Justifi cation of the use of osteopathic correction in the planned preparation of patients for general anesthesia with tracheal intubation

Abstract

Introduction. The risk of unsuccessful intubation is a signifi cant problem during elective surgical operations with general anesthesia and tracheal intubation. Taking in consideration the trend towards the development of short-stay surgical hospitals, and the rather low availability of endoscopy services, the search for alternative methods of preparing patients for successful tracheal intubation is in demand. A normal tone of the muscles involved in the work of the temporomandibular joints as well as the tone of the muscles above the hyoid bone and the muscles below the hyoid bone are necessary for successful intubation of the trachea. Based on modern ideas, it can be assumed that an adequate osteopathic effect on the mentioned anatomical structures can provide a decrease in muscle tone. However, there are no publications in the available literature on osteopathic correction of patients at high risk of intubation in order to reduce the risk degree.The aim of the research is to substantiate the use of osteopathic correction in the planned preparation of patients for general anesthesia with tracheal intubation.Materials and methods. The study involved 30 patients with chronic surgical pathology of internal organs who had to undergo elective surgery. The patients were distributed into the control and main groups (15 participants each) by the method of randomization envelopes. The participants of the control group followed the instructions given by the anesthetist, the participants of the main group received additionally a month before the operation two sessions of osteopathic correction with an interval of 14 days. In both groups, the osteopathic status was assessed before the start of the corresponding treatment. The degree of intubation risk and the incision distance were also assessed. After completion of the corresponding treatment, the osteopathic status was re-evaluated in both groups. In the main group, the risk of intubation and the incision distance were re-evaluated.Results. At the beginning of the study, both groups were characterized by a high detection frequency of the following regional biomechanical disorders: neck, thoracic region and dura mater. At the completion of the study, a statistically signifi cant (p<0,05) decrease in the detection frequency of all these disorders was observed in the main group. There was no signifi cant dynamics in the control group. Also in the main group there was a statistically signifi cant (p<0,05) decrease in the intubation risk and an increase in the incision distance value.Conclusion. The obtained results allow recommending the appointment of an osteopath consultation and osteopathic correction during the planned preparation of patients with a high risk of intubation. At the same time, it is recommended to continue the study on a larger sample.