The effects of abaloparatide on hip geometry and biomechanical properties in Japanese osteoporotic patients assessed using DXA-based hip structural analysis: results of the Japanese phase 3 ACTIVE-J trial.

Daily subcutaneous injection of 80 µg abaloparatide increased bone mineral density in Japanese patients with osteoporosis at high fracture risk in the ACTIVE-J trial. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-based hip structural analysis from ACTIVE-J data showed improved hip geometry and biomechanical properties with abaloparatide compared with placebo. PURPOSE: Abaloparatide (ABL) increased bone mineral density (BMD) in Japanese patients with osteoporosis at high fracture risk in the ACTIVE-J trial. To evaluate the effect of ABL on hip geometry and biomechanical properties, hip structural analysis (HSA) was performed using ACTIVE-J trial data. METHODS: Hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans from postmenopausal women and men (ABL, n = 128; placebo, n = 65) at baseline and up to week 78 were analyzed to extract bone geometric parameters at the narrow neck (NN), intertrochanteric region (IT), and proximal femoral shaft (FS). Computed tomography (CT)-based BMD and HSA indices were compared between baseline and week 78. RESULTS: ABL treatment showed increased mean percent change from baseline to week 78 in cortical thickness at the NN (5.3%), IT (5.3%), and FS (2.9%); cross-sectional area at the NN (5.0%), IT (5.0%), and FS (2.6%); cross-sectional moment of inertia at the NN (7.6%), IT (5.1%), and FS (2.5%); section modulus at the NN (7.4%), IT (5.4%), and FS (2.4%); and decreased mean percent change in buckling ratio (BR) at the IT (- 5.0%). ABL treatment showed increased mean percent change in total volumetric BMD (vBMD; 2.7%) and trabecular vBMD (3.2%) at the total hip and decreased mean percent change in BR at femoral neck (- 4.1%) at week 78 vs baseline. All the changes noted here were significant vs placebo (P < 0.050 using t-test). CONCLUSION: A 78-week treatment with ABL showed improvement in HSA parameters associated with hip geometry and biomechanical properties vs placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION: JAPIC CTI-173575.

Abaloparatide dose-dependently increases bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a phase 2 study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of abaloparatide in increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and its safety in postmenopausal Japanese women with osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study of abaloparatide in postmenopausal Japanese women at high fracture risk. The primary endpoint was the change in lumbar spine (LS) BMD from baseline at the last visit after daily subcutaneous injections of placebo or 40 or 80 µg abaloparatide. Other endpoints included time-course changes in LS BMD at 12, 24, and 48 weeks, in total hip (TH) and femoral neck (FN) BMDs, and in bone turnover markers. RESULTS: Increases in LS BMD with 40 and 80 µg abaloparatide were significantly higher than that with placebo (6.6% and 11.5%, respectively), with significant between-group differences for the abaloparatide groups (4.9%). TH BMD increased by 0.4%, 1.6%, and 2.9% and FN BMD increased by 0.6%, 1.5%, and 2.4% in the placebo and 40 and 80 µg abaloparatide groups, respectively. Serum PINP rapidly increased by 67.3% and 140.7% and serum CTX slowly increased by 16.4% and 34.5% in the 40 and 80 µg abaloparatide groups, respectively. Although more adverse events were observed in the abaloparatide groups, they were mild to moderate and not dose dependent. CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal Japanese women with osteoporosis at high fracture risk, abaloparatide for 48 weeks dose-dependently increased LS, TH, and FN BMDs, supporting further investigation with 80 µg abaloparatide for the treatment of osteoporosis in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: JapicCTI-132381.

Abaloparatide Increases Lumbar Spine and Hip BMD in Japanese Patients With Osteoporosis: The Phase 3 ACTIVE-J Study.

