Stylet angulation of 70 degrees reduces the time to intubation with the GlideScope®: A prospective randomised trial.

Objective The GlideScope® videolaryngoscope provides a good view of the glottis. However, directing and inserting an endotracheal tube is sometimes difficult during intubation with the GlideScope®. In this study, we compared two GlideScope® stylet angulations (90° vs. 70°) in terms of the time to intubation. Methods In total, 162 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the 90 group ( n = 79), a 90° stylet was used. In the 70 group ( n = 78), a 70° stylet was used. The time to intubation was recorded. The number of intubation attempts was assessed. Results The time to intubation was significantly shorter in the 70 than 90 group [26.0 (23.0-32.0) vs. 37.0 (30.0-43.0) s, respectively]. The first-time intubation success rate was significantly higher and the number of failed intubations was significantly lower in the 70 than 90 group (100% vs. 87% and 0% vs. 6%, respectively). Conclusions This investigation suggests that a 70° angle stylet is superior to a 90° angle stylet for GlideScope® intubation. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02547064.

Efficacy of ketamine for postoperative pain following robotic thyroidectomy: A prospective randomised study.

Objective Although robotic thyroidectomy (RoT) is a minimally invasive surgery, percutaneous tunneling causes moderate to severe pain immediately postoperatively. We evaluated the efficacy of ketamine for postoperative pain management in patients following RoT. Methods Sixty-four patients scheduled for RoT were randomly divided into two groups. In the ketamine group (n = 32), ketamine was infused from induction of anaesthesia until the end of the procedure (0.15-mg/kg bolus with continuous infusion at 2 µg/kg/min). In the control group (n = 32), the same volume of saline was infused. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for acute and chronic pain, the incidence of hypoesthesia, postoperative analgesic requirements, and complications related to opioids or ketamine were compared between the two groups. Results The VAS pain scores were significantly lower in the ketamine group up to 24 h postoperatively. The VAS pain score when coughing was significantly higher in the control group than in the ketamine group at 24 h postoperatively. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the control group required rescue analgesics. Complications were comparable in both groups. Conclusions Ketamine infusion decreased pain scores for 24 h postoperatively and reduced analgesic requirements without serious complications in patients following RoT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01997801.

The effect of lidocaine jelly on a taper-shaped cuff of an endotracheal tube on the postoperative sore throat: a prospective randomized study: A CONSORT compliant article.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative sore throat (POST) following general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation is a common complication. We hypothesized that lidocaine jelly applied to the tapered cuff of the endotracheal tube (ETT) might decrease the incidence of POST most commonly arising from endotracheal intubation. METHODS: A total of 208 patients under general anesthesia were randomly assigned into 1 of 2 groups. In the lidocaine group (n = 104), the distal part of ETTs with tapered-shaped cuff was lubricated with lidocaine jelly. In the control group (n = 104), the distal part of ETTs with tapered-shaped cuff was lubricated with normal saline. The incidence of POST, hoarseness, and cough in the postanesthesia patients was compared. RESULTS: The overall incidence of POST was higher in the lidocaine group than in the normal saline group [60 (58%) vs 40 (39%), P = .006]. The incidence of POST at 1 hour postoperatively was higher in the lidocaine group than in the normal saline group [53 (51%) vs 32 (31%), P = .003]. The overall incidence of hoarseness for 24 hours postoperatively was comparable (P = .487). The overall incidence of cough for 24 hours postoperatively is higher in the lidocaine group (P = .045). CONCLUSION: The lidocaine jelly applied at the distal part of ETT with tapered-shaped cuff increased the overall incidence of POST in patients undergoing general anesthesia.

A Randomized Crossover Study Comparing Cervical Spine Motion During Intubation Between Two Lightwand Intubation Techniques in Patients With Simulated Cervical Immobilization: Laryngoscope-Assisted Versus Conventional Lightwand Intubation.

BACKGROUND: In patients with cervical immobilization, jaw thrust can cause cervical spine movement. Concurrent use of a laryngoscope may facilitate lightwand intubation, allowing midline placement and free movement of the lightwand in the oral cavity without jaw thrust. We compared the effects of laryngoscope-assisted lightwand intubation (LALI) versus conventional lightwand intubation (CLI) on cervical spine motion during intubation in patients with simulated cervical immobilization. METHODS: In this randomized crossover study, the cervical spine angle was measured before and during intubation at the occiput-C1, C1-C2, and C2-C5 segments in 20 patients with simulated cervical immobilization who underwent intubation using both the LALI and CLI techniques. Cervical spine motion was defined as the change from baseline in angle measured at each cervical segment during intubation. RESULTS: Cervical spine motion at the occiput-C1 segment was 5.6° (4.3) and 9.3° (4.5) when we used the LALI and CLI techniques, respectively (mean difference [98.33% CI]; -3.8° [-7.2 to -0.3]; P = .007). At other cervical segments, it was not significantly different between the 2 techniques (-0.1° [-2.6 to 2.5]; P = .911 in the C1-C2 segment and -0.2° [-2.8 to 2.5]; P = .795 in the C2-C5 segment). CONCLUSIONS: The LALI technique produces less upper cervical spine motion during intubation than the CLI technique in patients with simulated cervical immobilization.

Intraoperative dexmedetomidine and postoperative cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome in patients who underwent superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis for moyamoya disease: A retrospective observational study.

Dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-agonist, reduces cerebral blood flow and has neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in experimental animals. We examined whether intraoperative dexmedetomidine would reduce the incidence of postoperative cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) after superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis in patients with moyamoya disease.The electronic medical records of 117 moyamoya patients who underwent STA-MCA anastomosis were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 48 patients received intraoperative dexmedetomidine (Group D), while 69 patients did not (Group ND). The incidence (primary outcome), onset, and duration of postoperative CHS were noted.The incidence of postoperative CHS was 45.8% and 40.6% in groups D and ND, respectively (P = 0.708). The duration of postoperative CHS was shorter in group D than in group ND (median [Q1-Q3], 5 [3-7] vs 8 [5-10] days, P = 0.021). There was no significant difference in the onset of CHS between group D and group ND (0 [0-2] vs 1 [0-3] days, P = 0.226).In conclusion, intraoperative dexmedetomidine did not reduce the incidence of postoperative CHS, although it reduced the duration of CHS, in patients who had undergone direct revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease.

Unexpected and severe postintubation croup after a very short day surgery in a pediatric patient: a case report.

An 18 month-old boy underwent endoscopic foreign body removal under anesthesia on an outpatient basis and the operation took approximately 5 minutes. Stridor developed in both lung fields 6 hours after emergence from anesthesia, and severe croup developed, with cyanosis of the lips and aggravated stridor 20 hours after the end of the procedure. The croup resolved with oxygen therapy, intravenous dexamethasone, and epinephrine nebulization therapy. In this report, we suggest that thorough investigations of the patient's past history, including history of any airway problems, and careful monitoring after emergence from anesthesia be done in order to decide the proper discharge time of the patient. Further, proper prophylaxis following risk stratification is important, especially in patients at high risk of postoperative airway obstruction.