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Objective: Pleurisy in pigs has economic impacts in the production stage and at slaughter. This study sought to establish if some micro‐organisms can be found in high numbers in lungs with pleurisy by assessing batches of pigs at an abattoir in Queensland Australia. Design: Samples of lung (including trachea/bronchus and lymph nodes) from a maximum of 5 pleurisy affected pigs were collected from 46 batches of pigs representing 46 Queensland farms. Procedure: Pleurisy‐affected lung areas were cultured by traditional bacteriological methods and bacteria quantified by plate scores. Additionally, tracheal or bronchial swabs and apical lobe fluid were tested for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae DNA and the superior tracheobronchial lymph nodes were tested for porcine circovirus type 2 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All apparently significant bacteria were identified via PCR or sequencing. Typing was undertaken on some of the bacterial isolates. Results: The most prevalent pathogens were M. hyopneumoniae, Streptococcus suis and Porcine Circovirus type 2, being found in 34, 38 and 31 batches, respectively. Other bacteria found were Actinobacillus species (29 batches), Pasteurella multocida (24 batches), Mycoplasma flocculare (9 batches), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (7 batches), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (4 batches), Bisgaard Taxon 10 (1 batch), Glaesserella parasuis (1 batch), Streptococcus minor (1 batch) and Streptococcus porcinus (1 batch). Most batches had more than one bacterial species. Conclusion: The high percentage of batches infected with S. suis (83%), M. hyopneumoniae (74%) and PCV2 (70%) and clustering by a batch of these pathogens, as well as the presence of many secondary pathogens, suggests synergy between these organisms may have resulted in pleurisy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory infections are common in young wombats and determining the causative agent is critical to establish an appropriate treatment. A group of 12 young, wild common wombats ( Vombatus ursinus ) ranging from 6 to 10 kg developed a range of respiratory signs after being in care following the severe bushfires in Australia in early 2020. The oral anatomy of wombats makes collection of tracheal samples difficult. An endoscopy-guided technique was established to collect microbiology samples aseptically from the anesthetized patients. A guarded, sterile swab was introduced in the mouth and inserted into the trachea of two wombats, visualizing the procedure with the endoscope. A similar technique is described for endotracheal intubation of small mammals. This approach allowed for a safe and aseptic sampling collection. A pure growth of Escherichia coli was cultured from the samples, and appropriate antibiotic treatment was established according to the antimicrobial sensitivity test.

Objective: This paper presents the case of a traumatic tracheal rupture in a pediatric patient. The body of literature of the clinical features, evaluation, and management of this uncommon presentation is discussed., Case: A 13-year-old boy sustained an intrathoracic tracheal rupture whilst playing Australian Rules football. He developed hallmark clinical features of air extravasation and was intubated prior to transfer to a tertiary pediatric center for further management. After a short trial of conservative management, his respiratory status deteriorated and he was taken to the operating theater for open surgical repair of the defect., Conclusion: Traumatic rupture of the trachea is a rare injury in children. This case demonstrates the dynamic nature of this serious injury and the need for multidisciplinary care in achieving the optimal outcome.

The article reports on guidelines on airway management and mask ventilation during the resuscitation of newborn infants which were developed in 2010 by the Australian Resuscitation Council and the New Zealand Resuscitation Council. A discussion of several manual ventilation devices which can be used in the resuscitation of newborn infants is presented.

The article reports on guidelines on techniques which should be used in pediatric advanced life support which were developed in 2010 by the Australian Resuscitation Council and the New Zealand Resuscitation Council. A discussion of monitoring which should be conducted on children who have received advanced life support is presented.

The article discusses methods, including defibrillation, oxygenation, ventilation and external cardiac compression, which can improve the chances for long term survival in cardiac arrest patients. A discussion of guidelines on the use of medications in cardiac arrest which were established in 2010 by the Australian Resuscitation Council and the New Zealand Resuscitation Council is presented.

