Airway emergency from megaoesophagus: A rare complication of an adjustable gastric band.

A 77-year-old lady with a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB), implanted 12 years earlier for obesity, developed an unusual but almost fatal complication, characterised by dysphonia and stridor within minutes and a tensely swollen anterior neck. The condition mimicked haemorrhage into the subcutaneous tissues of the neck, and the airway was secured with an awake fibreoptic intubation. Subsequent computed tomography imaging of the abdomen and chest revealed megaoesophagus with dilatation up to 7 cm, proximal to the gastric band. The band was then deflated percutaneously with immediate resolution of the neck swelling. In patients with LAGB in situ, fluid should be removed from the band for any suspected device-associated symptoms such as severe vomiting, severe gastro-oesophageal reflux or neck swelling and respiratory distress. When there is radiological evidence of gross oesophageal dilatation or a high likelihood of an obstructive pathology at the level of the band, a careful nasogastric tube decompression may also resolve reflux, neck swelling or respiratory distress. A complication associated with LAGB should be considered in a patient with unexplained neck swelling or other features of airway obstruction who has an LAGB in situ.

LMA® Gastro™ Airway for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a retrospective observational analysis.

BACKGROUND: Various airway techniques have been employed for endoscopic procedures, with an aim to optimise patient outcomes by improving airway control and preventing hypoxia whilst avoiding the need for intubation. The LMA® Gastro™ Airway, a novel dual channel supraglottic airway technique, has been described as such a device. Its utility alongside sedation with low flow nasal cannula and general anaesthesia (GA) with intubation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures was evaluated. METHODS: Details of all the ERCPs performed in our institution from March 2017 to June 2018 were carefully recorded in the patients' electronic case records. Data on the successful completion of ERCP through LMA® Gastro™ Airway; any difficulty encountered by the gastroenterologists; and adverse events were recorded. Episodes of hypoxia (SpO2 < 92%) and haemodynamic parameters were compared across the three groups: LMA® Gastro™ vs. sedation with low flow nasal cannula vs. GA with an endotracheal tube (ETT). RESULTS: One hundred seventy-seven ERCP procedures were performed during the study period. The LMA® Gastro™ Airway was employed in 64 procedures (36%) on 59 patients. Of these 64 procedures, ERCP was successfully completed with LMA® Gastro™ Airway in 63 (98%) instances, with only one case requiring conversion to an endotracheal tube. This instance followed difficulty in negotiating the endoscope through LMA® Gastro™ Airway. No episodes of hypoxia or hypercapnia were documented in both LMA® Gastro™ and GA with ETT groups. One sedation case with nasal cannula was noted to have hypoxia. Adverse intraoperative events were recognised in 2 cases of LMA® Gastro™: one had minimal blood stained secretions from the oral cavity that resolved with suctioning; the other developed mild laryngospasm which resolved spontaneously within a few minutes. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing ERCP, the LMA® Gastro™ airway demonstrated a high success rate for ERCP completion. Ventilation was well maintained with minimal intraoperative and postoperative adverse events. This technique may have a role in higher risk groups such as high ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) status, or those with potential airway difficulties such as high body mass index and those with known or suspected sleep apnoea.

High-flow nasal cannula versus standard oxygen therapy assisting sedation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in high risk cases (OTHER): study protocol of a randomised multicentric trial.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an increasingly common intervention in the treatment of pancreaticobiliary disorders. Patients are often elderly with complex co-morbidities. While monitored anaesthesia care with sedation is commonly used for most cases, few would require general anaesthesia with an endotracheal tube. Both low-flow and high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC) are established ways of delivering supplemental oxygen, but it is unclear whether one technique is better than the other. HFNC seems a promising tool for advanced procedures but evidence to support its application in high-risk ERCP cases is limited. The rate of oxygen desaturation during endoscopy has been reported to be as high as 11%-50% and the method of oxygen delivery for ERCP merits further study. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a prospective, randomised, multicentre trial comparing the efficacy of oxygen supplementation through HFNC versus low-flow nasal cannula during ERCP, in a cohort of patients at risk of adverse respiratory events. A total of 132 patients will be recruited across three sites and randomly assigned to either the low-flow or the HFNC group. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients experiencing hypoxia, defined by any event of SpO2 < 90%. The secondary outcomes include parameters centred on oxygenation, requirement of airway manoeuvres, successful completion of procedure, perioperative complications, patient satisfaction and cost analysis of the consumables. An intention-to-treat principle will be applied while analysing. DISCUSSION: The demand for ERCPs is likely to increase in the future with the aging population. Our study results may lead to improved outcomes and reduce airway-related complications in patients undergoing ERCPs. The results will be presented at national and international meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.ANZCTR.org.au, CTRN12619000397112. Registered on 12 March 2019.