Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy Using Tube Exchanger.

We describe a modified technique for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy using a 15F tube exchanger or Eschmann catheter. A retrospective review of 1180 procedures using this modified technique demonstrated it to be effective with a failure rate of only 0.25% (3 patients). Moreover, it provides an additional safeguard with the ability to rapidly reintroduce the endotracheal tube into the trachea guided by the exchange catheter in the event of accidental extubation during the procedure. This technique needs no additional special devices or equipment (eg, a bronchoscope). However, a prospective study is needed to better define its complication rate.

Man against the machine - Differences in surgical risk evaluation. A cohort prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the assessment provided by the ACS Surgical Risk Calculator with the assessments provided by senior and resident anesthesiologists. METHODS: The study is prospective and controlled. Before the surgical procedure a resident anesthesiologist collected data needed to perform pre-operative assessment. Then, based on this data, a risk assessment was carried out by resident and senior anesthesiologists and by the online ACS Surgical Risk Calculator. Then the three evaluations were compared. Demographic and clinical data were gathered to determine risk factors and complication rates. RESULTS: One hundred patients who were scheduled for a surgical procedure were recruited for the study. A difference was found among the different estimations. In most parameters the resident anesthesiologists more resembled the ACS assessment than the senior anesthesiologists. The following differences in risk assessment were found: possible complication in the course of the surgery (4.4% ACS calculator, 1% senior anesthesiologists, 2.2% resident anesthesiologists), and for a life-threatening complication (3.6% ACS calculator, 0.5% senior anesthesiologists, 2.4% resident anesthesiologists). In assessing death, urinary tract and surgical sites infections the seniors difference to the ACS calculator was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Seniors resembled better cardiac complications (p < 0.05) and both resident and senior anesthesiologists failed to resemble the ACS calculator in assessing return to the operating room and pneumonia (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both senior and resident anesthesiologists failed to estimate the surgical risks based on preoperative data. Further study involving the surgeons and comparing the estimated to the actual complication rates are needed.

Hemodynamic effect and safety of intermittent sequential pneumatic compression leg sleeves in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Pneumatic leg sleeves are widely used after prolonged operations for prevention of venous stasis. In healthy volunteers they increase cardiac function. We evaluated the hemodynamic effects and safety of intermittent sequential pneumatic compression (ISPC) leg sleeves in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 19 patients with systolic left ventricular dysfunction and CHF. ISPC leg sleeves, each with 10 air cells, were operated by a computerized compressor, exerting 2 cycles/min. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters were measured before, during, and after ISPC activation. The baseline mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 29 ± 9.2%, median 32%, range 10%-40%. Cardiac output (from 4.26 to 4.83 L/min; P = .008) and stroke volume (from 56.1 to 63.5 mL; P = .029) increased significantly after ISPC activation, without a reciprocal increase in heart rate, and declined after sleeve deactivation. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) decreased significantly (from 1,520 to 1,216 dyne-s/cm5; P = .0005), and remained lower than the baseline level throughout the study. There was no detrimental effect on diastolic function and no adverse clinical events, despite increased pulmonary venous return. CONCLUSIONS: ISPC leg sleeves in patients with chronic CHF do not exacerbate symptoms and transiently improve cardiac output through an increase in stroke volume and a reduction in SVR.

Airway management practices in adult intensive care units in Israel: a national survey.