CONTEXT: Abaloparatide reduced fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in the Abaloparatide Comparator Trial In Vertebral Endpoints (ACTIVE). Its effect in Japanese patients remains unexamined. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of abaloparatide in increasing bone mineral density (BMD) in Japanese patients with osteoporosis at high fracture risk. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in Japan. Postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis with high fracture risk were given daily subcutaneous 80 µg abaloparatide or placebo for 78 weeks (18 months). The primary end point was percentage change in lumbar spine (LS) BMD from baseline at the last visit. Secondary end points included time-course changes in LS, total hip (TH), and femoral neck (FN) BMDs and bone turnover markers, and cumulative number of fractures. RESULTS: Abaloparatide increased LS, TH, and FN BMDs (mean [95% CI]) by 12.5% (10.3%-14.8%; P < .001), 4.3% (3.3%-5.3%), and 4.3% (2.9%-5.6%), respectively, vs placebo. Serum procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide increased rapidly to ~ 140% above baseline at 6 weeks and gradually decreased but was approximately 25% higher than baseline at 78 weeks. Serum carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen gradually increased to 50% above baseline at 24 weeks and decreased gradually to the placebo-group level from 60 weeks. Four vertebrae of 3 participants in the placebo group, but none in the abaloparatide group, developed new vertebral fractures. The safety profile was similar to that in the ACTIVE study. CONCLUSION: In Japanese patients with postmenopausal and male osteoporosis with high fracture risk, abaloparatide for 78 weeks robustly increased LS, TH, and FN BMDs, suggesting a similar efficacy in Japanese patients vs the ACTIVE study population.

Postoperative analgesia comparing levobupivacaine and ropivacaine for brachial plexus block: A randomized prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: On a pharmacologic basis, levobupivacaine is expected to last longer than ropivacaine. However, most reports of these anesthetics for brachial plexus block do not suggest a difference in analgesic effect. The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative analgesic effects of levobupivacaine and ropivacaine when used for treating ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block. METHODS: A total of 62 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery procedures were prospectively enrolled and randomized to receive levobupivacaine (group L, N = 31) or ropivacaine (group R, N = 31). The duration of analgesia, offset time of motor block, need for rescue analgesics, and sleep disturbance on the night of surgery were recorded. Pain score was recorded on the day of surgery, and on postoperative days 1 and 2. RESULTS: There was no difference in the time interval until the first request for pain medication comparing the two groups (group L: 15.6 [11.4, 16.8] hours; group R: 12.5 [9.4, 16.0] hours, P = 0.32). There was no difference in the duration of motor block (group L: 12.2 [7.6, 14.4] hours; group R: 9.4 [7.9, 13.2] hours, P = 0.44), pain score (P = 0.92), need for rescue analgesics (group L: 55%; group R: 65%, P = 0.6), or rate of sleep disturbance (group L: 61%, group R: 58%, P = 1.0) on comparing the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in postoperative analgesia comparing levobupivacaine and ropivacaine when used for brachial plexus block.

Particulate-steroid betamethasone added to ropivacaine in interscalene brachial plexus block for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair improves postoperative analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone added to local anesthetic for brachial plexus block improves postoperative pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, as compared with the use of local anesthetic alone. Dexamethasone is present in non-particulate form in local anesthetic solution, while betamethasone is partially present in particulate form. The particulate betamethasone gradually decays and is expected to cause its longer-lasting effect. This study investigated the postoperative analgesic effect of betamethasone added to ropivacaine for brachial plexus block in patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, triple-blind study of 44 patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery. Ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block, involving 20 mL of 0.375 % ropivacaine (group R) or 19 mL of 0.375 % ropivacaine with 4 mg (1 mL) of betamethasone (group BR), was administered and surgery was performed under general anesthesia. After surgery, the pain score was recorded at 12 h after surgery, and on the first, second, and seventh postoperative day. Analgesia duration, offset time of motor block, frequency of rescue analgesic administration, postoperative nausea/vomiting, and sleep disturbance during the night after surgery were recorded. The numerical values were expressed as median [interquartile range]. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in group BR (group BR: 19.1 h [16.6, 20.9 h], group R: 13.3 h [11.6, 16.5 h], p < 0.001). The pain scores at 12 h after surgery and on the first and seventh day after surgery were significantly lower in group BR than in group R. The duration of motor block was significantly prolonged in group BR. The frequency of rescue analgesic administration and the sleep disturbance rate were significantly lower in group BR. There was no difference in postoperative nausea/vomiting between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Betamethasone added to local anesthetic in interscalene brachial plexus block improved postoperative pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and betamethasone prolonged the duration of analgesia by almost 6 h. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network Center Clinical Trials Registration System ( UMIN000012899 ).

