Anaesthetic challenges of carinal resection and reconstruction: A case report.

ABSTRACT: Carinal resection of tumour involving trachea and carina remains as a challenge for thoracic surgeons and anaesthesiologists. Resection is technically demanding and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this case report, we describe the successful management of carinal tumour with carinal resection in a 45-year-old female. The tumour was involving lowermost trachea, carina and bilateral primary bronchi causing 60% narrowing of the lower trachea just before carina, more than 90% narrowing of right main bronchus and 50% luminal narrowing of left main bronchus. Carinal resection and reconstruction were successfully performed under general anaesthesia. Patient was managed with conventional orotracheal intubation with Micro laryngeal endotracheal tube and positioned in left principal bronchus railroaded over a paediatric bronchoscope for lung isolation. After thoracotomy, the left main bronchus was intubated directly across the operative field with a sterile flexometallic endotracheal tube. With intermittent ventilation, anastomosis was completed. During anastomosis Micro laryngeal endotracheal tube cuff was damaged twice and we had to reintubate the patient twice in lateral position itself. At the end of anastomoses, flexometallic tube was removed and wound repaired. After confirming no leakage at anastomotic site, Micro laryngeal endotracheal tube was removed and Laryngeal Mask Airway was inserted and bronchial toileting done with adult bronchoscope. Meticulous planning and communication between the anaesthesia and surgical teams are mandatory for the safe and successful anaesthetic management of carinal resection surgeries.

Treatment of cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised individuals: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cryptosporidium is a common cause of gastroenteritis and is associated with severe life-threatening illness among immunocompromised individuals. This review aimed to assess the efficacy of interventions for the treatment and prevention of cryptosporidiosis among immunocompromised patients. A search of Medline, Embase and other electronic databases was carried out up to August 2005. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. The relative risk for each intervention was calculated. Seven trials involving 169 participants were included. Nitazoxanide and paramomycin were associated with a relative risk (RR) of reduction in the duration and frequency of diarrhoea of 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36, 1.94] and 0.74 (95% CI 0.42, 1.31), respectively, showing no evidence of effectiveness. Nitazoxanide led to significant evidence of oocyst clearance compared with placebo with a RR of 0.52 (95% CI 0.30, 0.91). The effect was not significant for HIV-seropositive participants (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.36, 1.37). HIV-seronegative participants on nitazoxanide had a significantly higher relative risk of achieving parasitological clearance of 0.26 (95% CI 0.09, 0.80) based on a single study. No other intervention was associated with either a reduction in diarrhoea, mortality or a significant parasitological response. This review confirms the absence of evidence for effective agents in the management of cryptosporidiosis. The results indicate that nitaxozanide reduces load of parasites and may be useful in immunocompetent individuals. The absence of effective therapy highlights the importance of preventive interventions in this group of patients.

Prevention and treatment of cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised patients.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidiosis is a disease that causes diarrhoea lasting about one to two weeks, sometimes extending up to 2.5 months among the immunocompetent and becoming a more severe life-threatening illness among immunocompromised individuals. Cryptosporidium is a common cause of gastroenteritis. Cryptosporidiosis is common in HIV-infected individuals. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the review was to assess the efficacy of interventions for the treatment and prevention of cryptosporidiosis among immunocompromised individuals. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the following databases for randomised controlled trials up to August 2005: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, AIDSLINE, AIDSearch, EMBASE, CINAHL, Current Contents, Geobase, and the Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials that compared the use of any intervention to treat or prevent cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised persons were included. The outcome measures for treatment studies included symptomatic diarrhoea and oocyst clearance. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed the trials for quality of randomisation, blinding, withdrawals, and adequacy of allocation concealment. The relative risk for each intervention was calculated using a random effects model. MAIN RESULTS: Seven trials involving 169 participants were included. There were 130 adults with AIDS enrolled in five studies. Evidence of significant heterogeneity was present. There was no evidence for a reduction in the duration or frequency of diarrhoea by nitazoxanide (RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.36-1.94)) and paramomycin (RR 0.74 (95% CI 0.42-1.31)) compared with placebo. Nitazoxanide led to a significant evidence of oocyst clearance compared with placebo among all children with a relative risk of 0.52 (95% CI 0.30-0.91). The effect was not significant for HIV-seropositive participants (RR 0.71 (95% CI 0.36-1.37)). HIV-seronegative participants on nitazoxanide had a significantly higher relative risk of achieving parasitological clearance of 0.26 (95% CI 0.09-0.80) based on a single study. The single study comparing spiramycin with placebo found no significant difference in reduction of the duration of hospitalisation (mean difference -0.40 days (95% CI -6.62-5.82)) or in mortality between the two arms of the trial (RR 0.43 (95% CI 0.04-4.35)). One study assessed the role of bovine dialyzable leukocyte extract, reporting a relative risk for decreased stool frequency of 0.19 (95% CI 0.03-1.19), while another compared bovine hyperimmune colostrum with placebo and found no evidence for improvement of stool volume (RR 3.00 (95% CI 0.61-14.86)) or in oocyst concentration per ml of stool (RR 0.27 (95% CI 0.02-3.74)). No studies were found that assessed prevention. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review confirms the absence of evidence for effective agents in the management of cryptosporidiosis. The results indicate that nitaxozanide reduces the load of parasites and may be useful in immunocompetent individuals. Due to the seriousness of the potential outcomes of cryptosporidiosis, the use of nitaxozanide should be considered in immunocompromised patients. The absence of effective therapy highlights the need to ensure that infection is avoided. Unfortunately, evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of preventive interventions is also lacking.