The ''cuff-leak'' test for extubation

The 'cuff-leak' test, which involves demonstrating a leak around a tracheal tube with the cuff deflated, has been advocated to determine the safety of extubation in patients with upper airway obstruction. In 62 such patients we were able safely to extubate all patients with a cuff leak. Two patients extubated without cuff leak required reintubation and in five patients who repeatedly failed the test, tracheostomy was performed. Subsequently, we extubated 10 patients who were stable on spontaneous ventilation and did not have cuff leak; three later required tracheostomy and seven were uneventfully extubated. While the presence of cuff leak demonstrates that extubation is likely to be successful, a failed cuff-leak test does not preclude uneventful extubation and if used as a criterion for extubation may lead to unnecessarily prolonged intubation or to unnecessary tracheostomy.     

Anaesthesia for Treacher Collins and Pierre Robin syndromes: A report of three cases

We present three patients with Treacher Collins or Pierre Robin syndromes who had historical and physical evidence of airway obstruction, difficulty feeding, and sleep disturbances. These preoperative findings correlated with difficult airway management intraoperatively. Based on this experience, we recommend that children with obstructive symptoms have laryngoscopy prior to anaesthetic induction. If the glottic opening is visualized, inhalational induction can proceed. If the glottic structures cannot be visualized, then the anaesthetist must choose between awake oral or nasal intubation, elective tracheostomy, or fiberoptic intubation. In all cases, a tracheostomy tray should be ready and a surgeon experienced in paediatric tracheostomy should be in attendance. After intubation, anaesthesia is best maintained with oxygen and a potent inhalational agent. Extubation should only be done with the patient fully awake and with emergency airway equipment immediately available. Postoperatively, these patients should be transferred to an intermediate care area or intensive care unit where they can be observed closely since delayed complications of airway obstruction are common in this group of patients.     

Elective oral tracheal intubation in cervical spine-injured adults

There is controversy regarding the optimal mode of elective tracheal intubation in the patient with an unstable cervical spine following trauma. A ten-year review of 150 patients with traumatic cervical spine injuries with well-preserved neurological function, presenting for operative stabilization, was conducted to compare neurological outcome with the mode of tracheal intubation. Preoperative neurological deficits were identified in 49 patients (33%); most were single-level radiculopathies. Intubation occurred after induction of general anaesthesia in 83 patients (55%) and in 67 patients (45%) the tracheas were intubated with the patient awake. One hundred and six patients (71%) underwent oral tracheal intubation and 44 underwent nasal tracheal intubation. Ten intubations were deemed to be difficult requiring more than one attempt to effect intubation. Cervical spine immobilization during intubation was documented in 86 patients (57%). Weighted traction or manual in-line traction were the two manoeuvres most commonly employed to maintain spinal alignment during intubation. After surgery, two patients had new neurological deficits. There were no differences in neurological outcome whether intubation was performed while the patient was awake or under general anaesthesia, or comparing oral tracheal intubation with all other techniques (P = 0.5, Fisher exact test). Also, in-line traction did not affect neurological outcome. Oral tracheal intubation with in-line stabilization, either performed after induction of general anaesthesia or with the patient awake, remains an excellent option for elective airway management in patients with cervical spine injuries.     

Airway status in civilian maxillofacial gunshot injuries in Johannesburg, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Airway management of the maxillofacial gunshot injury constitutes a critical decision and an area that requires review in the context of civilian injuries. Most of our knowledge is extrapolated from military experience, which constitutes a different trauma patient group. This paper reports a retrospective survey of airway status in relation to maxillofacial gunshot injuries. The objective is to correlate clinical findings with treatment decisions. METHODS: A survey was done of 11,622 archived maxillofacial surgery records (1987-1992) in the three academic hospitals in Johannesburg. RESULTS: There were 211 maxillofacial gunshot injuries, for which 92 patient records had sufficient detail for inclusion in the analysis. The typical patient was a black male aged 20-29 years, shot with a low-velocity bullet of 0.38 calibre, admitted to hospital the day of the injury, operated on within 4 days, and discharged 4 days later. The airway was threatened in 20/92 cases at admission; 12/20 cases were treated with oro-or nasotracheal intubation, and 9/12 later had elective tracheostomies; 8/20 needed immediate surgical airways, 5 tracheostomies and 3 cricothyroldotomies (all later converted to tracheostomies). Three of thirty-seven patients with normal airways on admission later required emergency tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal airway was significantly more likely after a high-velocity injury, and when the tongue, floor of mouth, midline or bilateral facial skeletal bones were involved.     

Tracheal tubes for maxillofacial and dental surgery

Maxillofacial and dental surgery have developed with anaesthesia. This is because of the mutual understanding that is necessary for safe and successful surgery on the ‘shared airway’. The choice of airway management technique is influenced by patient factors, surgical requirements and anaesthetic preferences. Good communication between surgeon and anaesthetist is imperative for the safety of the patient and the smooth running of the surgery. The anaesthetic considerations include: dealing with the difficult airway; the risk of obstruction, transection, disconnection or removal of the airway intraoperatively; the risk of soiling of the airway due to bleeding and surgical debris such as tooth or bone fragments; and the potential for airway compromise postoperatively. A cuffed tracheal tube with a throat pack provides the highest level of airway protection in shared airway surgery, but may not always be the most suitable technique. A north polar nasal tube provides a secure airway and excellent surgical access for surgery on the jaws, teeth, oral cavity and neck; it also allows intermaxillary fixation (wiring of the jaws) and assessment of dental occlusion. South facing preformed oral (RAE) tubes are suitable for procedures involving the nose, upper mid face and forehead. Submental intubation provides an alternative to oral and nasal tracheal intubation and is useful in selected procedures. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has an important role intraoperatively and provides smooth emergence from anaesthesia. Transtracheal catheter and jet ventilation is seldom used in maxillofacial anaesthesia, but is an important rescue technique. An elective tracheostomy should be considered if significant postoperative airway compromise is anticipated and may occasionally be necessary under local anaesthesia before induction. It requires surgical expertise and carries a high incidence of morbidity. This article discusses how to select appropriate tracheal tubes for maxillofacial and dental surgery.     

Anesthetic experience of 100 pediatric tracheostomies

Background:  Tracheostomy is more hazardous in the pediatric population than in adults (Paediatr Nurs, 17, 2005, 38; Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 67, 2003, 7; J R Soc Med, 89, 1996, 188). Airway management in these children and infants is potentially challenging. Previous case series of pediatric tracheostomy published in the surgical journals make little mention of anesthetic techniques used and do not describe airway management. The aim of this study was to review the anesthetic, and in particular the airway management of children undergoing tracheostomy at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
Methods:  Between September 2004 and December 2007, the ENT surgical database showed that 109 children had a surgical tracheostomy performed at GOSH. We were only able to locate the notes of 100 of these cases. The anesthetic records of these 100 patients undergoing tracheostomy were analyzed retrospectively.
Results:  Ninety-four percent (94/100) of tracheostomies were elective, and 6% (6/100) were emergency. In this study, 26% (26/100) of children were recorded as difficult to intubate. These difficult airways were managed as follows: 10/26 used a laryngeal mask airway (LMA), 5/26 were managed with facemask alone, 3/26 had fiber-optic intubation, 5/26 had surgical intubation and 2/26 were intubated with the aid of a bougie and cricoid pressure.
Conclusions:  This case series demonstrates that intubation is difficult in up to 26% of children presenting for tracheostomy. While intubation of the trachea remains the preferred option when anesthetizing children for tracheostomy, the LMA or facemask can provide a successful airway where intubation is not possible. The use of the LMA or facemask may therefore be life saving in the unintubatable child.     