Timely and adequate management of normal and compromised airway is a crucial task facing medical teams taking care of patients in intensive care units. We investigated the airway management practices in the Israeli intensive care units (ICUs). A postal survey was sent to the 20 main ICUs in Israel. We investigated which medical specialty (ICU, anesthesiology or ENT) is involved with airway management in the ICUs and summarized the availability of airway equipment and medication necessary for endotracheal intubation, the use of dedicated airway management algorithms, the approaches to specific airway scenarios and education in airway management. The response rate was 70 % (14 out of the 20 units). Intubation with normal airway is performed mainly by ICU doctors (86 %). A difficult airway is most frequently cared for by anesthesiologists (79 %), while impossible intubation/mask ventilation is mainly managed by anesthesiologists and ENT surgeons (50-79 %). Airways in C-spine injury are mainly managed by anesthesiologists (70 %). Surgical airway is mainly performed by ENT surgeons (79 %). The ASA difficult airway algorithm is used in 71 % of the units. Fiberoptic intubation is used significantly more often than other methods in two scenarios: 78 % of the difficult airways and 64 % of the C-spine injuries (p < 0.0001). Only 43 % of the units reported holding quality assurance meetings. 69 % of the units' heads are satisfied with their airway management policies. Equipment and medications necessary for airway management are available in most of the units. Difficult airways in ICUs are mainly managed by anesthesiologists and ENT surgeons. Few ICUs have quality assurance meetings.

Overcoming reduced hepatic and renal perfusion caused by positive-pressure pneumoperitoneum.

HYPOTHESIS: Use of the intermittent sequential pneumatic compression (ISPC) device may improve splanchnic and renal perfusion caused by positive-pressure pneumoperitoneum (PPP) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-two consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy whose cardiac output decreased at least 10% on induction of PPP. INTERVENTION: The ISPC device was activated over the lower limbs 15 minutes after PPP was established for the remainder of surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Urine output, cardiovascular functions, and hepatic and renal perfusion were measured during the surgical phases; urine output was quantified in a matched control group (n = 30). RESULTS: Induction of PPP significantly decreased cardiac output and stroke volume, while ISPC significantly reversed these changes. Increased systemic vascular resistance during PPP was reversed by ISPC. Activation of the pneumatic sleeves during PPP increased the mean +/- SD portal venous and hepatic arterial blood flows from 0.86 +/- 0.30 to 1.33 +/- 0.44 L/min (P<.001) and from 0.26 +/- 0.10 to 0.38 +/- 0.19 L/min (P = .002), respectively; the mean renal segmental arterial index decreased with ISPC from 0.68 +/- 0.05 to 0.63 +/- 0.08 (P = .003). During PPP, urine output decreased from 1.10 to 0.28 mL/min per meter squared (P = .001) but improved markedly with ISPC to 0.61 mL/min per meter squared (P = .01). Such improvement was absent in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Use of ISPC significantly improves hepatic and renal blood flows during PPP. Its application is recommended during prolonged laparoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy.

Improving the adverse changes in cardiac autonomic nervous control during laparoscopic surgery, using an intermittent sequential pneumatic compression device.

BACKGROUND: The creation of positive pressure pneumoperitoneum (PP) may lead to adverse cardiovascular effects during laparoscopic operations. It can also lead to increased sympathetic cardiac activity, that might have serious consequences. We hypothesized that by reversing the hemodynamic effects, the use of intermittent sequential pneumatic compression device (Lympha-press) on the lower extremities would lead to improved cardiac autonomic control. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study, in which patients served as their own control. Fifteen patients without cardiorespiratory disease undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled prospectively. The activity of the cardiac autonomic nervous system was evaluated by using spectral analysis of heart rate variability, with the Del Mar Avionics 363 (Irvine, California), based on the fast Fourier transformation. The Lympha-press was manipulated several minutes after induction of PP. In each frequency band we measured and compared the power values during anesthesia against those of PP, as well as those of PP against those recorded during activation of Lympha-press. RESULTS: Creation of PP caused increased sympathetic activity, as was manifested by increased power of the low frequency band. Manipulation of the Lympha-Press compression device caused increased parasympathetic activity, as was evident by significant increased power of the high frequency band in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Using an intermittent sequential pneumatic compression device during laparoscopic cholecystectomy may improve cardiac autonomic control by enhancing protective parasympathetic activity. That may have clinical significance, especially in patients suffering from cardiac disease, by improving heart rate variability and elevating the threshold of the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia.