General Endotracheal Anesthesia Research Articles

Ultrasound Evaluation of Anterior Neck Soft-Tissue Thickness to Predict Difficult Intubation in Overweight Adult Patients Posted for Surgery under General Endotracheal Anesthesia – An Observational Study

Background: Ultrasonographic imaging has been recently become simple portable and non-invasive adjuvant for bedside assessment of anterior neck soft tissue thickness which when measured at different levels showed to have significant role in predicting difficult laryngoscopy. Aims and Objectives: Primary objective was Ultrasonographic measurement of anterior neck soft tissue thickness at 3 levels -Distance from skin to hyoid bone (DSHB) -Distance from skin to thyrohyoid membrane (DSTM) -Distance from skin to anterior commissure of vocal cord(DSAC) and to compare and correlate the findings with Cooks modification of Cormack-Lehane score in predicting difficult laryngoscopy. Secondary objective was to compare and correlate the ultrasonographic measurements with conventional airway assessment methods. Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from the ethical committee, 90 Patients with BMI above 25 kg /m2 was enrolled for the study. A day before the surgery a thorough Preanaesthetic evaluation and assessment of the airway is done using conventional methods. Then on the day of surgery ultrasonographic measurement of anterior neck at 3 levels was done and after inducing the patients laryngoscopy was done and Cooks modification of Cormack-Lehane score assessed. Results: The optimal cut off values to predict difficult laryngoscopy was 1.26, 2 and 1.2 cms for DSHB, DSTM and DSAC respectively, and among the three skin to anterior commissure of vocal cord was observed to be best USG parameter with more area under the ROC curve. Conclusion: USG measurement of anterior neck soft tissue thickness can be useful in predicting difficult laryngoscopy in overweight and obese patients also it had more diagnostic accuracy than conventional methods like MMS in predicting difficult laryngoscopy.

Effects of operating room ventilation on particle exposure and removal during general endotracheal anesthesia

The operating room (OR) ventilation system is a primary method for reducing particle exposure in the OR. However, most ventilation studies in operating rooms were conducted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, which may not be able to predict the complexity of real operating conditions. In this study, we recruited 40 patients undergoing general endotracheal anesthesia in a total of 13 operating rooms. We tested the effectiveness of OR ventilation on mitigating patient and nebulizer-generated particles during the preoxygenation, induction, and intubation phases of care. Sampling locations were selected close to the patient's face (reference), physician's head area, and medical assistant's standing location. A total of six sampling sessions characterizing patient and healthcare worker activities were included. We observed a significantly higher number of particles during endotracheal intubation compared to preoxygenation with deep breathing and coughing, suggesting potential disruptive effect of surgical activities (i.e., intubation) on airflow, which affected particle concentration. Particle decay rates measured at all three locations (reference 50 ± 20 h-1; physician 46 ± 22 h-1; medical assistant 33 ± 21 h-1) were considerably higher than the regulated operating room air exchange rate of 20 h-1, indicating highly effective overall ventilation function. Nevertheless, healthcare workers should still be cautious about particle exposure risks in operations that generate large number of particles. Results from this study reflect the effectiveness of OR ventilation on particle mitigation in real-world scenario and may facilitate the validation of future CFD studies as well as the establishment of effective OR regulation guidelines to protect healthcare workers from particle exposures.

Characteristic dynamic functional connectivity during sevoflurane-induced general anesthesia

General anesthesia (GA) during surgery is commonly maintained by inhalational sevoflurane. Previous resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) studies have demonstrated suppressed functional connectivity (FC) of the entire brain networks, especially the default mode networks, transitioning from the awake to GA condition. However, accuracy and reliability were limited by previous administration methods (e.g. face mask) and short rs-fMRI scans. Therefore, in this study, a clinical scenario of epilepsy patients undergoing laser interstitial thermal therapy was leveraged to acquire 15 min of rs-fMRI while under general endotracheal anesthesia to maximize the accuracy of sevoflurane level. Nine recruited patients had fMRI acquired during awake and under GA, of which seven were included in both static and dynamic FC analyses. Group independent component analysis and a sliding-window method followed by k-means clustering were applied to identify four dynamic brain states, which characterized subtypes of FC patterns. Our results showed that a low-FC brain state was characteristic of the GA condition as a single featuring state during the entire rs-fMRI session; In contrast, the awake condition exhibited frequent fluctuations between three distinct brain states, one of which was a highly synchronized brain state not seen in GA. In conclusion, our study revealed remarkable dynamic connectivity changes from awake to GA condition and demonstrated the advantages of dynamic FC analysis for future studies in the assessments of the effects of GA on brain functional activities.

