Sternal retraction and pulmonary artery catheter compromise.

Forty-one consecutive open-chest cardiac procedures requiring sternal retractors for visualization were prospectively studied. Chest x-rays demonstrating the course of the introducer sheaths and pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) were taken before and after sternal retractor expansion. Five different introducer sheath insertion sites were monitored (right internal jugular, left internal jugular, left subclavian, right subclavian, and right supraclavicular). The incidence of permanent loss of pulmonary artery (PA) and central venous pressure (CVP) waveforms was recorded after retractor expansion. Forty-five percent of both the left and right subclavian groups suffered loss of the PA and CVP waveforms, whereas none of the other insertion site groups was affected. Therefore, it is recommended that PACs inserted for surgery requiring sternal retractors be placed via nonsubclavian routes.

Coronary artery bypass grafting within 24 hours after intracoronary streptokinase thrombolysis.

Little specific information currently exists describing the management of patients with an evolving acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with direct intracoronary infusion of streptokinase (SK) followed by emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A total of 194 patients with an evolving AMI underwent emergency coronary artery angiography with infusion of SK. Thirty-four of these patients with partial restoration of orthograde blood flow in the infarct-related coronary artery (as determined by clinical and objective evidence of myocardial salvage) were referred for emergency CABG. Problems related to the surgical and anesthetic care of these high-risk patients involved: (1) management of resuscitation of patients with AMI, (2) SK-induced coagulopathy and ongoing thrombolysis, and (3) timely CABG to preserve myocardial salvage. To highlight comparisons of SK-CABG management, data regarding 34 consecutive patients having routine non-SK-CABG surgery were collected simultaneously during the study. Data collected retrospectively included: anesthetic drug summaries, time frame of events from admission to the emergency room until commencing bypass, use of invasive monitoring and hemodynamic assist devices, induction complications, operative complications, coagulation derangements, volume replacement, and blood loss. Results revealed no deaths up to 24 hours postoperatively in the 34 emergency SK-CABG patients, even though complications were frequent intraoperatively. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in SK patients v non-SK patients in blood lost, banked blood and cell saver blood administered, or platelet transfusions. However, in comparison to the non-SK-CABG patients, the SK patients received significantly larger amounts of fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and aminocaproic acid.

Use of a lighted stylet for guided orotracheal intubation in the prehospital setting.

Management of the airway in acutely injured patients demands special skills of the emergency physician. A technique of light-guided orotracheal intubation has been described in the literature and was performed under protocol by resident physicians in an urban mobile intensive care system. The method utilizes a flexible lighted stylet to provide a guide to correct placement through transillumination of the soft tissues of the neck. During the 12-month period of the study, 24 intubations were attempted in 21 patients using this technique. Twenty-one attempts (88%) were successful. The average time for intubation was 20 seconds, with none requiring more than 45 seconds. Fourteen intubations (67%) were successful on the first attempt. Of the three unsuccessful procedures, two were attempted in bright sunlight, and all three patients had vomited prior to the attempts. Trauma to the soft tissues in one successfully intubated patient was the only complication reported with the technique. The advantages of this method, including rapidity of intubation, ability to intubate without manipulation of the head or neck, and the apparently few complications, make it particularly attractive to emergency personnel. We conclude that guided orotracheal intubation using a lighted stylet is an effective and safe method of emergency intubation, even in the adverse prehospital environment.