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Objective To evaluate the feasibility of the Shikani Optical Stylet (SOS)-guided intubation through a new Intubating Laryngeal Airway (ILA) in anticipated difficult airways caused by scar contracture of the face and neck. Methods Thirty-three adult patients with anticipated difficult airways undergoing selective faciocervical scar plastic surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. After anesthesia induction, a size 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 ILA was inserted. Following good lung ventilation being verified, the SOS preloaded with an endotracheal tube was inserted via the ILA. Once the clear vocal cords came into view under the SOS, the endotracheal tube was advanced through glottis into the trachea. Results The ILA provided an effective airway in all patients. Intubation was successful at the first attempt on 22/33 (66.7%) occasions and at the second attempt on 6/33 (18.2%). Intubation failed in 5 (15.1%) patients who suffered from severe limitation of head extension due to scar contracture of the neck. These patients' tracheas were finally intubated using a fibreoptic bronchoscope via the ILA. Conclusions The SOS-guided intubating method via the ILA is a feasible technique in patients with scar contracture of the face and neck. However, in patients with severe limitation of head extension, the use of SOS cannot be recommended. The SOS can be used as an alternative apparatus when the fibreoptic bronchoscope is not available.

To compare the clinical effectiveness of fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB)-guided intubation through the Cookgas intubating laryngeal airway(CILA)and the Fastrach intubating laryngeal mask airway (FT-LMA) in the management of anticipated difficult airways.Sixty patients with all three difficult intubation criterion (thyromental distance60 mm, interincisor distance35 mm, and Mallampati class 3 or 4) undergoing elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into CILA group (n=30) and FT-LMA group (n=30). After anesthesia being induced and CILA or FT-LMA being inserted, the patients were treated with FOB-guided intubation through CILA or FT-LMA. The success of the intubating laryngeal airway(ILA)insertion and FOB-guided intubation, the number of attempts, and the duration of the successful attempt were recorded.The ILA was inserted successfully in 30 patients from CILA group and 27 patients from FT-LMA group. Three failed cases in FT-LMA group were inserted successfully with CILA. In CILA group, the first FOB-guided intubation attempt succeeded in 26 patients, and 4 cases were intubated at the second attempt. In 27 patients of FT-LMA group, 20 cases were intubated successfully at the first attempt, 4 cases at the second attempt, and 3 cases failed; of these three failed patients, two patients were intubated smoothly with FOB through CILA at the first attempt, one was intubated by FOB via CILA at the second attempt. The duration of FT-LMA insertion [(35.3±12.8)s] was significantly longer when compared with CILA [(23.9±17.5)s] (P0.05). However, the duration of FOB-guided intubation through CILA and FT-LMA [(48.6±13.5)s vs.(53.2±14.2)s] and the time of ILA removal [(40.4±10.2)s vs. (38.5±11.3)s] were not significantly different between these two groups (P0.05). The adverse events during and after intubtion were not significantly different between these two groups.FOB-guided intubation through CILA and FT-LMA is safe and feasible for the management of anticipated difficult airways. However, in patients with severe scar contracture of face and neck and those with huge expander in neck, the CILA insertion and FOB-guided intubation via CILA is superior to FT-LMA.