Modified anterior approach versus traditional posterior approach for ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block in awake endotracheal intubation: a randomized non-inferiority clinical trial

Study objective This study was undertaken to compare the effect of the modified ultrasound-guided anterior superior laryngeal nerve block (SLNB) with the traditional ultrasound-guided posterior SLNB in providing intubation conditions during awake tracheal intubation (ATI) in patients without difficult airway. Design Randomized, assessor-blind. Registration number: ChiCTR2200058086. Setting West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Patients 104 patients aged 18–65 years, of American Society of Anesthesiologists status I-III, posted for elective general surgery with general endotracheal anesthesia. Interventions The patients were randomized into two groups (modified group, n = 52; traditional group, n = 52). Modified anterior SLNB or traditional posterior SLNB was performed under ultrasound guidance. Measurements The primary outcome was the proportion of acceptable intubation condition (AIC), which was analyzed in both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) populations. The prespecified non-inferiority margin was −4.8%. Secondary outcomes included intubation success rate on the first attempt, hemodynamic parameters during ATI, time taken for airway anesthesia and intubation, recall of intubation, patient perception of comfort, and incidence and severity of postoperative complications. Main results In the PP population, the proportion of AIC in the modified group was 49/49 (100%) and that in the traditional group was 49/49 (100%), absolute difference 0, lower limit of 1-sided 95% CI, −0.3%. In the ITT population, the primary outcomes in the modified and traditional group were 52/52 (100%) and 51/52 (98.1%), respectively, with an absolute difference of 1.9% and a lower limit of 1-sided 95% CI of −1.2%. The non-inferiority of modified ultrasound-guided anterior SLNB was confirmed in both populations. Conclusions Among adults without difficult airways during videolaryngoscope-assisted ATI, the modified ultrasound-guided anterior SLNB, compared to the traditional posterior approach, showed a statistically non-inferior effect in terms of providing AIC.

QUALITY OF LIFE OF A PATIENT AFTER ENDARTERECTOMY OF THE INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY (ICA) FOLLOWINGAN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE (AIS) DURING COVID-19

The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life of a patient af- terendarterectomy (CEA) of the Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) following an Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during COVID-19.A right-handed, 51-year-old patient, a visual artist, single, in good health and no chronic illnesses to date, became infected with SARS-CoV-2 and contracted COVID-19. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus was confirmed by a RT PCR antigen test. The patient was hospitalized, and required mechanical ventilation at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) onset. Except for untreated hypertension, her medical history was unremarkable. Her blood pressure was 180/100 mm Hg; her pulse was 76 beats per minute and was regular. AIS from the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) has resulted primarily in damage to the left hemisphere, and secondary effects on the right side resulting in body weakness and mild anomic aphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed stroke and detected brain tissue damaged by an AIS. It revealed hyperintense foci in the T2 and FLAIR sequences, 21 mm in size in the left hemisphere of the brain. In search of the cause of AIS, CT angiography was performed. It revealed a large (90%) ICA occlusion. The patient was admitted to the emergency room at the Vascular Surgery Clinic with an Endovascular Subunit. The revascularization procedure (CEA) was performed under general endotracheal anesthesia with the use of the protocol and techniques (elaborated at the Department of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Procedures, The John Paul II Hospital in Krakow). The CEA procedure improved her general health: she regained the ability to name objects and her HRQOL also improved in her perception. The improvement achieved was statistically significant. She returned to painting and functions well in society.The patient’s perception of HRQoL measured by the SF-36 domains was better after the CEA: a significant improvement in self-reported overall health has occured. The HRQoL outcome measures may be valuable in future clinical trials of comparing different methods of treatment offered after AIS.

Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Bupivacaine in Supraclavicular Block Versus Bupivacaine alone in Upper Limb Surgery

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine combined with Bupivacaine in supraclavicular block versus Bupivacaine alone in upper limb surgeries
 Study Design: Quasi-experimental study
 Place and Duration Of Study: Anaesthesia Department, Combined Military Hospital Quetta, Pakistan, from Sep to Feb 2022.
 Methodology: Patients planning to undergo plating of radius fractures were included. The patients were divided into two equal sets (n=20) by purposive sampling and marked as Group-A and Group-B. Patients in both groups received supraclavicular block under ultrasound guidance and general endotracheal anaesthesia followed by that. In the first Group,Bupivacaine plain (0.125%) was used to block the brachial plexus, and in the second Group, Bupivacaine (0.125%) with adjuvant Dexmedetomidine (1ug/kg) was given respectively. The visual analogue scale was used to measure pain perception in both groups. 
 Results: The duration of analgesia in the Dexmedetomidine Group was 10 ±0.925 hours and 5.68 ±0.471hours in Bupivacaine Group, which holds statistical significance (p-value<0.001). The demographics, surgery-related parameters (duration and type of surgery), block related parameters (onset of block and time taken to block) were similar in both study groups.
 Conclusion: We concluded that Dexmedetomidine prolongs the duration of analgesia significantly when used as an adjuvant Bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Remimazolam as an Adjunct to General Anesthesia in Children: Adverse Events and Outcomes in a Large Cohort of 418 Cases.

Remimazolam was first approved in 2020 as a general anesthetic for adults and still does not have pediatric labeling. Our study will be the first pilot program that administers remimazolam as an adjunct to a general endotracheal anesthetic in children. Between August 2020 and December 2022, electronic medical records were collected for all children who received remimazolam during anesthesia. The remimazolam dosing regimen was extrapolated from the adult package insert, with intravenous induction doses of 12 mg/kg/h administered until the desired effect was achieved. Subsequent infusions were given at a rate of 1-2 mg/kg/h, accompanied by intermittent boluses of 0.2 mg/kg, with all dosing adjustments made according to the anesthesiologist's clinical discretion. A total of 418 children (mean 4.6 yrs, 68.7% ASA 1 and 2) underwent surgeries which averaged 81.2 min. A total of 75.2% of patients had greater than a 20% change (increase or decrease) in MAP (lowest or highest) from baseline, and 203 (49.3%) patients had greater than a 30% change (increase or decrease) in MAP (lowest or highest) from baseline. A total of 5% received ephedrine to treat unanticipated hemodynamic variability. Discharge criteria were met within an average of 13.8 min after arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit. Remimazolam may offer the benefits of rapid recovery following general endotracheal anesthesia. The risk of hemodynamic variability which necessitates and responds to ephedrine should be anticipated.

PERIOPERATIVE CONCERNS OF VENTRICULOATRIAL SHUNT - A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 40 CASES

Background: Ventriculo -peritoneal [VP] shunt is the most commonly used cerebrospinal uid (CSF) diversion procedure for the management of hydrocephalus. However, when the absorption of CSF from the peritoneum is defective, it results in abdominal distension with CSF ascites. In such cases, an alternate diversion procedure - the ventriculo-atrial [VA] shunt – may be performed. However, this procedure is also associated with several perioperative problems like arrhythmias, air embolism and infection. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of 40 cases on the perioperative concerns of VA shunt procedures, performed in our institute, was done. Indication of the shunt, preoperative status & work -up, intraoperative adverse events & management and immediate post-operative complications were assessed. Out of the 40 patients, there were 25 male Results: s and 15 females and there were a total of 12 paediatric patients. Blocked shunt, abdominal infection and CSF ascites were common indications for VA shunt. All patients received general endotracheal anaesthesia with preoperative hypovolemia correction. Intraoperative tachycardia and arrhythmia were noted. Various Conclusion : preoperative concerns like distended abdomen and compromised respiration increase risk of VA shunt procedures. A better understanding of the underlying disease pathology and anticipation of related complications along with cautious and meticulous management can help prevent most of the complications of VA shunt procedure and thereby improve outcome

Lateral Decubitus Positioning For Shoulder Arthroscopy

Background: Lateral decubitus positioning is a frequently employed technique to perform shoulder arthroscopy. Proper patient positioning and equipment setup is crucial to ensure a safe and efficient surgery. Indications: The common indications for performing a shoulder arthroscopy in the lateral decubitus position include anterior shoulder stabilization, posterior shoulder stabilization, superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) repair, diagnostic arthroscopy for internal impingement, and arthroscopic capsular release for adhesive capsulitis. Technique Description: After undergoing general endotracheal anesthesia in the supine position on a standard operating room table, the patient is rotated into the lateral decubitus position with the operative arm facing upward. The patient’s head is supported with a pillow to ensure a neutral position. The nonoperative arm is flexed forward and rests on a padded arm board. The sides of a bean bag are applied to the patient’s torso to maintain the lateral decubitus position, and the bean bag is deflated to remain rigid. An axillary roll is placed under the axilla, and foam pads are placed below the “down leg” and between both legs. A commercial arm jack is positioned on the anterior, proximal side of the operating room table to allow for 20° of shoulder abduction, which maximizes the glenohumeral joint space. Results: Advantages of the lateral decubitus position over the beach chair position include improved access to the anterior, inferior, and posterior glenoid; more ergonomic positioning for the operating surgeon; lower risk for patient cerebral hypoperfusion; and reduced rates of recurrent instability following arthroscopic stabilization in comparison to procedures performed in the beach chair position. Disadvantages of the lateral decubitus position include risk of traction-related neurovascular injury, requirement of an arm suspension device, and increased difficulty in rotating the shoulder intraoperatively. Discussion/Conclusion: Lateral decubitus positioning is commonly used to achieve a circumferential view of the glenohumeral joint in shoulder arthroscopy. This surgical position yields several advantages for the operating surgeon and has been shown to be associated with improved clinical outcomes after shoulder instability surgery. Patient Consent Disclosure Statement: The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.

Assessment of stress response due to C-Mac D-blade guided videolaryngoscopic endotracheal intubation and docking of da Vinci surgical robot using perfusion index in patients undergoing transoral robotic oncosurgery.

Clinical utility of perfusion index (PI) has entered a new realm as a non-invasive, quantitative index of stress response to endotracheal intubation. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) involves F-K retractor aided docking of the surgical robot producing haemodynamic and stress responses akin to laryngoscopy. We compared the stress response to videolaryngoscopy with that due to docking of da Vinci surgical robot using PI, heart rate and mean arterial pressure evaluated at specific time points post-laryngoscopy and post-docking. Twenty-six adult patients, scheduled for TORS under general endotracheal anaesthesia were included in this prospective, observational, single-centric cohort study. Statistical analysis included paired samples t-test, dotted box-whisker plots, trendlines and correlograms for comparative analysis of two stressors, laryngoscopy and docking. Baseline PI was 4.14. PI values increased post-midazolam (4.23), 1min (5.69) and 3min (6.25) post anaesthetic-induction, plummeted at laryngoscopy (3.24), remained low at 1min (3.68), 3min (4.69) thereafter, and were highest at 10min (6.17) post-laryngoscopy and predocking (6.84). Docking witnessed a fall in PI (4.1), which remained low at 1min (4.02), 3min (4.31) and 10min (4.79) post-docking. PI was significantly higher at laryngoscopy compared with PI at docking (p = 0.0044). At 1min and 3min post-laryngoscopy and post-docking, respectively, the differences in PI were statistically insignificant. PI at 10min post-laryngoscopy was significantly lower than PI at 10min post-docking (p < 0.0001). As non-invasively quantified by PI, videolaryngoscopic stress response is more intense but shorter-lived versus that due to docking. PI displays a negative correlation with haemodynamic variables. PI at laryngoscopy is a good predictor of PI at docking, enabling pre-emptive measures (fentanyl bolus; deepening of volatile anaesthesia from MAC-maintenance to MAC-intubation) anticipating the docking-induced stress response.Trial registration http://ctri.nic.in ; Identifier: CTRI/2019/11/022091.

