Feasibility of an endotracheal tube-mounted camera for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in critically ill patients is often led by optical guidance with a bronchoscope. This is not without its disadvantages. Therefore, we aimed to study the feasibility of a recently introduced endotracheal tube-mounted camera (VivaSight™-SL, ET View, Misgav, Israel) in the guidance of PDT. METHODS: We studied 10 critically ill patients who received PDT with a VivaSight-SL tube that was inserted prior to tracheostomy for optical guidance. Visualization of the tracheal structures (i.e., identification and monitoring of the thyroid, cricoid, and tracheal cartilage and the posterior wall) and the quality of ventilation (before puncture and during the tracheostomy) were rated on four-point Likert scales. Respiratory variables were recorded, and blood gases were sampled before the interventions, before the puncture and before the insertion of the tracheal cannula. RESULTS: Visualization of the tracheal landmarks was rated as 'very good' or 'good' in all but one case. Monitoring during the puncture and dilatation was also rated as 'very good' or 'good' in all but one. In the cases that were rated 'difficult', the visualization and monitoring of the posterior wall of the trachea were the main concerns. No changes in the respiratory variables or blood gases occurred between the puncture and the insertion of the tracheal cannula. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with optical guidance from a tube-mounted camera is feasible. Further studies comparing the camera tube with bronchoscopy as the standard approach should be performed.

[Tracheal laceration after dilatational tracheostomy : A case of succesful conservative management]. / Trachealverletzung nach dilatativer Tracheotomie : Eine erfolgreiche konservative Behandlung.

During bronchoscopically guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, a 71-year-old woman suffered a long-stretched tear to the posterior tracheal wall. The injury was suspected to be caused by blunt trauma during dilation or cannula insertion, possibly aggravated by vigorous cuff inflation. Since the defect ended just 0.5 cm proximal to the main carina, placing a cuffed endotracheal tube beyond the injury was not an option. However, we decided for a conservative treatment approach by placing a cuffed endotracheal tube under bronchoscopic visualization in direct proximity to the cranial end of the laceration. The further course of the patient was uneventful and complete healing was documented by bronchoscopic inspection on a regular basis.

[Perioperative care of palliative patients by the anesthetist : medical, psychosocial and ethical challenges]. / Perioperative Betreuung von Palliativpatienten durch den Anästhesisten : Medizinische, psychosoziale und ethische Herausforderungen.

Anesthetists will encounter palliative patients in the daily routine as palliative patients undergo operations and interventions as well, depending on the state of the disease. The first challenge for anesthetists will be to recognize the patient as being palliative. In the course of further treatment it will be necessary to address the specific problems of this patient group. Medical problems are optimized symptom control and the patient's pre-existing medication. In the psychosocial domain, good communication skills are expected of anesthetists, especially during the preoperative interview. Ethical conflicts exist with the decision-making process for surgery and the handling of perioperative do-not-resuscitate orders. This article addresses these areas of conflict and the aim is to enable anesthetists to provide the best possible perioperative care to this vulnerable patient group with the goal to maintain quality of life and keep postoperative recovery as short as possible.

Quantitative assessment of brain stem and cerebellar atrophy in spinocerebellar ataxia types 3 and 6: impact on clinical status.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebellar and brain stem atrophy are important features in SCA3, whereas SCA6 has been regarded as a "pure" cerebellar disease. However, recent neuropathologic studies have described additional brain stem involvement in SCA6. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the occurrence and impact of regional infratentorial brain volume differences in patients with SCA3 and SCA6. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with genetically proved SCA (SCA3, n = 17; SCA6, n = 17) and age-matched healthy control subjects (n = 51) were included. In all subjects, high-resolution T1-weighted images were acquired with a 1.5T MR imaging scanner. Individual brain stem and cerebellar volumes were calculated by using semiautomated volumetry approaches. For all patients with SCA, clinical dysfunction was scored according to the ICARS. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the contribution of regional volumes to explain the variance in clinical dysfunction in each SCA genotype. RESULTS: Cerebellar volumes were lower in patients with SCA6 compared with controls and with those with SCA3. In contrast to controls, brain stem volume loss was observed in patients with SCA3 (P < .001) and, to a lesser extent, in those with SCA6 (P = .027). Significant linear dependencies were found between ICARS and cerebellum volume (SCA3: R(2) = 0.29, P = .02; SCA6: R(2) = 0.29, P = .03) and between ICARS and brain stem volume (SCA3: R(2) = 0.49, P = .002; SCA6: R(2) = 0.39, P < .01) in both subtypes. Both cerebellar and brain stem atrophy contributed independently to the variance in clinical dysfunction in SCA6, while in SCA3, only brain stem atrophy was of relevance. CONCLUSIONS: Our current findings in accordance with recent neuroradiologic and pathoanatomic studies suggest brain stem and cerebellar volume loss as attractive surrogate markers of disease severity in SCA3 and SCA6.

[Therapeutic pedagogic requirements of the encephalopathic child]. / Heilpädagogische Förderung eines encephalopathischen Kindes.

The clinical picture of a child extremely retarded and excessively irritable is shown. Between the age of 3 and 6 we worked with the little child, who has been a premature birth, first on individual basis, later on in group. The child learned good habits and will be able to go to special-school. This case shows that the education of the retarded child of preschool age is very important. It is a great fault if we neglect these children. The mentally handicapped child can develop harmoniously provided the structure of his own personality and his individuality are respected.