Direct laryngoscopy versus video laryngoscopy for expected difficult tracheal intubation a prospective observational study

: Difficult tracheal intubation still contributes significantly to anaesthesia related morbidity and mortality. Poor visualisation of laryngeal structures and multiple attempts at intubation are the leading causes with the conventional laryngoscopes. Though the recently introduced video assisted devices have significantly improved the ease of intubation by their superior laryngeal visualisation, the duration of intubation may vary. Here we compared the ease of tracheal intubation using Macintosh conventional direct laryngoscope (DL) and C- MAC videolaryngoscope (VL) in patients with expected difficult tracheal intubation. A total of 140 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia with Modified Mallampati Class 3 and 4 found during the preoperative airway assessment were equally recruited to either of the groups. We compared the duration of tracheal intubation, visualisation of the laryngeal inlet, additional optimising manoeuvres required, and number of attempts at intubation and incidence of oral trauma assessed at extubation between the two groups.: Analysis done using Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software; Windows version 11.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Intubation time was significantly longer in patients with VL than DL (P 0.0001) whereas visualisation of laryngeal inlet was significantly better with VL (P 0.001). Additional optimising manoeuvres (P 0.001) and incidence of oral trauma (P 0.012) were significantly less with VL whereas intubation attempts were found comparable (P 0.586).: Though VL provided significantly better laryngeal view with less need for optimising manoeuvres and less oral trauma compared to DL, the duration of intubation was significantly more with the former.

Impact of videolaryngoscopy introduction into prehospital emergency medicine practice: a quality improvement project

IntroductionAdvanced airway management is necessary in the prehospital environment and difficult airways occur more commonly in this setting. Failed intubation is closely associated with the most devastating complications of airway management. In an attempt to improve the safety and success of tracheal intubation, we implemented videolaryngoscopy (VL) as our first-line device for tracheal intubation within a UK prehospital emergency medicine (PHEM) setting.MethodsAn East of England physician–paramedic PHEM team adopted VL as first line for undertaking all prehospital advanced airway management. The study period was 2016–2020. Statistical process control charts were used to assess whether use of VL altered first-pass intubation success, frequency of intubation-related hypoxia and laryngeal inlet views. A survey was used to collect the team’s views of VL introduction.Results919 patients underwent advanced airway management during the study period. The introduction of VL did not improve first-pass intubation success, view of laryngeal inlet or intubation-associated hypoxia. VL improved situational awareness and opportunities for training but performed poorly in some environments.ConclusionDespite the lack of objective improvement in care, subjective improvements meant that overall PHEM clinicians wanted to retain VL within their practice.

Laryngeal lymphangioma as a cause of respiratory distress in an adult with Down’s syndrome: an extremely rare presentation

A 32-year-old man with Down’s syndrome was referred to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department in view of failed attempts at extubation, and subsequently, at decannulation of tracheotomy tube. He had previously required ventilatory support and had history of intubation for 1 week. A flexible fibre-optic laryngoscopy showed a smooth mass covering the laryngeal inlet which moved with respiration. Direct laryngoscopy under general anaesthesia revealed a smooth mucosa covered fleshy mass arising from the left aryepiglottic fold and arytenoid, obstructing the laryngeal inlet. The mass was removed using controlled plasma ablation, and histopathological examination of the same was consistent with lymphangioma. Endoscopic examinations during the regular follow-up visits revealed well-healed supraglottic area with adequate glottic chink and the patient could be successfully decannulated.

Laryngeal and soft palate valving in the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina)

ABSTRACTEffective ‘valving’ in the upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) is essential to temporarily separate the digestive and respiratory pathways. Marine mammals are largely dedicated to feeding underwater, and in many cases swallowing prey whole. In seals, little work has been done to explore the anatomy and function of the UAT in the context of valving mechanisms that function to separate food and air pathways. Here we use videofluoroscopy, gross dissection, histology and computed tomography (CT) renderings to explore the anatomy of the larynx and soft palate in the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), and generate models for how valving mechanisms in the head and neck may function during breathing, phonating, diving and swallowing. Harbour seals have an elevated larynx and the epiglottis may rise above the level of the soft palate, particularly in pups when sucking. In addition, the corniculate and arytenoid cartilages with associated muscles form most of the lateral margins of the laryngeal inlet and vestibule, and move independently to facilitate airway closure. The corniculate cartilages flex over the laryngeal inlet beneath the epiglottis to completely close the laryngeal vestibule and inlet. The vocal folds are thick and muscular and the medial margin of the folds contains a small vocal ligament. The soft palate has well-defined levator veli palatini muscles that probably function to elevate the palate and close the pharyngeal isthmus during feeding. Our results support the conclusion that harbour seals have evolved UAT valving mechanisms as adaptations to a marine environment that are not seen in terrestrial carnivores.

Comparison of the effectiveness of lidocaine sprayed at the laryngeal inlet and the endotracheal tube cuff versus intravenous lidocaine for reducing cough during extubation: A prospective randomized controlled trial

Coughing during extubation of the endotracheal tube (ETT) may lead to poor surgical results. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a simple lidocaine application route to reduce coughing during ETT extubation.

Comparative study of various supraglottic devices with clinical and fiber optic assessment in elective laparoscopic procedures

Background: Aim of present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of supraglottic devices (LMA supreme, LMA proseal and I-Gel) by clinical and fiberoptic evaluation in elective laparoscopic surgeries under general anaesthesia with controlled ventilation.Methods: The design was a prospective, randomized study enrolling total 105 patients of either sex, (age 18-65 years), ASA grade I/II and mallampati score I and II, were randomly allocated to LS (LMAS), LP (PLMA), and IG (I-Gel) groups according to the supraglottic device applied. The three devices were compared as regards insertion parameters, adequacy of ventilation (oxygen saturation, endtidal carbon dioxide and air leak), fibreoptic vision and intra or postoperative complications.Results: The overall ease of insertion of LMAS was found to be better than the other two devices. Adequacy of ventilation was comparable in all the study groups. Safety of these devices was found to be comparable but if OLP was considered as a marker of safety of the device, LMA proseal was a better option than the other two devices. There was no significant difference in the fiberoptic view of the laryngeal inlet between the three study groups but the number of patients with grade 4 view of laryngeal inlet fiberoptic was more in I gel than LMA proseal and LMA supreme.Conclusions: It was concluded that the LMAS, PLMA and I-Gel are effective ventilatory devices during controlled ventilation, without major complications. But in clinical practice it is advisable to monitor peak airway pressure, OLP and laparoscopic view of gastric distension whenever these devices are used in laparoscopic surgeries.