Training resident anesthesiologists in adult challenging intubation comparing Truview EVO2 and Macintosh laryngoscope: a preliminary study.

AIM: Teaching airway management continues to be of high importance to the anesthesiologist, since the care of each individual patient depends on the expertise, training and knowledge of the anesthetist with different airway devices, techniques and algorithms. The aim of our study was to compare intubation performed by resident anesthesiologists in training, under senior supervision, using Truview EVO2 (Group 1) or Macintosh blade (Group 2) in a group of adult patients undergoing elective surgery. METHODS: This was a pilot prospective study. Thirty patients who were scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia were randomized into two groups. In Group 1, intubation was performed by using the Truview EVO2, and in Group 2 intubation was performed by using the Macintosh blade. Mallampati score, thyromental distance and neck mobility were recorded for each patient. The exclusion criteria included a Mallampati score =or<2 and a Patil distance >6 cm. The time of intubation and any occurrence of complications were recorded. RESULTS: Intubation was always successful on the first attempt in Group 1, while it failed for 46.7% of patients in Group 2 (P=0.006). The time of intubation was not different between the two groups. No complications were recorded for Group 1 (Truview), while seven were reported in Group 2 (Macintosh) (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The resident managed to intubate all patients on the first attempt with the Truview, which led to a lower incidence of complications. Despite the exiguity of the population in the study, Truview EVO2 and other videolaryngoscopes can be considered to be useful tools in training resident anesthesiologists in elective intubation.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome in interatrial right to left shunt postpneumonectomy.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a syndrome characterized by dyspnea and hypoxemia on adoption of an upright posture (i.e., orthodeoxia), and by the absence or reduction of symptoms and of hypoxemia in a supine position. We describe the case of a 64-year-old patient who had developed an acute respiratory insufficiency due to right-to-left shunt in a patent foramen ovale one month after right intrapericardiac pneumonectomy. The patient was initially treated unsuccessfully with bronchodilators, corticosteroids and oxygen therapy. He was then admitted to the ICU due to severe refractory hypoxemia. Diagnosis of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome was demonstrated by O2 saturation and arterial blood gas analysis in the supine and upright positions. The presence of a right-to-left interatrial shunt through a patent foramen ovale was documented by transesophageal echocardiography 24 h after admission to intensive care. The next day, the patient underwent a percutaneous occlusion procedure with an Amplatzer device after consultation with surgeons and cardiologists. The patient was dismissed from the ICU after 24 hours of monitoring, and successfully discharged to home after one week.