End-tidal sevoflurane concentration for tracheal extubation (MACEX) in adults: comparison with isoflurane

Sevoflurane has a non-pungent odour and provides smooth induction of anaesthesia. In contrast, isoflurane is irritating to the airway when used for induction, and this may also be evident during emergence from anaesthesia. We measured the end-tidal concentration of anaesthetic that prevented response to extubation in 50% of patients (MACEX) in adults receiving either sevoflurane or isoflurane. Airway complications during emergence from anaesthesia were also noted. We studied 51 adult patients, ASA 1, aged 36-59 yr. Patients received sevoflurane (n = 29) or isoflurane (n = 22) for elective intraocular surgery. The concentration at which extubation was attempted was determined by a modification of Dixon's up-and-down method. When tracheal extubation was accomplished without coughing and gross purposeful muscular movements within 1 min after extubation, it was considered a smooth tracheal extubation. Patients who developed breath-holding or laryngospasm immediately after tracheal extubation were regarded as not having been extubated smoothly. In addition, patients were observed for respiratory events during the remainder of the emergence period. MACEX values for sevoflurane and isoflurane were 1.07% and 0.83%, respectively. ED95 values of sevoflurane and isoflurane were 2.04% and 1.19%, respectively. In 12 patients in the isoflurane group, extubation was smooth but six patients had coughing episodes during the remainder of the emergence period. In contrast, one of 15 patients in the sevoflurane group in whom tracheal extubation was smooth coughed later (P = 0.035). Airway obstruction was frequent when tracheal extubation was performed at end-tidal concentrations exceeding 1 MACEX for each anaesthetic.      

Two cases of negative pressure pulmonary edema after induction of anesthesia and extubation

Two cases of negative pressure pulmonary edema are described. In one case, tracheal intubation was not successful and airway obstruction occurred after induction of anesthesia. Spontaneous breathing was restored by reversal of neuromuscular blocking action, but airway obstruction persisted. Urgent tracheostomy was therefore performed. A chest x-ray and clinical features indicated pulmonary edema immediately after tracheostomy. Treatment with mechanical ventilation and positive end-expiratory pressure improved pulmonary edema. In the other case, airway obstruction occurred after extubation. Removal of secretion in the oral cavity and assisted ventilation improved airway obstruction, but pulmonary edema was found by chest x-ray. Forced diuresis using furosemide and oxygen inhalation resulted in the improvement of pulmonary edema. Fortunatetly, in both cases, significant complications associated with pulmonary edema did not occur. Care should be taken of the risk of pulmonary edema when the airway was obstructed after induction of anesthesia or extubation under spontaneous breathing.     

Cricoid Palpability as a Selection Criterion for Bedside Tracheostomy

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the significance of cricoid cartilage palpability as a selection criterion for bedside tracheostomy and to prospectively compare a cohort of patients undergoing bedside tracheostomy with another cohort receiving operating room tracheostomy. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Prospective trial comparing 2 cohorts of patients receiving tracheostomies at a tertiary care center (university hospital). In all, 220 consecutive intubated patients selected for elective tracheostomy were enrolled. Of them, 134 patients had palpable cricoid cartilage and underwent open surgical tracheostomy at the bedside. The remaining 68 patients received open surgical tracheostomies in the operating room. Demographic data, patient anatomic features, and perioperative complications were prospectively recorded. There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, reason for admission, indication for tracheostomy, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, number of days intubated, or time required to perform the procedure for those patients whose tracheostomies were performed in the operating room versus the intensive care unit. RESULTS: Patients with a palpable cricoid cartilage had a significantly reduced perioperative complication rate compared with those without a palpable cricoid cartilage (2% vs 22%, P < 0.001). Comparison of cervical girth, mental-to-sternum distance, and thyroid-notch-to-sternum distance showed no significant difference between the 2 groups and did not further define selection criteria. CONCLUSION: This investigation prospectively confirms the safety of bedside tracheostomy placement in properly selected patients. Complication incidences are defined for open surgical tracheostomy at the bedside and in the operating room. Palpability of the cricoid cartilage has significant value as a selection criterion for bedside tracheostomy. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings will aid in the development of protocols and pathways for surgical airway management in critically ill patients to maximize cost-effective, high-quality care.     

