Comparaison de l’Airtraq, du X-Lite et du laryngoscope standard pour la chirurgie thyroïdienne: une étude clinique randomisée

Purpose

To compare the performance of the Airtraq, X-Lite, and direct laryngoscopes for tracheal intubation for elective thyroid surgery.

Methods

In this randomized prospective study, Patients who were ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) I or II physical status I or II and patients undergoing thyroid surgery were included in this randomized prospective study. Patients with attributes for difficult intubation criteria were excluded. After induction of anesthesia with fentanyl, propofol, and cisatracurium, patients were randomized into three groups according to the intubating device used: Airtraq laryngoscope (Airtraq), X-Lite video laryngoscope (X-lLite), and direct laryngoscope with a Macintosh blade (Direct). The primary outcome measurement was the time needed for tracheal intubation. Secondary outcomes included intubation difficulty score (IDS), Cormack-Lehane classification, as well as hemodynamic and respiratory effects.

Results

One hundred and five patients were included. Mean (standard deviation) time for intubation was 28.2 (2.1) sec in the Airtraq group vs 36.6 (3.7) sec in the X-Lite group (P < 0.001), and 41.1 (4.4) sec in the Direct group (P < 0.001). Compared with to the direct laryngoscope, the Airtraq provided better visualization of the glottis (P = 0.003) with fewer attempts (P < 0.001) and lower IDS (P < 0.001). The intubation difficulty score was lower with the Airtraq than with the X-Lite (P = 0.003). Patients in the X-Lite and Direct groups showed more hemodynamic variations than those in the Airtraq group. There was only one failed intubation, in the direct group.

Conclusion

In thyroid surgery, the Airtraq and X-Lite laryngoscopes decrease time to intubation when compared with direct laryngoscopy.     

Le burn out, conséquences et solutions : enquête chez les personnels d’anesthésie–réanimation de quatre hôpitaux universitaires marocains

Background

Burn out syndrome consists in physical and mental exhaustion observed in professionals whose work involves continuous contact with other people in response to chronic stress. Anesthesists reanimators staff are considered to be vulnerable to experiencing burn out. After analyzing the prevalence and risk factors in an anterior article, we tried through this work to evaluate the consequences of burn out and to have a preventive or curative approach for this syndrome among medical and paramedical staff in intensive care unit.

Methods

A multicenter analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among practitioners in many Anesthesia and Intensive Care units in Moroccan University Hospitals (Rabat, Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech). Practitioners were invited to fill a self-questioning which envisaged eventual consequences of burn out, and they were invited to suggest solutions to this problem and to express their comments on subject.

Results

Our 202 practitioners who present burn out, accused irritability, discontent, and angriness in respectively 34,3%, 41,7%, and 34,1% case; 59,7% complains sleep confusion, 60,68% developed addict attitudes and 55,5% have relational problem. Proposed resolutions stressed the importance of the optimization of work organization and the motivation of personal, one of the precautionary lanes would consist on the combination of different therapeutic approaches (individual, collective and organizational).

Discussion/Conclusion

Burn out appears to be a reality in intensive care unit. Introduction of preventive strategies, while underlining the importance of work organization and communication seem to be necessary.     

Imaging of perianal granular cell tumor with lung metastasis: A case report and literature review

The granular cell tumor or Abrikossoff''s tumor is a rare tumor, most often benign in evolution. Malignant forms are exceptional. We report, here, a very rare case of granular cell tumor, localized in the perianal region, in a 54-year-old woman with lung metastases. CT and MRI with contrast showed a locally advanced tumor process in the right para-anal region associated with multiple "balloon release" lung lesions. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunostaining after surgical biopsy. Very few cases of malignant granular cell tumors with lung metastasis have been reported in the literature.     

Diaphragmatic hernia a rare cause of acute pancreatitis: Case report

Many complications are known to occur in association with a diaphragmatic hernia. Acute pancreatitis occurring in this situation is very rare. In this paper, we report a case and describe the radiographic features of this complication. We report an unusual case of acute pancreatitis complicating a neglected post-traumatic diaphragmatic hernia in a 30-year-old male. This patient had a history of an abdominal trauma 5 years ago, and arrived at the emergency room with epigastria and left chest pain and vomiting. Serum lipase was elevated. Acute pancreatitis could be considered as an exceptional complication of diaphragmatic hernia. It is a serious diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The fundamental roles of CT are to determine the diaphragmatic defect, the abdominal content involving, the Balthazar scoring of pancreatitis, and the presence of local complications. Even if a conservative approach is preferred when facing a diagnosis of pancreatitis, timing of surgery should be carefully considered.     

Fatal outcome of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a lupus nephropathy patient: A case report

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare underestimated condition, that generally complicates a rise in blood pressure in an acute setting. This entity has been increasingly identified in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus disease. PRES is challenging to diagnose seeing as it presents with nonspecific neurological symptoms, such as head-aches, confusion, seizures, visual changes or a coma, and can mimic neuropsychiatric lupus. Imaging plays a necessary role in confirming this diagnosis, as it is characterized by vasogenic edema of the posterior white matter, in which the distribution is bilateral and symmetrical. Although this syndrome is rare, early diagnosis allows a prompt treatment and therefore a favorable outcome. We present a case report of PRES in a 14-year-old female previously diagnosed with lupus nephropathy, who presented to the emergency department with seizures and uncontrolled hypertension, that was unfortunately not reversible is this patient.