Gastric emptying of a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution in healthy volunteers depends on osmotically active particles.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative ingestion of only clear fluids until 2 hours before induction of anesthesia is a common preoperative fasting regimen. Gastric emptying times, however, vary among clear fluids. We therefore investigated the gastric emptying of 2 clear glucose-electrolyte drinks. METHOD: A 2-way crossover study was performed in 10 healthy volunteers. After fasting, the volunteers drank 500 mL of either OS-1(®), an oral rehydration solution, or Pocari Sweat(®), a popular sports drink, over 3 minutes in a standing position. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed before, immediately after, and 30 minutes after the drinking of each test fluid. The difference in gastric emptying between OS-1(®) and Pocari Sweat(®) was evaluated by comparing gastric fluid volume, flow rate, and residual ratio. We also compared the flow rates of sodium, potassium, carbohydrates, and osmotically active particles in the 2 test fluids. RESULTS: Gastric fluid volume 30 minutes after drinking was significantly smaller for OS-1(®) (76.0 ± 57.0 mL) than for Pocari Sweat(®) (158.1 ± 73.5 mL, p<0.01), although the volumes did not differ before or immediately after drinking. The flow rate was significantly faster for OS-1(®) (10.66 ± 3.34 mL) than for Pocari Sweat(®) (8.68 ± 3.02 mL/min, p<0.05), and the residual ratio was significantly smaller for OS-1(®) (21 ± 14% than for Pocari Sweat(®) (41 ± 19%, p<0.01). The flow rates of sodium, potassium, and glucose differed significantly between OS-1(®) and Pocari Sweat(®), whereas the flow rate of osmotically active particles did not. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric emptying is significantly faster for OS-1(®) than for Pocari Sweat(®).

Does intravenous landiolol, a ß1-adrenergic blocker, affect stroke volume variation?

PURPOSE: There are no reports about the effect of bradycardia on stroke volume variation (SVV), and we hypothesized that induced bradycardia alters the value of SVV. Landiolol, an ultra-short-acting adrenergic ß1-receptor blocking agent, was reported to induce bradycardia without decreasing blood pressure. The initial aim of this prospective study was to investigate changes in SVV values by induced bradycardia in patients with good cardiac function. METHODS: At 30 min after anesthesia induction, if heart rate (HR) was >80 bpm, the patient was chosen as a subject. Ten ASA physical status I-II patients aged 38-75 years who were scheduled for elective abdominal surgery were included in this study. Baseline values were recorded, and then administration of landiolol was started at 125 µg/kg/min for 1 min and then continued at 40 µg/kg/min. SVV and other parameters were recorded at baseline and 3 min after continuous landiolol injection. RESULTS: Landiolol significantly decreased systolic arterial pressure, and diastolic arterial pressure, contrary to our expectations, and also HR, SVV, cardiac output, stroke volume index, and pressure of end-tidal CO(2), whereas systemic vascular resistance values increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: SVV decreased after continuous administration of a ß1-adrenergic blocker, probably because of a decrease in the difference of maximum stroke volume (SV) and minimum SV, or the downward shift of the Frank-Starling curve that occurred after landiolol administration. We believe that SVV values might be overestimated or misinterpreted when HR is decreased by landiolol and might not necessarily indicate that the patient is hypervolemic or normovolemic.

Vigilance of hemodynamic changes immediately after transferring patients is crucial.