To compare the clinical effectiveness of blind intubation through the Cookgas intubating laryngeal airway(CILA) or Fastrach intubating laryngeal mask airway(FT-LMA) for anticipated difficult tracheal intubation.Eighty-six patients with anticipated difficult tracheal intubation who were undergoing elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into CILA group(n=43) and FT-LMA group(n=43) . After general anesthesia being induced and CILA or FT-LMA being inserted, the patients were treated with blind intubation through CILA or FT-LMA. In each case, the number and the time of intubating laryngeal airway(ILA) insertion and blind intubation attempts and ILA removal were recorded. The view of glottis under fiberoptic bronchoscope(FOB) via CILA or FT-LMA was recorded. In addition, noninvasive blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before and after intravenous anesthetic induction, at ILA insertion, at intubation, at ILA removal and every minute thereafter for 5 minutes.CILA or FT-LMA was inserted successfully in all 86 patients. The rate of the first successful insertion was not significantly different between two groups(P0.05) . In CILA group, the first intubation attempt succeeded in 35 patients;5 and 2 cases were intubated blindly at the second and the third attempt, one patient failed who was intubated successfully by FOB via CILA. In FT-LMA group, 32 patients were intubated successfully at the first attempt, 4 at the second attempt, 3 at the third attempt, and 4 cases failed, three of them were intubated smoothly with FOB through FT-LMA, one failed patient was intubated by FOB. The time of FT-LMA insertion(34.2∓13.9) s was significantly longer when compared with CILA(22.4∓18.9) s (P0.05) . However, the time of blind intubation through CILA and FT-LMA [(46.0∓26.7) s vs.(51.8∓41.1) s]and the time of ILA removal[(39.3∓11.9) s vs.(35.3∓10.4) s] were not significantly different between groups(P0.05) . Hemodynamic changes during blind intubation in the two groups showed no significant differences(P0.05) .Blind intubation via CILA or FT-LMA is safe and effective for anticipated difficult tracheal intubation. Nevertheless, CILA is easier to be inserted, with relatively higher success rate of blind intubation.

To observe the safety and feasibility of tracheal intubation by target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil without muscle relaxant in children.Totally 100 4-10-year-old pediatric patients (ASA1) who had been scheduled for plastic surgery were equally divided into remifentanil group and control group through computer-generated randomized grouping. In all patients, five minutes after intravenous administration of atropine 0.01 mg/kg and midazolam 0.1 mg/kg, propofol was infused at the targeted effect-site concentration (Ce of 6 μg/ml. When the intended target Ce of propofol was reached, the remifentanil group began to be infused with remifentanil at a Ce of 5 ng/ml, and normal saline (0.1 ml/kg) was injected simultaneously. In the control group remifentanil was replaced by normal saline and rocuronium (0.8 mg/kg) was injected together with the normal saline. After the equilibration of plasma and the Ce of remifentanil were reached, tracheal intubation was attempted. The complications during the induction and tracheal intubation were recorded. The intubating conditions were assessed using a five-point scoring system based on ease of laryngoscopy, vocal cords position, coughing, jaw relaxation and limb movement.The success rate of tracheal intubation was in 90% in remifentanil group and 98% in the control group (P=0.122).CONCLUSION Target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil at Ce of 6 μg/ml and 5 ng/ml is feasible for the induction and tracheal intubation without muscle relaxant in children.

To evaluate the feasibility of the fibreoptic intubating laryngeal mask airway (LMA) CTrach (CTrach) in anticipated difficult airway caused by face and neck scar contracture.Totally 33 patients undergoing selective face and neck scar plastic surgery and requiring general anesthesia were enrolled in our study. After anesthesia induction, the CTrach was inserted and the viewer was attached, which allowed fibreoptic visualization of the larynx before and during passage of the tracheal tube through the vocal cords. The duration and the success rates of CTrach insertion, tracheal intubation, and CTrach removal were recorded. The view of glottis on viewer and the adjusting maneuvers for improving the laryngeal view were recorded. Noninvasive blood pressures and heart rates were recorded before and after anesthesia induction and at CTrach insertion, tracheal intubation, and CTrach removal.The CTrach was successfully inserted in all patients, among whom 4 patients succeeded at the second attempt. The full view of glottis were shown in 10 patients, while partial view and no view of glottis were shown in 8 and 15 patients, respectively. The good view of glottis was achieved by adjusting manoeuvres. Tracheal intubation via the CTrach was successful in 27 patients at the first attempt and in 6 patients at the second attempt. Hemodynamic changes during the performance with the CTrach were minimal.The CTrach can be easily inserted, with clear view and high success rate of tracheal intubation. Therefore, it is an effective way to resolve difficulty intubation caused by face and neck scar contracture.

