Effect of pediatric advanced life support course on pediatric residents' intubation success

Background: The Pediatric Advanced Life Support Program (PALS) course very important for teaching about intubation, resuscitation, shock, trauma, respiratory failure and rhythm disturbances. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the PALS course on pediatric residents' intubation success during their rotation, daytime and night‐time practice in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: The study was carried out from 1 March 2005 to 28 February 2007. The study period had two parts, in that the number of attempts and successful intubations performed by pediatric residents, and the pediatric intensivist successful intubation ratio were evaluated in two different periods: before the PALS course, 1 March 2005–28 February 2006, and after the PALS course, 5 March 2006–28 February 2007. The participating residents' pediatric levels (PL) were classed as PL‐1, PL‐2, PL‐3, PL‐4, and all had first experience in the PICU at the PL‐1 level. The PALS instructor was a pediatric emergency or intensive care doctor. We evaluated whether the PALS course influenced intubation success or not. Results: Sixteen residents participated in the study. The proportion of successful intubations was 110 (53.3%) and 104 (65.4%) attempts before and after the PALS course, respectively. The proportion of intubations done by intensivists decreased from 49.1% to 31.7% before and after PALS. The most frequently used endotracheal tube (ETT) internal diameter (ID) was 4.0 mm, and cuffed ETT was used 16% and 21% before and after the course, respectively. Appropriate placing of ETT tip occurred 70.4% and 82.2% of the time before and after the PALS course, respectively. Proportion of successful intubations by residents increased in all levels, except for PL‐1. The most important reason for unsuccessful attempts was inappropriate patient position. Only one patient could not be intubated, and laryngeal mask airway was used in that case. During intubation, complications were broken teeth in two patients before the course, and subglottic stenosis developed in only one patient due to cuffed ETT. Conclusion: Successful intubation is a life‐saving intervention during resuscitation, ETT revision for extubation or obstruction for extubation or obstruction during mechanical ventilation. This skill can be developed in the PALS course and by clinical study in PICU and pediatric emergency services. The PALS course must be given to pediatric residents especially within the first year. Also, cuffed ETT can be used for infants and children.     

Tubal pregnancy after clomiphene treatment: are you sure is not bilateral?

The estimated prevalence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) is 1–2% worldwide. Bilateral tubal pregnancies represent the rarest form of heterotopic pregnancy, and spontaneously conceived are extremely unusual, as many cases are derived from assisted reproductive techniques. We describe a case of bilateral tubal pregnancy after clomiphene therapy and sexual intercourse in which the second EP was not contemporarily revealed.     

P ARAMEDIC U SE OF E NDOTRACHEAL T UBE I NTRODUCERS FOR THE D IFFICULT A IRWAY

Objective. To evaluate the ability of paramedics to learn and apply the skill of introducer-aided oral intubation in the setting of the simulated “difficult airway.” The authors hypothesized that, following a brief introduction to the device, intubation success rates would not differ for traditional and introducer-aided intubations of an immobilized airway mannequin. Methods. During a paramedic recertification class, experienced paramedics were given a brief didactic introduction to the “bougie-like” Flex Guide endotracheal tube introducer (ETTI). The participants were then asked to intubate adult mannequins immobilized in the head-neutral position, with and without the ETTI. “Successful placement” was defined as completion of the procedure within 30 seconds and endotracheal tube position confirmed by the investigator with direct visualization. Results. For both traditional and ETTI intubations, 34 (97%) of the 35 paramedics successfully intubated within 30 seconds. The two unsuccessful intubation attempts were recognized by the paramedic as esophageal intubations, and correct tube placement was obtained within an additional 30 seconds. Conclusion. In this study, use of the ETTI was mastered by the participants after only a brief didactic introduction to the device, with their ability to intubate an immobilized mannequin using the ETTI being equal to their ability to perform traditional intubation. These results suggest that use of the ETTI is easily learned, and may support the device's role in the prehospital management of the difficult airway.     