492 Periprocedural Polypharmacy in Lumbar Fusions Performed Under Spinal Anesthesia Compared to General Anesthesia

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar spinal surgery is most often performed under general endotracheal anesthesia (GEA), however spinal anesthesia (SA) is a safe and effective alternative. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a complication of GEA and the risk of POCD is associated with anesthetic modality and perioperative polypharmacy. Despite the many benefits of SA described in the literature, its efficacy in decreasing polypharmacy has not yet been determined. METHODS: Demographic and procedural data of 424 patients undergoing single TLIF via GEA (n = 186) and SA (n = 238) were extracted from our institution’s electronic medical record. We investigated perioperative medication types, number of intraoperative hypotensive episodes, vasopressor requirement, and overall number of perioperative medications used between the two patient groups. RESULTS: The number of perioperative medications differed significantly between the two cohorts with the SA cohort receiving a mean of 4.5 medications and the GEA cohort receiving a mean of 10.5 medications (p &lt; 0.0001).This reduction in perioperative medications remained significant after a multivariable analysis to control for confounders (p &lt; 0.001 for all variables). Use of vasopressors was significantly reduced in the SA cohort (p &lt; 0.001), which coincided with a significant reduction in hypotensive episodes in the SA cohort (p &lt; 0.001). Patients undergoing TLIF via GEA had 3.6 times greater odds of experiencing a hypotensive episode intraoperatively (OR = 3.62, 95% CI [2.38-5.49]). CONCLUSIONS: Spinal anesthesia is associated with a significant decrease in perioperative medications, including lower vasopressor requirements. We postulate that SA may confer superior intraoperative hemodynamic stability which lowers pressor requirements. The decrease of perioperative medications may be an important contribution in reducing the incidence of POCD in patients undergoing TLIFs.

Pediatric Fellowship-Trained Anesthesiologists Improve Anesthesia-Controlled Time in a Pediatric Endoscopy Suite.

The objective of this study was to determine the difference in anesthesia-controlled time (ACT) between subspecialty-trained pediatric anesthesiologists and general anesthesiologists during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy. We hypothesized pediatric anesthesiologists would demonstrate a shorter ACT compared to general anesthesiologists. We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric endoscopy cases requiring general endotracheal anesthesia within our pediatric sedation unit from 2017 to 2020. Demographic and procedural variables were collected and assessed for potential confounding. The imbalance in baseline variables was controlled for utilizing a generalized linear model (GLM). The GLM had a model fit of adjusted R2 = 0.146 and was statistically significant with P < 0.001. A priori power analysis was performed for a 2-tailed independent means t test with alpha = 0.05, and Power = 0.80, which revealed a minimum sample size of 64 patients per group to detect a mean difference of 3 minutes of ACT. A total of 269 cases met inclusion criteria. Adjusted results demonstrated fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologists were associated with a 3.7-minute (95% CI: 2.005-5.478; P < 0.001) reduction in ACT when compared to general practice anesthesiologists. Patient age was associated with a 0.4-minute (95% CI: -0.558 to -0.243; P < 0.001) decrease in ACT for each advancing year in age. We observed an association between the subspecialty training of the anesthesiology provider and ACT for EGDs and colonoscopies. When EGDs and colonoscopies are performed under the supervision of pediatric anesthesiologists, ACT reduction potentially reduces cost and improves efficiency.