To observe the clinical effectiveness of inductions and tracheal intubating conditions with 3% sevoflurane and different doses of remifentanil without muscle relaxant in children.Totally 120 peadiatric patients (aged 4-10 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I for inhalational induction) were randomly allocated into group I (remifentanil 1 microg/kg), group II (remifentanil 2 microg/kg), group III (remifentanil 3 microg/kg), and control group (vecuronium bromide 0.1 mg/kg). After inhalational induction with 3% sevoflurane and 60% nitrous oxide in 40% oxygen for 2 minutes, remifentanil 1 microg/kg, 2 microg/ kg, and 3 microg/kg were intravenously injected over 1 minute into patients in group I , group II, and group III, respectively. After remifentanil administration and manual ventilation for 1 minute, the trachea was intubated. In the control group, 2 minutes after intravenous administration of vecuronium bromide 0.1 mg/kg, tracheal intubation was attempted. Agitation, intubating satisfactoriness, and the circulation changes after tracheal intubation and anesthesia induction were observed.In these four groups, agitation occurred in 37.5% of patients during sevoflurane induction. Satisfactory intubation rate was 70.0% in group I, 86.7% in group II, 90.0% in group III, and 93.3% in the control group. Compared with the control group, the impact of tracheal intubation on the circulatory system was smaller in group I , II , and III.Induction with 3% sevoflurane combined with remifentanil can be smoothly performed, followed by the successful tracheal intubation. The intubating conditions are more satisfactory with 3% sevoflurane combined with remifentanil 2 microg/kg or 3 microg/kg.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral endotracheal intubation in the patients with difficult laryngoscopy undergoing general anesthesia.A total of 1 683 patients with difficult laryngoscopy, aged 1.5-67 yr, and scheduled for the elective plastic surgery were observed in this study from 1989-1997. All these patients were at American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status I. According to the preoperative predictive results for difficult laryngoscopy, we classified these patients into two groups: Group I included 1 375 patients, whose epiglottis could be viewed (laryngoscopic view grades II and III); and Group II, included 308 patients, whose epiglottis could not be viewed (laryngoscopic view grade IV). For group I, anesthesia was induced with thiopentone 4-5 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1 mg/kg; Laryngoscopy was carried out using modified Macintosh method. For Group II, anesthesia was induced with a total intravenous anesthesia or inhaled anesthesia; anesthetic depth was required to effectively inhibit laryngeal reflexes with reservation of spontaneous breathing. Tracheal intubation was performed by fiberoptic stylet laryngoscope (FOSL). During anesthesia induction and tracheal intubation procedures, electrocardiogram, arterial pressure, heart rate and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were continuously monitored. Complications of intubation (arrhythmia, and so on) were observed and recorded. Immediately after laryngoscopy and successful intubation, patients were examined for any traumatic injuries at teeth, lips, tongue, and oropharyngeal tissues.In group I, tracheal intubation was accomplished by the first attempt in 1 279 cases (93.0%) and the intubation time was less than 3 min in 1 304 cases (94.8%). In group II, tracheal intubation was accomplished by the first attempt in 114 patients (37.0%), and 123 patients (39.9%) had the intubation time of less than 3 min. Tracheal intubation was successful by the second or third attempt in 96 patients of group I and 156 patients of group II, respectively. Thirty-eight patients required four or more attempts, which only occurred in group II. Of all the complications of tracheal intubation, the traumatic complications were most common. The incidences of traumatic complications in the patients with laryngoscopic view grade II, III (group I ) and IV (group II) were 0.7%, 3.9% and 14.3%, respectively. Other complications such as respiratory depression were only seen in group II. A pooled incidence of the intubation complications was 6.7% (113/1 683).An anesthesiologist who is skillful in difficult airway management may safely manage the airway in the patients with difficult laryngoscopy under general anesthesia.