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Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Dec 2016Anterior cervical osteophytes are commonly found in elderly patients, but rarely produce symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can range from mild symptoms of dysphagia,...
Anterior cervical osteophytes are commonly found in elderly patients, but rarely produce symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can range from mild symptoms of dysphagia, dysphonia, and foreign body sensation to severe symptoms of airway obstruction due to compression of the pharynx or larynx. We report the case of a 59-year-old man who underwent brain tumor surgery, and developed post-operative respiratory difficulty due to progressive pharyngo-laryngeal edema, requiring urgent endotracheal intubation, secondary to the presence of a previously asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophyte. It is paramount to recognize that asymptomatic anterior cervical osteophytes are a potential cause of life-threatening post-operative respiratory complications that can rapidly progress to life-threatening airway obstruction after surgeries in the prone position, especially in elderly patients.
PubMed: 27924209
DOI: 10.4097/kjae.2016.69.6.640 -
Anaesthesia Oct 2016This study compared two methods of controlling the intracuff pressure in laryngeal mask airways. One hundred and eighty patients were randomly assigned into two groups.... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
This study compared two methods of controlling the intracuff pressure in laryngeal mask airways. One hundred and eighty patients were randomly assigned into two groups. In the first group (n = 90), after training, the intracuff pressure was controlled using digital palpation of the pilot balloon. In the second group (n = 90), continuous manometry was used to control the intracuff pressure. An upper pressure limit of 60 cmH2 O was set. The median (IQR [range]) intracuff pressure in the palpation group was 130 (125-130 [120-130]) cmH2 O compared with 29 (20-39 [5-60]) cmH2 O in the manometry group (p < 0.001). In the palpation group, 37% of patients experienced pharyngolaryngeal complications vs. 12% in the manometry group (p < 0.001). We conclude that the digital palpation technique is not a suitable alternative to manometry in controlling the intracuff pressure in laryngeal mask airways.
Topics: Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Laryngeal Masks; Male; Manometry; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Physiologic; Palpation; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 27501056
DOI: 10.1111/anae.13566 -
Anesthesia, Essays and Researches 2016Endotracheal tube (ETT) has been associated with various pharyngolaryngeal morbidities (PLMs) following general anesthesia (GA). Laryngeal mask airway (LMA), currently...
INTRODUCTION
Endotracheal tube (ETT) has been associated with various pharyngolaryngeal morbidities (PLMs) following general anesthesia (GA). Laryngeal mask airway (LMA), currently the most commonly used supraglottic airway device, has several advantageous over the ETT but has been associated with varying results of PLM. The aim of our study was to compare the PLM between them and to know whether LMA is a better alternative.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred and seventy American Society of Anesthesiologists Grades 1 and 2 women scheduled for elective mastectomy were included in the study, 85 each in either group, E Group (intubated with ETT) and L Group (using LMA) on a random basis. All patients received GA with controlled ventilation using a muscle relaxant. PLMs such as hoarseness, pain on phonation, sore throat, and difficulty in swallowing were documented by an interview done postoperatively. Peroperative parameters such as intubation attempts, trauma during airway device insertion, and intraoperative incidents were also analyzed. A sample size of 85 patients in each group was calculated in order to achieve a study power of 0.8 and alpha level was taken as 0.05. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 using Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Fisher's exact test were used as nonparametric tests. A two-tailed P< 0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS
Patients in E Group had statistically significant increased incidence of a sore throat and voice complaints whereas L Group showed a statistically significant increase of swallowing problems. There was also a significant correlation between traumatic insertion and sore throat, pain on swallowing in the L Group, which could be due to direct trauma.
CONCLUSIONS
ETT was associated with an increased incidence of voice problems and sore throat whereas LMA had an increased incidence of dysphagia and odynophagia. Use of LMA changes the pharyngolaryngeal profile to a more acceptable one.