PURPOSE: A decrease in blood pressure is sometimes observed when a postsurgical patient is transferred to another bed after recovering from anesthesia. However, the mechanism behind this hypotension has not been completely elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare changes in hemodynamic properties for possible causes of hypotension before and after transfer to another bed of postsurgical patients receiving general anesthesia, combined epidural and general anesthesia, or combined spinal and general anesthesia. METHODS: We studied 69 patients undergoing elective surgery who were randomized to receive anesthesia by one of the three methods. After surgery, the tracheal tube was removed, and each patient was transferred to another bed. Hemodynamic data recorded immediately before and after transfer of the patient to another bed were compared. RESULTS: After transfer of patients receiving general anesthesia or combined epidural and general anesthesia, systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and cardiac output (CO) decreased; heart rate (HR) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) did not change. However, after transfer of patients receiving combined spinal and general anesthesia, SAP, DAP, HR, and CO decreased, but SVR did not change. CONCLUSION: The decrease in blood pressure observed after transfer of a postsurgical patient to another bed after general, combined epidural and general, and combined spinal and general anesthesia was associated with a decrease in CO and no change in SVR, but HR decreased after combined spinal and general anesthesia, whereas it was unchanged after general and combined epidural and general anesthesia. The decrease in blood pressure is assumed to be caused by a decrease in venous return, and several reflexes might participate in this decrease of blood pressure, especially after combined spinal and general anesthesia.

Do induced hypertension and hypotension affect stroke volume variation in man?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in stroke volume variation (SVV) by both induced hypertension (pressor test) and hypotension (depressor test), and also by induced hypotensive anesthesia in patients with good cardiac function. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled clinical study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: 31 ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients, aged 39-62 years, who were scheduled for elective surgery. INTERVENTIONS: We conducted three studies: a pressor test study, a depressor test study, and an induced hypotensive anesthesia study. In the pressor test, patients received a bolus of phenylephrine 0.001 mg/kg to increase systolic arterial pressure (SAP) by 30% to 40% compared with baseline. In the depressor test, patients received a bolus of nitroglycerine 0.005 mg/kg to decrease SAP by 30% to 40% compared with baseline. In the induced hypotensive anesthesia test, patients received intravenous (IV) nitroglycerine continuously until mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced to 60-70 mmHg. MEASUREMENTS: When arterial pressure reached the target pressure for each study type, SVV and other parameters were recorded. MAIN RESULTS: Induced hypertension (pressor test) decreased SVV, while induced hypotension (depressor test) and induced hypotensive anesthesia increased SVV. CONCLUSIONS: SVV does not misinterpret preload dependency assessment of patients receiving medications to increase or to lower blood pressure.

Intravenous landiolol, a novel ß(1)-adrenergic blocker, reduces the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane in women.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intravenous (IV) landiolol, a novel ß(1)-adrenergic blocker, on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane in adult women. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: 42 ASA physical status 1 and 2 women, aged 24-57 years, who were scheduled to undergo elective abdominal surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Anesthesia was induced in all patients by vital capacity rapid inhalation induction of sevoflurane. In the landiolol group, administration of landiolol began when patients took a vital-capacity breath: 0.125 mg/kg/min for one minute and then 0.04 mg/kg/min. Normal saline was administered in the control group. MEASUREMENTS: MAC was determined by a technique adapted from the conventional up-down method. MAIN RESULTS: The MAC of sevoflurane was 2.2% ± 0.2% in the control group and 1.7% ± 0.2% in the landiolol group, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: IV landiolol reduces the MAC of sevoflurane in women by approximately 20%.

Assessment of the effect of rapid crystalloid infusion on stroke volume variation and pleth variability index after a preoperative fast.

OBJECTIVE: Stroke volume variation (SVV) during controlled mechanical ventilation is a useful predictor in response to volume expansion, and pleth variability index (PVI), a novel algorithm allowing for automated and continuous calculation of the respiratory variations in the pulse oximeter waveform amplitude, can also predict fluid responsiveness non-invasively in mechanically ventilated patients. The aim of this study was (1) to determine whether acute fluid infusion affects SVV and PVI, and (2) to compare the two values in the case of acute fluid infusion after a preoperative fast following general anesthesia induction. METHODS: After tracheal intubation, the patients' lungs were mechanically ventilated. Subjects were anesthetized using sevoflurane and were given a rapid, constant-rate infusion of crystalloid (500 ml in 15 min). Systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), SVV, and PVI were measured at baseline and after 250 and 500 ml had been infused, and these values were compared. RESULTS: SAP, DAP, CO, and CI were unchanged after the infusion. HR and SVV decreased significantly after the infusion. SVI increased significantly after the infusion. There was a significant difference in PVI only between the post 250 ml and post 500 ml infusions. CONCLUSIONS: A rapid infusion of 250-500 ml of a crystalloid in nearly healthy subjects who had fasted overnight returned their SVV to within the normal range. In such cases, SVV is a more sensitive predictor of fluid responsiveness than is PVI, and the infusion gradually increased SVI.

