Successful use of sugammadex in a ‘can't ventilate’ scenario

A 53‐year‐old man with hypopharyngeal stenosis following curative chemoradiotherapy for a tongue base tumour presented three years later for an attempt at pharyngeal dilatation. The first attempt 6 months previously was abandoned when awake fibreoptic intubation failed due to partial airway obstruction and desaturation when the fibrescope was advanced. As mask ventilation was anticipated to be possible, a further attempt at intubation after induction of anaesthesia was judged appropriate. The backup plan was jet ventilation via a cricothyroid cannula sited pre‐induction. However, neither mask nor jet ventilation proved possible after the induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium. Swift administration of sugammadex on a background of thorough pre‐oxygenation allowed return of spontaneous breathing before the development of hypoxia and so avoided the need for surgical airway rescue. This case demonstrates the utility of sugammadex in restoring spontaneous respiration in a ‘can't ventilate’ scenario, provided that the airway has not been traumatised by instrumentation.     

‘Ganglions’

The ganglion cyst is the commonest soft-tissue swelling in the hand and wrist. It is a fibrous swelling that arises near a joint or tendon sheath, and contains clear mucinous fluid. The exact pathogenesis of the ganglion is unknown, although various theories quote anatomical and physiological evidence to support them. Ganglia can occur near any joint in the body, although they are encountered most commonly in the wrist and hand. They can present in a diverse number of ways. In cases of diagnostic uncertainty, they can be investigated by imaging techniques. If a ganglion is symptomatic, it should be treated by conservative means initially including aspiration. Steroids have no place in their management. If this strategy fails, then excision is required, it should be radical to minimise the risk of recurrence. Further research into the pathophysiology may allow improvement in treatment.     

‘STAB AND SPLIT’: A ‘BLOODLESS’ AND ‘SCARLESS’ SKIN INCISION TECHNIQUE FOR MINOR SURGERY

The ‘stab and split’ skin incision technique was applied to children requiring minor surgery. A small stab incision was made on a skin crease and split open with mosquito forceps. After the surgical procedure was completed, the wound was closed in layers with a subcuticular suture to the skin. In all cases, splitting caused virtually no blood loss because subcutaneous veins were left intact, and the wounds healed well, especially in infants. ‘Stab and split’ is an effective alternative incision technique for minor surgery in younger children.     

EXTRAPERITONEAL ‘LAPAROSCOPIC’ ADRENALECTOMY

The technique of extraperitoneal ‘laparoscopic’ adrenalectomy is described in two cases, a left sided 1 cm Conn's tumour and a right sided 3.5 cm incidental non-functioning tumour. The extraperitoneal approach has the advantage of direct access to the adrenal gland without the need to mobilize abdominal organs, while maintaining all the advantages of minimal access surgery.     

The effects of a displayed cognitive aid on non‐technical skills in a simulated ‘can't intubate,can't oxygenate’ crisis

Guidelines outlining recommended actions are difficult to implement in the stressful, time‐pressured situation of an airway emergency. Cognitive aids such as posters and algorithms improve performance during some anaesthetic emergencies; however, their effects on team behaviours have not been determined. In this study, 64 participants were randomly assigned into control (no cognitive aid) and intervention (cognitive aid provided) groups before a simulated ‘can't intubate, can't oxygenate’ scenario. Video analysis was undertaken of the non‐technical skills and technical performance during the scenarios. All categories had higher Anaesthetists’ Non‐Technical Skills (ANTS) scores when a cognitive aid was supplied (mean (SD) total ANTS score 10.4 (3.1) vs 13.2 (2.4), p < 0.001). The number of times the cognitive aid was used was associated with higher ANTS scores (ρ = 0.383, p = 0.002). A trend towards the establishment of an infraglottic airway within 3 min was also noted (control group 55.3% vs intervention 76.9%, p = 0.076). Non‐technical skills are improved when a cognitive aid is present during airway emergencies.     

‘Small blocks’ in paediatric patients

Regional anaesthetic techniques are now extensively used in paediatric anaesthesia. A better understanding and conceptualization of them has led us to define a new category of blocks, termed compartment blocks, in which the structure that has to be identified is a fascial plane, not the nerve to be blocked itself. Some of these compartment blocks, most of which have been described decades ago but fell into disuse, have now been rediscovered as they offer many advantages in terms of safety, efficiency and simplicity. These ‘small blocks’ share the same high benefit/risk ratio and, basically, the same technique of fascial plane localization; this makes them look very similar even though they involve various structures and nerves with no real anatomical link. In this category are included the peri-umbilical, ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric, pudendal, penile, fascia iliaca, saphenous nerve, metacarpal and laryngeal nerve blocks. These small blocks provide adequate analgesia for a number of very common procedures in paediatric patients; they do not require special skills, training, complicated or expensive devices. Their success rate is extremely high and they have no true contraindications or significant adverse effects. They are effective with only small amounts of local anaesthetics and thus, due to their many advantages, should be used extensively in children.