A novel negative pressure isolation device reduces aerosol exposure: A randomized controlled trial

Background and aimThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to a proliferation of intubation barriers designed to protect healthcare workers from infection. We developed the Suction-Assisted Local Aerosol Containment Chamber (SLACC) and tested it in the operating room. The primary objectives were to determine the ease and safety of airway management with SLACC, and to measure its efficacy of aerosol containment to determine if it significantly reduces exposure to health care workers. MethodsIn this randomized clinical trial, adult patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery with general endotracheal anesthesia were screened and informed consent obtained from those willing to participate. Patients were randomized to airway management either with or without the SLACC device. Patients inhaled nebulized saline before and during anesthesia induction to simulate the size and concentration of particles seen with severe symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results79 patients were enrolled and randomized. Particle number concentration (PNC) at the patients' and healthcare workers’ locations were measured and compared between the SLACC vs. control groups during airway management. Ease and success of tracheal intubation were recorded for each patient. All intubations were successful and time to intubation was similar between the two groups. Healthcare workers were exposed to significantly lower particle number concentrations (#/cm3) during airway management when SLACC was utilized vs. control. The particle count outside SLACC was reduced by 97% compared to that inside the device. ConclusionsThe SLACC device does not interfere with airway management and significantly reduces healthcare worker exposure to aerosolized particles during airway management.

Comparison of modified anterior and traditional posterior accesses for ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block in awake endotracheal intubation: study protocol for a randomised non-inferiority clinical trial

IntroductionAwake tracheal intubation (ATI) involves placing a tracheal tube in an awake, spontaneously breathing patient. Superior laryngeal nerve block (SLNB) can effectively abolish the glottic closure reflex, and blunt the...

Measurement of exhaled breath temperature in patients under general anesthesia: A feasibility study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the respiratory parameters that influence the exhaled breath temperature (EBT) and the feasibility of using the latter to monitor the core temperature under general endotracheal anesthesia. A total of 20 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were included in the present study. At the first stage of the experiment, the respiratory rate was adjusted, while the other respiratory parameters [tidal volume, inspiratory and expiratory time ratio (TI:TE), and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP)] were maintained at a constant level. At the second stage, the tidal volume was adjusted, while the other respiratory parameters were maintained at a constant level. At the third stage, the TI:TE was adjusted, while the other parameters were maintained at a constant level. At the fourth stage, PEEP was adjusted, while the other parameters were maintained at a constant level. In each experiment, the EBT, the maximum temperature of exhaled air in each min, the inhaled air temperature and the nasopharyngeal temperature (T nose) were recorded every min. During the first stage of the experiment, no significant difference was noted in the EBT at different levels of respiratory rate. During the second, third and fourth stage, no significant difference was noted in the EBT at different tidal volumes, TI:TE and PEEP, respectively. The EBT was significantly correlated with the T nose. Overall, the present study demonstrated that the EBT of patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general endotracheal anesthesia was not affected by the examined respiratory parameters and that it could be considered a feasible method of monitoring core temperature.

Preoperative ultrasonographic evaluation of the airway vis-à-vis the bedside airway assessment to predict potentially difficult airway on direct laryngoscopy in adult patients—a prospective, observational study

BackgroundUnanticipated difficult airway remains a challenge for the anesthesiologist with no established standard criteria to predict difficulty in intubation. Our aim was to correlate the pre-anesthetic ultrasonographic (USG) airway assessment parameters with Cormack-Lehane (CL) grade at direct laryngoscopy view under general anaesthesia.This was a prospective, observational study on 150 adult patients between 18 and 70 years with the American Society of Anesthesiologist—Physical Status 1–2 requiring general endotracheal anesthesia for elective surgery.ResultsThe incidence of difficult laryngoscopy was 22.7%. The sonographic distance from anterior neck surface to epiglottis (ANS-E) > 1.67 cm was observed to be a statistically significant USG predictor of difficult laryngoscopic view with sensitivity of 64.71% and specificity of 78.45% (p = 0.000). The sonographic distance from anterior neck surface to hyoid bone (ANS-H) or to anterior commissure (ANS-AC) did not corelate with difficult laryngoscopy. The ultrasound (US) parameters had higher negative than positive predictive value.ConclusionsWe found ANS-E distance to be the most significant predictor of difficult laryngoscopy in our study. USG is a useful tool to identify the “at-risk” patients for difficult airway.