Prophylactic continuous administration of landiolol, a novel ß1 blocker, blunts hyperdynamic responses during electroconvulsive therapy without altering seizure activity.

Abstract Objective. In previous reports, it has been shown that many drugs may act against hyperdynamic responses during electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). The aim of this study was to conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study to investigate the hemodynamic responses and seizure duration during ECT by continuous administration of two doses of landiolol, a novel short-acting ß1-adrenergic blocker, including standard and high-dose. Methods. Thirty-two patients undergoing ECT participated in this study. The control treatment was infusion of saline alone. The standard-dose of landiolol, 0.125 mg/kg per min, was infused over a 1-min period as a standard treatment. The high-dose landiolol treatment was 0.25 mg/kg per min, also infused over a 1-min period. After landiolol treatments, patients received landiolol at 0.04 mg/kg per min. Propofol and succinylcholine was then administered, and electrical stimulation was applied. Results. Both peak heart rate and mean arterial pressure after ECT was lowest with high-dose landiolol treatment. Motor and EEG seizure duration did not differ among the treatments. Conclusion. The results of this study show that high-dose landiolol treatment blunts hyperdynamic responses during ECT. Furthermore, landiolol does not reduce the seizure duration.

Randomized controlled study on the prevention of osteoporotic fractures (OF study): a phase IV clinical study of 15-mg menatetrenone capsules.

An open-label study with blinded evaluation was performed to compare the preventive effect of a calcium supplement alone (monotherapy) or calcium supplement plus menatetrenone (combined therapy) on fracture in osteoporotic postmenopausal women aged 50 years or older. Patients were randomized to receive monotherapy (n = 2,193) or combined therapy (n = 2,185). Before randomization, the subjects were stratified into a subgroup without vertebral fractures (n = 2,986; no-fracture subgroup) and a subgroup with at least one vertebral fracture (n = 1,392; fracture subgroup). The incidence rate of new vertebral fractures during 36 months of treatment (primary endpoint) did not differ significantly between either subgroup of the two treatment groups. Although the cumulative 48-month incidence rate of new clinical fractures (secondary endpoint) was lower in the combined therapy group, the difference was not significant. There was a lower risk of new vertebral fractures in patients with at least five baseline fractures who received combined therapy. Also, the loss of height was less with combined therapy than with monotherapy among patients 75 years of age or older at enrollment, those whose last menstrual period occurred 30 years or more before enrollment, and those with at least five vertebral fractures at enrollment. Adverse events and adverse reactions were more frequent in the combined therapy group. In conclusion, menatetrenone therapy was not effective for preventing vertebral fractures in the full analysis set of this study, but the results suggested that it may prevent vertebral fractures in patients with more advanced osteoporosis.

Clinical effect of bisphosphonate and vitamin D on osteoporosis: reappraisal of a multicenter double-blind clinical trial comparing etidronate and alfacalcidol.

As inhibitors of bone resorption, bisphosphonates and vitamin D derivatives have been extensively used for the treatment of osteoporosis in various parts of the world, but the clinical effects of these two groups of agents have rarely been compared in detail. A multicenter, prospective, double-blind controlled study was started comparing the effects of etidronate and alfacalcidol (1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol) in 414 patients with established osteoporosis from 36 centers. Among these patients, 135 were given 400 mg etidronate daily at bedtime for 2 weeks followed by 10 weeks off treatment, and this cycle was repeated four times along with a placebo indistinguishable from the alfacalcidol capsule daily throughout the 48 weeks of study (Group A, High Dose Etidronate Group). In 133 patients, 200 mg etidronate was used instead of 400 mg (Group B, Low Dose Etidronate Group). In 138 patients, 1 microg alfacalcidol was given daily throughout the 48-week study period along with a placebo indistinguishable from the etidronate tablet in four separate periods of 2 weeks (Group C, Control Group). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) was performed before the beginning of the study and every 12 weeks thereafter. Changes in spinal deformity were also assessed based on the lateral thoracic and lumbar spine X-ray films taken before and after the study. The lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) changes were +3.4% +/- 0.6% (mean +/- SEM) in Group A, +2.4% +/- 0.5% in Group B, and -0.5% +/- 0.4% in Group C, the former two being significantly higher than the last. New occurrence of spinal compression fracture was also significantly reduced in Group A compared to Group C. In patients without previous fracture at entry, incident fracture was 10.2% in Group C, but 0% in Groups A and B. In patients with prevalent fracture at entry, corresponding figures were 21.5% (Group C), 12.0% (Group A), and 13.2% (Group B), respectively. Alfacalcidol maintained lumbar spine BMD, preventing a decrease for 48 weeks, and etidronate significantly increased it further, demonstrating its usefulness in the treatment of established osteoporosis.

[Management of anesthesia in patients with the potential for difficult intubation due to ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL)].

Ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL) is a disease inducing ossification of the ligamentum longitudinale anterius of the backbone. The esophagus can be compressed by the disease, which also can induce hoarse voice and dysphagia. Furthermore, the trachea can also be compressed. Difficult intubation had been anticipated based on the preoperative evaluation in this case, but the intubation fortunately was not difficult. However, OALL can accompany difficult intubation, and we anesthesiologists must pay attention to the disease.

Diagnostic accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography, helical computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging for suspected thoracic aortic dissection: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with suspected thoracic aortic dissection require early and accurate diagnosis. Aortography has been replaced by less invasive imaging techniques including transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), helical computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, accuracies have varied from trial to trial, and which imaging technique should be applied to which risk population remains unclear. We systematically reviewed the diagnostic accuracy of these imaging techniques in patients with suspected thoracic aortic dissection. METHODS: Published English-language reports on the diagnosis of thoracic aortic dissection by TEE, helical CT, or MRI were identified from electronic databases. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were pooled in a random-effects model. RESULTS: Sixteen studies involving a total of 1139 patients were selected. Pooled sensitivity (98%-100%) and specificity (95%-98%) were comparable between imaging techniques. The pooled positive likelihood ratio appeared to be higher for MRI (positive likelihood ratio, 25.3; 95% confidence interval, 11.1-57.1) than for TEE (14.1; 6.0-33.2) or helical CT (13.9; 4.2-46.0). If a patient had shown a 50% pretest probability of thoracic aortic dissection (high risk), he or she had a 93% to 96% posttest probability of thoracic aortic dissection following a positive result of each imaging test. If a patient had a 5% pretest probability of thoracic aortic dissection (low risk), he or she had a 0.1% to 0.3% posttest probability of thoracic aortic dissection following a negative result of each imaging test. CONCLUSION: All 3 imaging techniques, ie, TEE, helical CT, and MRI, yield clinically equally reliable diagnostic values for confirming or ruling out thoracic aortic dissection.

[Recent advances in airway management devices].

As a variety of new airway devices has been introduced, the practice of airway management has seemingly become more complex. Among them laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is the single most important development in the past 10 years. It has become a commonly accepted device for routine and rescue airway management, and is now listed in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Difficult Airway Management Algorithm as an airway and a conduit for tracheal intubation. The ASA Task Force on Management of the Difficult Airway recommends us to have a portable storage unit that contains specialized equipment including LMA for difficult airway management. This article focuses on several of the newly developed and the ordinary devices that are listed by the Task Force, with particular emphasis on the difficult airway. Recent information about standardization work of ISO for rigid laryngoscopes, tracheal tubes and supralaryngeal airway devices are also discussed. Each airway devices has unique properties that may be advantageous in certain situations but disadvantageous in others. Choice and combination of device based on experienced clinical judgment may be crucial to their application.