Anesthetic management of three pediatric cases with Pena–Shokeir syndrome

Pena-Shokeir syndrome is a rare, early lethal disease. It is characterized by fetal growth restriction; craniofacial deformities, for example micrognathia and microcephaly; multiple ankyloses; and pulmonary hypoplasia. For patients with this syndrome, maintenance of airway and control of perioperative respiratory complications are important for anesthetic management. We report 3 pediatric cases of Pena-Shokeir syndrome undergoing tracheostomy and arthrolysis under general anesthesia using sevoflurane, nitrous oxide, fentanyl, and vecuronium bromide. Anesthetic procedures including mask ventilation, tracheal intubation, and extubation were successfully performed without complications during and after surgery. In patients with Pena-Shokeir syndrome, inhalational anesthetics can be safely used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia, although it is important to assume that difficult airway management might be encountered.     

Anesthetic management of the patient undergoing head and neck cancer surgery

The head and neck cancer patient should be in the best possible medical condition before facing surgery, bearing in mind the status of the tumor and the urgency of the procedure. Careful assessment of the patient's upper airway will enable the anesthesiologist to select an appropriate course of action to secure the airway before the operation begins. In many cases, the patient can be safely intubated after the induction of general anesthesia. In other situations, the patient may require an examination of the airway while awake with the aid of sedation and topical analgesia to determine the safest intubation technique. If the patient has evidence of a difficult airway, a flexible fiberoptic-guided intubation may be indicated to secure the airway in the awake patient patient before general anesthesia is induced. Some patients with severe airway obstruction or large, bulky supraglottic tumors usually undergo an initial tracheostomy with local anesthesia to secure the airway. Following surgery, extubation of the patient's trachea requires careful attention and may have to be performed over a jet-ventilating stylet.     

Tracheostomies in burn patients.

The use of tracheostomies in burned patients with inhalation injuries is now reserved for specific indications rather than as prophylactic airway management. A 5-year burn center experience with tracheostomies used in this fashion is presented. Ninety-nine tracheostomies were performed in 3246 patients who had indications of prolonged respiratory failure or acute loss of airway. Although colonization of the sputum was universal, neither rates of pulmonary sepsis nor mortality were significantly increased in patients who underwent tracheostomies. Twenty-eight patients developed late upper airway sequelae, including tracheal stenosis (TS), tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), and tracheoarterial fistula (TAF). Duration of intubation correlated only with development of TAF, whereas patients in whom TEF developed were significantly older and more likely to have evidence of tracheal necrosis at the time of tracheostomy. The pathogenesis of upper airway sequelae in these patients as divergent responses to the combined insults of inhalation injury, infection, and intubation is considered.     

Anticipated difficult airway during obstetric general anaesthesia: narrative literature review and management recommendations.

We reviewed the literature on management of general and regional anaesthesia in pregnant women with anticipated airway difficulty. We identified 138 publications comprising 158 cases; these either described equipment or techniques for the provision of general anaesthesia, or the management of women with regional analgesia or anaesthesia, with the aim of avoiding general anaesthesia. Most of the former group described women requiring caesarean section alone, or in combination with other surgery, which was sometimes airway-related. Management techniques were largely similar to those in non-obstetric patients requiring surgery who have airway difficulties, although suggested differences related to physiological changes of pregnancy and avoidance of nasal intubation. In the reports discussing regional anaesthesia, consideration was often given to the possible requirement for urgent out-of-hours anaesthetic intervention, and the predicted difficulty of management of general anaesthesia should it be required. In a number of reported cases, multidisciplinary planning led to the conclusion that elective caesarean section should be performed in order to avoid emergency airway management. Based on this literature review, we advise antenatal planning that includes: assessment of the patient's clinical characteristics; consideration of the equipment and personnel available to provide safe airway management out-of-hours; and elective caesarean section should these be lacking. If general anaesthesia is required, a risk assessment must be made as to the probability of safe airway management after the induction of anaesthesia, and awake tracheal intubation should be used if this cannot be assured. Decision aids are provided to illustrate these points. Online appendices include a comprehensive compendium of case reports on the management of a number of rare syndromes and airway conditions.     

