Reconstruction of a severely gashed auricle using two-stage cartilage preservation surgery following auricular composite graft failure: a case report

After the failure of a composite graft in a patient with complete auricle amputation, we successfully reconstructed the severely gashed auricle using two-stage cartilage preservation surgery. We removed the skin of the amputee and buried the cartilage under the postauricular scalp. The end of the right ear was sutured to the postauricular scalp. A separation surgery was performed on the 14th day after the burying surgery. After removing the suture, the cartilage along with the postauricular scalp was carefully separated from the postauricular donor site under local anesthesia. Using two-stage cartilage preservation surgery, we successfully reconstructed the severely gashed auricle and achieved cosmetically and functionally satisfactory results.

Comparison between Glidescope and Lightwand for tracheal intubation in patients with a simulated difficult airway / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Although Lightwand and Glidescope have both shown high success rates for intubation, there has been no confirmation as to which device is most effective for difficult endotracheal intubation. We compared the Glidescope and Lightwand devices in terms of duration of intubation and success rate at the first attempt in a simulated difficult airway situation. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients were randomized to undergo tracheal intubation with either the Glidescope (Glidescope group, n = 29) or the Lightwand (Lightwand group, n = 29). All patients were fitted with a semi-hard cervical collar in order to simulate a difficult airway, and intubation was attempted with the assigned airway device. The data collected included the rate of successful endotracheal intubation, the number of attempts required, the duration of the intubation, as well as the interincisor distance, hemodynamic variables, and adverse effects. RESULTS: There was no difference between Glidescope group (92.6%) and Lightwand group (96.4%) in terms of success rate for the first attempt at intubation. The duration of successful intubation for the first tracheal intubation attempt was significantly longer in Glidescope group than in Lightwand group (46.9 sec vs 29.5 sec, P = 0.001). All intubations were completed successfully within two intubation attempts. The incidence of hypertension was significantly higher in Glidescope group than in Lightwand group (51.9% vs 17.9%, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In a simulated difficult airway situation, endotracheal intubation using Lightwand yielded a shorter duration of intubation and lower incidence of hypertension than when using Glidescope.