PubMed: 27212745
DOI: 10.4103/0259-1162.174466 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Feb 2016Cervical epidural analgesia (CEA) is an analgesic technique, potentially useful for surgeries involving the upper body. Despite the inherent technical risks and systemic... (Review)
Review
Cervical epidural analgesia (CEA) is an analgesic technique, potentially useful for surgeries involving the upper body. Despite the inherent technical risks and systemic changes, it has been used for various surgeries. There have been no previously published systematic reviews aimed at assessing its clinical utility. This systematic review was performed to explore the perioperative benefits of CEA. The review was also aimed at identifying the rationale of its use, reported surgical indications and the method of use. We performed a literature search involving PubMed and Embase databases, to identify studies using CEA for surgical indications. Out of 467 potentially relevant articles, 73 articles were selected. Two independent investigators extracted data involving 5 randomized controlled trials, 17 observational comparative trials, and 51 case reports (series). The outcomes studied in most comparative studies were on effects of local anaesthetics and other agents, systemic effects, and feasibility of CEA. In one randomized controlled study, CEA was observed to decrease the resting pain scores after pharyngo-laryngeal surgeries. In a retrospective study, CEA was shown to decrease the cancer recurrence after pharyngeal-hypopharyngeal surgeries. The limited evidence, small studies, and the chosen outcomes do not allow for any specific recommendations based on the relative benefit or harm of CEA. Considering the potential for significant harm, in the face of better alternatives, its use must have a strong rationale mostly supported by unique patient and surgical demands. Future studies must aim to assess analgesic comparator effectiveness for clinically relevant outcomes.
Topics: Analgesia, Epidural; Humans; Pain, Postoperative
PubMed: 26787789
DOI: 10.1093/bja/aev453 -
PloS One 2015Neuromuscular block results in the loss of muscular tone in the upper airway, which might contribute to the increased postoperative airway morbidity followed by ProSeal... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Neuromuscular block results in the loss of muscular tone in the upper airway, which might contribute to the increased postoperative airway morbidity followed by ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) insertion. We compared the pharyngolaryngeal discomfort exerted by the PLMA according to the neuromuscular block. One hundred sixty patients undergoing surgery for breast disease or inguinal hernia were anesthetized with propofol and remifentanil by target controlled infusion. Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg (NMBA group, n = 80) or normal saline (No-NMBA group, n = 80) was administered after the loss of consciousness, and one anesthesiologist inserted the PLMA. Postoperative pharyngolaryngeal discomfort was evaluated at postoperative 1 h. Traumatic event was recorded based on the blood trace on the surface of the PLMA cuff. Insertion time, insertion attempt number, sealing pressure, and fiberoptic brochoscopic grades were evaluated. Patients' characteristics and the PLMA insertion condition (insertion time, successful insertion attempt number, fiberoptic bronchoscopic grade, and sealing pressure) were similar between the two groups. The PLMA can be successfully inserted in non-paralyzed patients with less postoperative pharyngolaryngeal discomfort than when a neuromuscular blocking agent is used (13.8% vs. 30.0%, P = 0.021). The incidence of traumatic events is also reduced when no neuromuscular blocking agent is used (16.3% vs. 32.5%, P = 0.026). Regardless of whether or not a surgical procedure requires muscular relaxation, there is no need to administer neuromuscular blocking agents solely for the purpose of PLMA insertion.
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Female; Humans; Laryngeal Masks; Larynx; Male; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Paralysis; Pharynx; Time Factors; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 26252522
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134130 -
Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine Apr 2015Spasmodic dysphonia is defined as a focal laryngeal disorder characterized by dystonic spasms of the vocal cord during speech. We described a case of a 22-year-old male...
Spasmodic dysphonia is defined as a focal laryngeal disorder characterized by dystonic spasms of the vocal cord during speech. We described a case of a 22-year-old male patient who presented complaining of idiopathic difficulty swallowing that suddenly developed 6 months ago. The patient also reported pharyngolaryngeal pain, throat discomfort, dyspnea, and voice change. Because laryngoscopy found no specific problems, an electrodiagnostic study and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were performed to find the cause of dysphagia. The VFSS revealed continuous twitch-like involuntary movement of the laryngeal muscle around the vocal folds. Then, he was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia by VFSS, auditory-perceptual voice analysis, and physical examination. So, we report the first case of spasmodic dysphonia accompanied with difficulty swallowing that was confirmed by VFSS.
PubMed: 25932430
DOI: 10.5535/arm.2015.39.2.313