影响颌面肿瘤手术后气道管理的手术因素分析

目的 分析影响颌面肿瘤手术后气道管理的手术因素.方法 对我院2009年6月至2010年6月间的112例颌面肿瘤手术进行回顾分析.根据术后气道管理策略分成3组:术后拔管组(32例),术后带管组(29例)和术后预防性气管切开组(51例).对所有手术资料,如肿瘤的位置、是否下颌骨切除、颈淋巴清扫方法、缺损重建的方法等进行回归分析,制定分值等级,定义阈值.结果 制定一简单评分系统,对肿瘤的位置、下颌骨切除方法、颈淋巴清扫方法、何种皮瓣修复等相关项目根据重要性打分,结果相加,当总分高于4～5时,可考虑行预防性气管切开.结论 此评分系统可以就具体病例是否需要行预防性气管切开提供参考.     

Transmylohyoid orotracheal intubation: case series and review

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the outcome of airway management in patients with complex maxillofacial fracture by submental intubation, time required for intubation, accidental extubation, and postoperative complications.DesignRetrospective study.SettingUniversity-affiliated hospital.MeasurementsThe medical records of the 10 patients who underwent submental intubation from December 2008 to June 2011 were reviewed.Main ResultsAt the end of the procedure, all 10 patients were extubated without any complications. Postoperatively, only one patient presented with superficial infection of the submental wound.ConclusionsSubmental endotracheal intubation is a simple technique with very low morbidity, and may be used as an alternative to tracheostomy in selected cases of maxillofacial trauma.     

A survey of tracheostomy practice in a cardiothoracic intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess current practice of performing tracheostomies in critically ill cardiac surgical patients, to establish complication rates, and to identify areas of this clinical practice that could be improved. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: A cardiothoracic intensive care unit in a teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The most recent series of 100 tracheostomies performed in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous or surgical tracheostomy for respiratory management. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 95 patients had 1 tracheostomy performed. One patient had a tracheostomy performed twice, and 1 patient had a tracheostomy performed 3 times; these repetitions were caused by recurrent respiratory failure. The median time from tracheal intubation to tracheostomy was 5 days (range, 1-23 days; interquartile range, 4-8 days), and median period between insertion and decannulation was 20 days (range, 2-77 days; interquartile range, 12-25 days). The most common reason for insertion was an anticipated long weaning time (55%) followed by insertion after failed extubation (32%). The Ciaglia percutaneous dilational technique was used for 89% of tracheostomies, whereas surgical techniques were used for 8%. The most common complication was either complete or partial obstruction of the tracheostomy tube (24%) followed by infection of the tracheostomy site in 18% (17/94) and bleeding at the time of insertion (11%). CONCLUSION: The percutaneous dilational technique of tracheostomy was used predominantly in this unit. The median time from tracheal intubation to tracheostomy was 5 days. The most common complications were bleeding at the time of insertion, obstruction of the tracheostomy tube, and stomal infection.     

Acute epiglottitis: current management and review

Forty-seven patients treated for acute epiglottitis by nasotracheal intubation under general anaesthesia following a preset protocol are presented. The results are compared with 61 cases treated by tracheostomy following induction of general anaesthesia and intubation in the same institution. Both groups were followed clinically, and 13 of the children treated by nasotracheal intubation alone had a follow-up endoscopic examination of the larynx. There was no mortality in either group, but the morbidity was significantly higher in the children who had tracheostomy. Details of the management protocol are presented. Only inhalation anaesthetic agents are recommended and it is concluded that children with acute epiglottitis should always have an artificial airway inserted. Nasotracheal intubation seems to be associated with less morbidity than tracheostomy in experienced hands.     

