A comparison of the effectiveness of intubation using a McGrath Series 5 videolaryngoscope with either a Truflex articulating stylet or a standard intubation stylet in a group of medical students

Background. Intubation is the optimal method for opening the airway and effective ventilation of the patient. However, there are occasional problems with intubation, especially in patients with injuries under pre-hospital conditions. Therefore, it is important to identify devices, e.g., videolaryngoscopes or guides, which may facilitate and shorten the procedure. This study addresses the use of a Truflex articulated guide with a videolaryngoscope. Objectives. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of intubation using a Truflex articulating stylet with a McGrath videolaryngoscope, and to determine whether the average time of intubation using a Truflex articulating stylet is shorter than that using a standard intubation stylet. Materials and methods. The study involved 43 full-time 5th year medical students. All tests were performed on training manikins with a difficult airway in January 2013. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis with a significance level of p < 0.01. Calculations were performed using the Statistica package. Results. Intubation using a McGrath videolaryngoscope with a Truflex articulating stylet was more effective than that using a standard intubation stylet with the same laryngoscope: 71% as compared to 40%. The mean time of successful intubation using a Truflex articulating stylet was shorter than that using a standard intubation stylet guide (31.1 ± 12.8 s and 39.8 ± 12.4 s, respectively). Conclusions. The mean time of tracheal intubation using a Truflex articulating stylet is shorter than that using a standard intubation stylet. Intubation is also more effective when a Truflex articulating stylet is used together with a McGrath videolaryngoscope

Neuromuscular block reversal with sugammadex in a morbidly obese patient with myasthenia gravis

BACKGRAOUND: Myasthenia gravis is a rare immunological illness that impairs neuromuscular transmission. Myasthenic patients are usually hypersensitive to non-depolarising muscle relaxants, and reversal with neostigmine is rarely effective. We report the successful reversal of rocuroniuminduced neuromuscular block in a morbidly obese myasthenic patient.CASE REPORT: A 38-year-old morbidly obese (body weight 160 kg, BMI 48.8 kg m-2) woman was scheduled for elective laparoscopic gastric banding. She was anaesthetised with propofol-based TIVA; intubation was facilitated by 24 mg of rocuronium. After spontaneous recovery of T1, she received 200 mg of sugammadex, which completely restored the NMT ratio (TOF=100%) within 2 min and 48 sec., and she was extubated. No postoperative complications were observed.CONCLUSION: Sugammadex can be successfully used in myasthenic patients, allowing for the safe use of muscle relaxants in these patients.BACKGRAOUND: Myasthenia gravis is a rare immunological illness that impairs neuromuscular transmission. Myasthenic patients are usually hypersensitive to non-depolarising muscle relaxants, and reversal with neostigmine is rarely effective. We report the successful reversal of rocuroniuminduced neuromuscular block in a morbidly obese myasthenic patient.CASE REPORT: A 38-year-old morbidly obese (body weight 160 kg, BMI 48.8 kg m-2) woman was scheduled for elective laparoscopic gastric banding. She was anaesthetised with propofol-based TIVA; intubation was facilitated by 24 mg of rocuronium. After spontaneous recovery of T1, she received 200 mg of sugammadex, which completely restored the NMT ratio (TOF=100%) within 2 min and 48 sec., and she was extubated. No postoperative complications were observed.CONCLUSION: Sugammadex can be successfully used in myasthenic patients, allowing for the safe use of muscle relaxants in these patients

Assessment of regional ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome by electrical impedance tomography

Mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) incurs a risk of ventilator-associated lung injury (VALI) from inhomogeneous conditions and different properties of dependent and non-dependent lung regions at risk of atelectasis and overdistension, respectively. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) offers regional ventilation assessment to optimise treatment with mechanical ventilation. This article provides an overview of scientific literature on the application of impedance tomography in acute respiratory distress syndrome. It also presents the results of EIT studies in different clinical situations that may be of use in implementing impedance tomography for treating ARDS.Mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) incurs a risk of ventilator-associated lung injury (VALI) from inhomogeneous conditions and different properties of dependent and non-dependent lung regions at risk of atelectasis and overdistension, respectively. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) offers regional ventilation assessment to optimise treatment with mechanical ventilation. This article provides an overview of scientific literature on the application of impedance tomography in acute respiratory distress syndrome. It also presents the results of EIT studies in different clinical situations that may be of use in implementing impedance tomography for treating ARDS

Clinical experience with the C-Mac videolaryngoscope in morbidly obese patients

Background: The use of videolaryngoscopes is recommended as a part of routine practice in anaesthesia for morbidly obese patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate C-Mac in a group of morbidly obese patients to see if it improves intubation conditions.Methods: 86 morbidly obese (BMI &gt; 40 kg m-2) patients scheduled for bariatric surgery were included in the study. In every studied case, C-Mac was used with a Mackintosh shaped blade. For the first attempt, the anaesthetists performing the intubation were asked to use a videolaryngoscope as a standard laryngoscope (they were blinded to the monitor display) and evaluate the glottic view in direct laryngoscopy. Then they were asked to look at the monitor of the videolaryngoscope and intubate the patient. The laryngoscopy conditions were evaluated using the Cormack-Lahane (CL) scale. The time from picking up the laryngoscope to inserting the endotracheal tube was recorded.Results: The evaluation of CL grade in direct laryngoscopy was: 44 patients — grade 1; 23 patients — grade 2; 13 patients — grade 3; six patients — grade 4. In all cases of CL grade &gt; 1 in direct laryngoscopy, the use of C-Mac improved CL grade to 1. Mean time of intubation was 17.2 ± 2.5 sec.Conclusion: The C-Mac improves laryngeal view in morbidly obese patients, and allows for fast endotracheal intubation.Background: The use of videolaryngoscopes is recommended as a part of routine practice in anaesthesia for morbidly obese patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate C-Mac in a group of morbidly obese patients to see if it improves intubation conditions.Methods: 86 morbidly obese (BMI &gt; 40 kg m-2) patients scheduled for bariatric surgery were included in the study. In every studied case, C-Mac was used with a Mackintosh shaped blade. For the first attempt, the anaesthetists performing the intubation were asked to use a videolaryngoscope as a standard laryngoscope (they were blinded to the monitor display) and evaluate the glottic view in direct laryngoscopy. Then they were asked to look at the monitor of the videolaryngoscope and intubate the patient. The laryngoscopy conditions were evaluated using the Cormack-Lahane (CL) scale. The time from picking up the laryngoscope to inserting the endotracheal tube was recorded.Results: The evaluation of CL grade in direct laryngoscopy was: 44 patients — grade 1; 23 patients — grade 2; 13 patients — grade 3; six patients — grade 4. In all cases of CL grade &gt; 1 in direct laryngoscopy, the use of C-Mac improved CL grade to 1. Mean time of intubation was 17.2 ± 2.5 sec.Conclusion: The C-Mac improves laryngeal view in morbidly obese patients, and allows for fast endotracheal intubation