ABSTRACT
Selection of anesthetic technique for thigh amputation is complicated by patients' comorbid conditions. The sacral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is an emerging technique with potential as a primary anesthetic for thigh amputation. We detail a case involving a 79-year-old undergoing thigh amputation, where sacral ESPB proved insufficient, prompting a shift to spinal anesthesia. This instance underscores the necessity for further investigation into the reliability of the sacral ESPB for lower limb surgeries. Until such evidence is established, caution is advised in relying solely on the sacral ESPB for thigh amputations, and consideration of alternative techniques is recommended.
Subject(s)
Anesthetics , Nerve Block , Humans , Aged , Thigh/surgery , Reproducibility of Results , Amputation, SurgicalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Predicting difficult direct laryngoscopies remains challenging and improvements are needed in preoperative airway assessment. We conceived two new tests (the upper airway angle and the glottic height) and assessed their association with difficult direct laryngoscopies as well as their predictive performance. METHODS: A prospective cohort was conducted with 211 patients undergoing general anesthesia for surgical procedures. We assessed the association between difficult laryngoscopies and modified Mallampati Test (MMT), Upper Lip Bite Test (ULBT), Mandibular Length (ML), Neck Circumference (NC), Mouth Opening (MO), Sternomental Distance (SMD), Thyromental Distance (TMD), Upper Airway Angle (UAA), and Glottic Height (GH). We also estimated their predictive values. RESULTS: Difficult laryngoscopy was presented by 12 patients (5.7%). Six tests were significantly associated with difficult laryngoscopies and their area under the ROC curve, and 95% CIs were as follows: UAA = 88.82 (81.86-95.78); GH = 86.43 (72.67-100); ML = 83.75 (72.77-94.74); NC = 79.17 (64.98-93.36); MO = 65.58 (45.13-86.02); and MMT = 77.89 (68.37-87.41). CONCLUSION: We have found two new features (the UAA and the GH) to be significantly associated with the occurrence of difficult direct laryngoscopies. They also presented the best predictive performance amongst the nine evaluated tests in our cohort of patients. We cannot ensure, however, these tests to be superior to other regularly used bedside tests based on our estimated 95% CIs.
ABSTRACT
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during anaesthesia induction improves oxygen saturation (SpO2) outcomes in adults subjected to airway manipulation, and could similarly support oxygenation in children. We evaluated whether CPAP ventilation and passive CPAP oxygenation in children would defer a SpO2 decrease to 95% after apnoea onset compared to the regular technique in which no positive airway pressure is applied. In this double-blind, parallel, randomised controlled clinical trial, 68 children aged 2-6 years with ASA I-II who underwent surgery under general anaesthesia were divided into CPAP and control groups (n = 34 in each group). The intervention was CPAP ventilation and passive CPAP oxygenation using an anaesthesia workstation. The primary outcome was the elapsed time until SpO2 decreased to 95% during a follow-up period of 300 s from apnoea onset (T1). We also recorded the time required to regain baseline levels from an SpO2 of 95% aided by positive pressure ventilation (T2). The median T1 was 278 s (95% confidence interval [CI]: 188-368) in the CPAP group and 124 s (95% CI: 92-157) in the control group (median difference: 154 s; 95% CI: 58-249; p = 0.002). There were 17 (50%) and 32 (94.1%) primary events in the CPAP and control groups, respectively. The hazard ratio was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.14-0.48; p<0.001). The median for T2 was 21 s (95% CI: 13-29) and 29 s (95% CI: 22-36) in the CPAP and control groups, respectively (median difference: 8 s; 95% CI: -3 to 19; p = 0.142). SpO2 was significantly higher in the CPAP group than in the control group throughout the consecutive measures between 60 and 210 s (with p ranging from 0.047 to <0.001). Thus, in the age groups examined, CPAP ventilation and passive CPAP oxygenation deferred SpO2 decrease after apnoea onset compared to the regular technique with no positive airway pressure.