Submental intubation in complex craniomaxillofacial trauma

The submental route for endotracheal intubation is an alternative to nasal intubation or tracheostomy in the surgical management of patients with complex craniomaxillofacial injuries. The critical indication for submental intubation is the requirement for intraoperative maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) in the presence of injuries that preclude nasal intubation and in a situation where a tracheostomy is not otherwise required. MMF to re-establish dental occlusion is essential for a normal functional result in dentate patients with fractures involving alveolar segments of the jaws. However, MMF precludes orotracheal intubation. Nasotracheal intubation is often used but is contraindicated in the presence of skull base fractures and will interfere with the access to certain fracture types. A tracheostomy has a high potential complication rate and in many patients, an alternative to the oral airway is not required beyond the perioperative period. A submental intubation has been used in 11 selected cases amongst 190 consecutively treated patients with craniomaxillofacial trauma over a 3-year period. These cases have been retrospectively reviewed and there have been no significant complications. The indications and technique used are described. Submental intubation is a simple and useful technique with low morbidity in selected cases of craniomaxillofacial trauma and the author's clinical experience with this technique is described.     

The chewing of betel quid and oral submucous fibrosis and anesthesia

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a premalignant lesion of the buccal mucosa caused by chewing betel quid. It results in progressive inability to open the mouth. OSMF causes difficulty in laryngoscopy and intubation of the trachea. Patients with OSMF require anesthesia for trismus correction, resection, and reconstructive (oncoplastic) surgery for coexisting oral malignancies or other unrelated surgeries. Our review of the anesthetics of 44 patients with oral malignancies suggested that 8 had OSMF. The preoperative airway assessment, including the Mallampati score and the clinical Tumor Node Metastasis stage, were useful in predicting the need for fiberoptic intubation. Patients with oral malignancies and OSMF had increased requirement for fiberoptic endotracheal intubations (62.5%) compared with those without OSMF (44.4%). Three different techniques of airway management (tracheal intubation after direct laryngoscopy, fiberoptic tracheal intubation, and tracheostomy) in four patients with OSMF are described. OSMF contributes to the development of the malignancy, delays the diagnoses, and complicates the anesthetic management.     

Utilisation clinique du COPA (cuffed oropharyngeal airway)

ObjectivesTo assess the performance of the COPA device during general anaesthesia.Study designProspective, clinical, open study.PatientsEighty patients scheduled for short elective surgical procedures under general anaesthesia not requiring tracheal intubation.MethodAfter premedication (midazolam, atropine), anaesthesia was induced with propofol (154 ± 40 mg = 2.47 ± 0.8 mg·kg⁻¹) and alfentanil (1.14 ± 0.43 mg). The COPA device was inserted in a fashion similar to a Guedel airway device. The device was evaluated on the following criteria: correct choice of COPA size, ease of insertion, ability to obtain or maintain patent airway. Adverse reactions were noted, such as coughing, nausea, regurgitation, inhalation, and sore throat. The overall rating of the COPA as a “hand free device” was evaluated on the basis of excellent, good, fair, and poor.ResultsInsertion of the device was easy and in 70 cases successful on the first attempt. Jaw thrust or head tilt was necessary in half the cases. No patient necessitated intubation because of hypoxaemia or airway obstruction. Adverse reactions occurred in few cases and consisted of sore throat (always moderate) in 10% of the cases. COPA was evaluated as excellent or good in 80% of the cases.ConclusionCOPA is a convenient device for airway management in fasting patients undergoing general anaesthesia for elective surgery in the supine position, in whom tracheal intubation is not indicated.