tracheostomy, even though only complex patients were included. Only mild, self-limiting functional problems occurred, especially in trauma patients with cervical injury who underwent early tracheostomy by longitudinal incision. This information can aid clinicians in making tailor-made decisions for individual patients.

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bravi ◽  
Stefano Caputo ◽  
Sara Jayousi ◽  
Alessio Martinelli ◽  
Lorenzo Biotti ◽  
...  

Residual motion of upper limbs in individuals who experienced cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) is vital to achieve functional independence. Several interventions were developed to restore shoulder range of motion (ROM) in CSCI patients. However, shoulder ROM assessment in clinical practice is commonly limited to use of a simple goniometer. Conventional goniometric measurements are operator-dependent and require significant time and effort. Therefore, innovative technology for supporting medical personnel in objectively and reliably measuring the efficacy of treatments for shoulder ROM in CSCI patients would be extremely desirable. This study evaluated the validity of a customized wireless wearable sensors (Inertial Measurement Units—IMUs) system for shoulder ROM assessment in CSCI patients in clinical setting. Eight CSCI patients and eight healthy controls performed four shoulder movements (forward flexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation) with dominant arm. Every movement was evaluated with a goniometer by different testers and with the IMU system at the same time. Validity was evaluated by comparing IMUs and goniometer measurements using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Limits of Agreement (LOA). inter-tester reliability of IMUs and goniometer measurements was also investigated. Preliminary results provide essential information on the accuracy of the proposed wireless wearable sensors system in acquiring objective measurements of the shoulder movements in CSCI patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 284 ◽  
pp. 103568
Author(s):  
Pauline Michel-Flutot ◽  
Arnaud Mansart ◽  
Therese B. Deramaudt ◽  
Isley Jesus ◽  
Kun-Ze Lee ◽  
...  

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Dru ◽  
Dan Neal ◽  
W Christopher Fox ◽  
Brian Lim Hoh ◽  
Daniel J Hoh

Abstract INTRODUCTION Advances in treatment of traumatic cervical spinal cord injury with fracture (TCSCIF) have led to significant improvements in clinical outcomes; however, progress in healthcare is seldom ubiquitous across demographic groups. We explored if disparities in treatment and outcome after TCSCIF exist across race and socioeconomic status. METHODS We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 1998 to 2009 for TCSCIF hospitalizations. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the correlation between socioeconomic status and race to treatment type and outcome. RESULTS There were 21 985 admissions for TCSCIF. In all 66.9% had a favorable discharge disposition. In-hospital mortality rate was 12.5%. In all 43.7% underwent surgery. Overall, surgery was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.27-0.34, P < .01) and better discharge disposition (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.62-0.74, P < .01) vs nonsurgical or no intervention. Controlling for race and socioeconomic status demonstrated higher status (HS) non-Caucasians had lower odds of receiving surgery than HS Caucasians (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.97, P = .01). LSES non-Caucasians had lower odds of receiving surgery than HS Caucasians (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.94, P < .01). HS non-Caucasians had lower odds of receiving surgery than LSES Caucasians (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.99, P = .03). LSES non-Caucasians had lower odds of receiving surgery than LSES Caucasians (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.94, P = .01). For favorable discharge status HS non-Caucasians, LSES non-Caucasians, and LSES Caucasians all had lower odds of favorable discharge compared to HS Caucasians (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.95, P = .01/OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59-0.81, P < .01/OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66-0.85, P < .01), respectively. CONCLUSION In our multivariate model that controlled for race and socioeconomic status in the setting of TCSCIF, race (but not socioeconomic status) was a factor in receiving surgery and both race and LSES impacted favorable discharge.


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