Awake Fiberoptic Assisted Nasotracheal Intubation in Oral Malignancies - A Comparison between Airway Blocks and LA Spray - A Randomized, Interventional Crossover Trial

Awake fiberoptic assisted nasal intubation is the gold standard for securing airway in cases of oral malignancy posted for radical surgeries. Different techniques such as airway blocks, LA gargles, spray, nebulization along with light sedation are in practice. We wanted to evaluate the efficacy of airway blocks over airway spray for intubation conditions, time taken to intubation, patient comfort and complications. METHODSThis randomized, interventional and crossover study was conducted at Chirayu Medical College and Hospital. A total of 60 patients of ASA grade I-II with Mallampati score 3 & 4 undergoing wide local excision and neck dissection were selected after fulfilling of the selection criterion and were divided into two groups, Airway Block (AB, n-30) and Airway Spray group (AS, n-30). AB group received bilateral superior and transtracheal recurrent laryngeal nerve blocks and group AS local anaesthetic spray through the working channel of the fiberoptic scope. Haemodynamics, time taken for intubation, intubating conditions, patients’ comfort, and complications if any were noted. All data was tabulated and analysed using software SPSS 17.0. RESULTSMean total time taken for intubation in seconds was less. Intubating conditions were optimal in 90 % cases. 5-point comfort during and 3-point score immediately after intubation were excellent in AB compared AS group. Haemodynamically both the groups were comparable. CONCLUSIONSCombined block of the superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves provides optimal conditions to facilitate a successful fibreoptic assisted awake nasotracheal intubation in anticipated difficult airway

Coexistent lymphoma with tuberculosis and Kaposi's sarcoma with tuberculosis occurring in lymph node in patients with AIDS: A report of two cases.

Although there have been a few reports of simultaneous infections and neoplasm in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, no reports of coexistent lymphoma with tuberculosis and Kaposi's sarcoma with tuberculosis occurring in the same lymph node have been described. In this article, we describe coexistent lymphoma with tuberculosis in one case and Kaposi's sarcoma with tuberculosis in another case of human immune deficiency virus-infected individuals.