Comparative study of awake endotracheal intubation with Glidescope video laryngoscope versus flexible fiber optic bronchoscope in patients with traumatic cervical spine injury

BackgroundThe Gldiescope video laryngoscope (GVL) as a recent intubating device has gained much popularity in difficult intubation over the last decade. It can be used as a substitute to flexible fiber optic bronchoscope (FOB) in intubating challenges. The object of this study is to compare the utility of GVL and FOB for intubating time, attempts, effects on hemodynamics, adverse effects, patient satisfaction and post intubation neurological outcome during awake intubation in traumatic cervical spine injury.MethodsFifty patients undergoing post traumatic cervical spine fixation under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to two groups in a prospective, controlled non-blinded study. All patients were premedicated with glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg iv and midazolam 1 mg iv that be repeated up to 0.05 mg/kg followed with a bolus dose of remifentanil 1.5 μg/kg then a continuous remifentanil infusion of 0.15 μg/kg/min for 3 min before procedure. Each patient underwent a wake endotracheal intubation with either GVL (G group) or FOB (F group) with manual in line stabilization (MILS). Intubating time, intubating attempts, hear rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygen desaturation (SO₂ < 90%), sore throat, patient satisfaction and postintubation neurological outcome were recorded.ResultsIntubating time was significantly lower in G group compared with F group (26 ± 5 versus 72 ± 11 respectively), while the percentage of the first successful intubating attempt was insignificantly higher in G group (88%) than in F group (72%). Both HR and MAP were significantly increased only in F group during intubation in comparison with the basal line values. Both devices were safe for post neurological outcome. No significant differences of adverse effects or patient satisfaction were recorded between groups.ConclusionThe GVL is a safe surrogate for FOB during awake intubation for post traumatic cervical spine fixation.     

Ultrasound evaluation of the impact of cricoid pressure versus novel ‘paralaryngeal pressure’ on anteroposterior oesophageal diameter

To assess the degree to which cricoid pressure (Sellick manoeuvre) actually compresses the oesophagus, we measured the effect of cricoid pressure and paralaryngeal pressure on the outer anteroposterior diameter of the upper oesophagus with ultrasound in 39 healthy volunteers. The mean (SD) outer anteroposterior oesophageal diameter was 0.77 (0.11) cm with no pressure, 0.79 (0.13) cm with the application of cricoid pressure of 30 N and 0.68 (0.12) cm with the application of paralaryngeal pressure of 30 N (p < 0.0001). If cricoid pressure does not reduce the anteroposterior diameter of the oesophagus, it is difficult or impossible to explain the efficacy of the Sellick manoeuvre. However, paralaryngeal pressure decreases this diameter and has the potential to occlude the upper oesophagus.     

经颌下置管全麻在复杂全面部骨折中的应用

目的：介绍特殊全面部骨折手术中一种经颌下置管全麻的方法并探讨其适应症及注意事项。方法：7例全面部骨折、无法实施鼻插全麻患者,口插全麻并稳定后制备口底与颌下间隧道并将气管导管导出颌下、固定。手术结束后将导管导回口腔。结果：所有患者口腔插管和口底导出均顺利,导管位置无改变,双肺呼吸音对称。术中麻醉平稳,管理方便,不影响手术操作。术后局部无气肿、感染、气道阻塞、神经损伤。结论：在无法鼻插全麻前提下,经颌下置管全麻避免了气管切开,同时满足了颌骨骨折术中咬合对位的要求,是特殊全面部骨折麻醉手段的有效方法。     

Inclined position is associated with improved first pass success and laryngoscopic view in prehospital endotracheal intubations

Purpose

In hospital-based studies, patients intubated by physicians while in an inclined position compared to supine position had a higher rate of first pass success and lower rate of peri-intubation complications. We evaluated the impact of patient positioning on prehospital endotracheal intubation in an EMS system with rapid sequence induction capability. We hypothesized that patients in the inclined position would have a higher first-pass success rate.

双侧输卵管同时妊娠1例及文献复习

目的:探讨临床罕见病例——双侧输卵管妊娠的诊断及治疗方法。方法:通过病例报道和相关文献复习,对双侧输卵管妊娠的病因、诊断及治疗作一分析。结果:双侧输卵管妊娠发生率较低,容易漏诊,对患者造成不良影响甚大,早期诊断和治疗尤为重要。结论:辅助生殖技术(ART)为不孕症患者带来福音的同时,在一定程度上增加了异位妊娠(EP)的发生率,尤其是某些特殊类型的EP。对于可疑患者,超声和手术应仔细探查双侧附件的情况,以便早期发现和治疗。