Dilated ascending aorta is associated with the difficulty in correct placement of pulmonary artery catheter.

The present case report highlights that a tense mega-sized aortic root and ascending aorta can mechanically resist the passage of fully inflated (1.5 ml air) balloon to wedge-trace position in the pulmonary artery. Any attempt to push the catheter rather predisposed its recoiling and rebutting into the right ventricle and the cardiac arrhythmia. Inflating continuous cardiac output catheter balloon with lesser volume of air (1 ml) is suggested to overcome this problem.

Evaluation of lung infiltration score to predict postural hypoxemia in ventilated acute respiratory distress syndrome patients and the lateralization of skin pressure sore.

Context: Mechanical ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) is associated with unequal aeration of lungs in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. Therefore, patients may develop asymmetric atelectasis and postural hypoxemia during lateral positioning. Aims: To validate proposed lung infiltration score (LIS) based on chest x-ray to predict postural hypoxemia and lateralization of skin sores in ARDS patients. Settings and Design: University hospital ICU. Prospective, observational study of consecutive patients. Materials and Methods: Sixteen adult patients of both genders on mechanical ventilation with PEEP for 24 to <48 hours. On chest x-ray, 6 segments were identified on each lung. The proposed LIS points (0- normal; 1- patchy infiltrates; 2- white infiltrates matching heart shadow) were assigned to each segment. Without changing ventilation parameters, supine, left and right lateral positions at 45° tilt were randomly changed. At the end of 20 minutes of ventilation in each position, we observed arterial oxygen saturation, hemodynamic and arterial blood gases. Later, position change protocol (4 hourly) was practiced in ICU, and skin pressure sore grading was noted within a week of ICU stay. Statistical Analysis Used: Nonparametric Bland and Altman correlation analysis, ANOVA and Student t test. Results: Arterial oxygenation (PaO 2 /FiO 2 = 313± 145.6) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in better lung (lower LIS)-down position than supine (PaO 2 /FiO 2 = 199± 70.2) or a better lung-up position (PaO 2 /FiO 2 = 165± 64.8). The positioning-related arterial oxygenation was significant (P< 0.05) at LIS asymmetry ≥3 between two lungs. Conclusions: The LIS mapping on chest x-ray was useful to differentiate between asymmetric lung disease and postural hypoxemia in ICU patients, which predisposed patients to early skin sore changes on higher LIS side.

A randomized controlled double blind study on quick intubation regimen using vecuronium priming infusion technique with the use of patient controlled analgesia pump vs bolus priming technique.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Priming principle is implied to hasten intubation with the use of vecuronium. Priming dose is usually injected by bolus and certain side effects have been observed due to acute rise in plasma levels after bolus injection. In the present study priming infusion regimen of vecuronium using patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump was compared for the intubation dose onset, intubation, and the side effects with the usual bolus priming. METHODS: Adult ASA grade 1 patients of both sexes (n=112) were randomized into four groups of 28 patients each. In group 1 patients, vecuronium (10 microg/kg) was given bolus (30 sec). In group 2, priming infusion (5 microg/kg/min) regimen for vecuronium (1200 microg/kg) was used by setting up the background infusion rate (ml/h) at 1/4th of the patient body weight on PCA pump. Priming infusion for 3 min delivered the priming dose (15 microg/kg). In group 3, higher priming infusion (10 microg/kg/min) was given by setting up the PCA pump at the 1/2 the patient body weight for 1.5 min, to deliver same dose (15 microg/kg). In group 4, the priming infusion (10 microg/kg/min) for 2 min delivered higher priming dose (20 microg/kg). After induction of anaesthesia with fentanyl, propofol, the intubating dose of vecuronium (0.06 mg/kg) was injected by activating patient demand button and grading laryngoscopy/intubation after 1 min in each group. RESULTS: In demographically similar patients, the laryngoscopy/intubation was excellent in 53 per cent (group 3) and in 64 per cent patients (group 4) after 1 min of the intubation dose. While in bolus priming (group 1), 50 per cent patients developed ocular side-effects, none had it on priming infusion in groups 2 or 3. Only 2 patients complained of diplopia at the higher priming dose (20 microg/kg) (group 4). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: PCA pump regimen for vecuronium priming infusion significantly shortened the onset of intubation. Side effects from the smaller priming dose by bolus were not seen in priming infusion regimen.