Core Topics in Thoracic Anesthesia

Abstract Background Learning to perform intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography takes time and practice. We aimed to determine the cumulative success rate in the first 20 intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography cases performed by trainee anesthesiologists with no transesophageal echocardiography experience. Methods This prospective observational study included nine anesthesiologists (four cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesia fellows and five short-course perioperative intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography trainees). Overall, 180 studies self-performed by the trainees were reviewed by certified reviewers. A study was considered successful when at least 15 qualified images were collected within 30 minutes. The cumulative success of each trainee was used as a surrogate of a basic two-dimensional intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography learning curve. Results The participants comprised three male and six female anesthesiologists aged 29–43 years with 2–13 years of work experience. Most studies (146/180, 81.11%) were completed within 30 minutes, and the cumulative success rate was 70–90% (average 82.78 ± 6.71%). The average cumulative success rate in the short-course group (85 ± 7.07%) was higher than that in the official cardiovascular and thoracic fellow trainee group (80 ± 7.07%). The recommended caseload for a 75–80% success rate was 14–18 cases (95% confidence interval, 0.675–0.969). Conclusions We recommended a 14–18 caseload for a target success rate of 75–80% in studies performed by trainees with no previous experience. Our findings will enable the development of programs to train anesthesiologists in intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography.

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Thoracic Anesthesia and Cross Field Ventilation for Tracheobronchial Injuries: A Challenge for Anesthesiologists

Case Reports in Anesthesiology ◽

10.1155/2014/972762 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sankalp Sehgal ◽

Joshua C. Chance ◽

Matthew A. Steliga

Keyword(s):

Pain Control ◽

Blunt Chest Trauma ◽

Chest Trauma ◽

Lung Ventilation ◽

Postoperative Pain Control ◽

One Lung Ventilation ◽

Tracheal Reconstruction ◽

Thoracic Anesthesia ◽

Tracheobronchial Injuries ◽

Life Threatening

Tracheobronchial injuries are rare but life threatening sequel of blunt chest trauma. Due to the difficult nature of these injuries and the demanding attributes of the involved surgery, the anesthesiologist faces tough challenges while securing the airway, controlling oxygenation, undertaking one-lung ventilation, maintaining anesthesia during tracheal reconstruction, and gaining adequate postoperative pain control. Amongst the few techniques that can be used with tracheobronchial injuries, cross field ventilation is a remotely described and rarely used technique, especially in injuries around the carina. We effectively applied cross field ventilation in both our cases and the outcome was excellent.

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