A Thoroughbred horse with bilateral laryngeal dysfunction was treated by placement of a long term tracheal cannula in order to restore full athletic function. The horse initially presented with right-sided arytenoid dysfunction that was considered to be due to a congenital malformation of the laryngeal cartilage. This was corrected by a right-sided laryngoplasty and ventriculectomy. The horse re-presented 1 year later with idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia. The decision was made to place a long-term tracheal cannula due to the low success rate and high complication rate associated with other surgeries used to correct bilateral arytenoid dysfunction. A three-piece tracheotomy cannula and stopper were positioned under general anaesthesia. The horse rapidly adjusted to the tracheal cannula and no post-surgical complications were encountered. The horse resumed training 4 weeks postoperatively. Due to the rules governing racing in Australia the horse was exported to New Zealand where he continued his racing career. It was concluded that tracheotomy is a straightforward technique associated with minimal complications and can provide an excellent prognosis for return of full airway function in racing horses. It is recognised that many issues need to be considered prior to more general acceptance of this technique, including assessment of animal welfare issues and public perception. In appropriate cases consideration should be given to using long term placement of a tracheotomy cannula as a treatment option to restore maximal airflow in horses with upper airway obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on guidelines on the use of medications and fluids in the resuscitation of newborn infants that were developed in 2010 by the Australian Resuscitation Council and the New Zealand Resuscitation Council. A discussion of the types and doses of medications which can be used in the resuscitation of newborn infants, and of the routes by which they should be administered, is presented.

Background:Acquired airway stenosis can be challenging to manage endoscopically because of difficult field visualisation, instrument limitations and the risk of laser fire. At our institution, radiofrequency coblation has been successfully used for the resection of subglottic and tracheal stenosis in adults. This paper presents our experience with this technique.Method:A retrospective case note analysis of all cases of airway stenosis in adults from 2007 to 2012 was performed.Results:Ten adult patients underwent coblation resection for airway stenosis. All lesions were classified as McCaffrey stage I (i.e. less than 1 cm long). Causes of stenosis included: idiopathic stenosis (40 per cent), previous tracheostomy (30 per cent) and endotracheal intubation (20 per cent). Six patients (60 per cent) required a single procedure and 4 (40 per cent) required multiple interventions. All patients reported significant improvement in their symptoms following treatment. All patients were alive at the time of writing and none have required open resection.Conclusion:Radiofrequency coblation is an attractive alternative technique for the treatment of idiopathic or acquired airway stenosis in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: To establish the levels of pressure used to perform tracheal suction (TS) and if they are affected by having a manometer visible in the suction circuit., Design: A bench test evaluation of simulated tracheal suction., Setting: Physiotherapy department of a major teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia., Participants: Sixty-four nurses and physiotherapists who regularly apply TS to patients in the intensive care units of this hospital., Interventions: All subjects used both circuit A (without a visible manometer) and B (with a visible manometer) in a predetermined random order. For both, subjects adjusted the suction control tap to where they said a safe and effective pressure (set pressure) was delivered and then occluded the suction catheter as though suctioning (applied pressure). Subjects then completed a questionnaire on their current TS practise., Measurements and Results: All set pressures (mean = 228.57 mmHg) and all applied pressures (mean = 359. 52 mmHg) were significantly higher (P <.001) when compared to the expected pressures (mean = 135 mmHg). Pressures set without a visible manometer (circuit A) were significantly higher (P <.05) than those using a visible manometer (circuit B) but the applied pressures were not significantly different (P =.166). Neither the investigator (P =.618) or the test order (P =.167) had a significant effect on the outcome. Questionnaire results showed 31 % of subjects considered 100-170 mmHg a safe and effective suction pressure whilst none reported using an objective means of measuring pressure., Conclusion: All pressures in both circuits were significantly higher than those recommended as safe in the literature. In addition, pressures were unaffected by the inclusion of a visible manometer in the suction circuit.