Free-floating right heart thrombus with pulmonary embolism - a case report

Introduction. Right heart thrombus is uncommon and it is usually detected by echocardiography in patients with venous thromboembolism. Thrombi attached to the atrial or ventricular wall have a good prognosis; however, free-floating ?snake-like? thrombi are usually associated with massive, unstable pulmonary embolism and high mortality. Case Report. A 43-year-old male patient visited a cardiologist complaining about rapid fatigue and shortness of breath with minimal effort in the last week. An echocardiographic examination confirmed a right heart thrombus and a pulmonary embolism. After the examination, the case was presented to the Heart Team, which made a decision to perform a surgery. After the usual preoperative preparation for emergency surgery, the patient underwent surgery under general endotracheal anesthesia via median sternotomy. Conclusion. The right heart thrombus is associated with risks of possible embolization to the pulmonary circulation and potential circulatory collapse. There was a considerable discrepancy between the apparently mild clinical presentation and the alarming echocardiographic finding of a huge free-floating thrombus. Despite the lack of standardized and precise recommendations for the optimal therapeutic strategy, surgical approach seems to be the best option in emergency cases with large free-floating thrombi.

Anesthesia for thyroid surgery in heart transplant patients - first case study in Serbia

Introduction. The number of patients in the world who have undergone heart transplantation is increasing, with better and longer survival rates, and therefore the number of patients who undergo various surgical interventions after transplantation is also increasing. This presents a challenge for anaesthesiologists. Case outline. A 45-year-old female patient underwent a total thyroidectomy due to suspected thyroid cancer. She had a heart transplant three years earlier. Preoperative preparation included evaluation of cardiac function, consultative examinations by a transplant cardiologist, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures, as well as a detailed analysis of all 20 medications that the patient uses in daily therapy. Common drugs were used for premedication and general endotracheal anaesthesia, with careful dose titration. Medicines were also prepared for the occurrence of heart rhythm disorders, bearing in mind that the heart is denervated, but there was no need for their use. The operation and postoperative course went smoothly and on the third postoperative day the patient was discharged from the hospital in good general condition. Conclusion. Preoperative preparation, anaesthesia, and postoperative treatment of this patient represented a challenge for our team, which was successfully overcome, considering that this is the first case of operative treatment of a patient with a transplanted heart in Serbia.

Dexmedetomidine versus Clonidine for Improved Quality of Emergence from General Anaesthesia: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Study

Introduction: Extubation of the trachea upon emergence from General Anaesthesia (GA) is often accompanied by potentially dangerous events, like coughing, hypertension, tachycardia, and agitation. The centrally acting a -2 agonist, dexmedetomidine, has been evaluated to attenuate the emergence/extubation response. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effectiveness of clonidine for the same purpose. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of emergence from GA in patients receiving clonidine infusion versus dexmedetomidine infusion. Materials and Methods: In this randomised, double-blinded trial conducted over a period of 5 months, 105 patients aged 18-70 years, of either sex, with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade I-III, scheduled for elective laparotomies with an estimated duration of 1-4 hours, were randomly assigned to groups D, C, and P. Group D received inj. dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg, group C received clonidine 3 μg/kg, and group P received placebo (normal saline) via intravenous (i.v.) route over 10 minutes using a syringe pump, 10 minutes prior to the anticipated end of surgery. Haemodynamic parameters, cough, agitation, shivering, time to extubation, sedation, Visual Analogue Score (VAS), and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) scores were recorded before, during, and after extubation. The incidence of complications (hypotension, bradycardia, or others) was also recorded. Categorical data were expressed as proportions, while numerical data were presented as mean±Standard Deviation (SD) or median±Interquartile Range (IQR). Appropriate data were compared using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: A total of 105 patients were included, with 53 males and 52 females. There was no difference in the demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, and Body Mass Index (BMI), amongst the three groups. Haemodynamic parameters (Heart Rate (HR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)) were significantly lower in patients of group D and group C compared to the placebo group at 5, 10, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively, after the beginning of drug infusion (p-value &lt;0.05). Patients in groups D and C had significantly lower median cough scores at 20-25 minutes compared to the placebo group (p-value at 20 and 25 minutes was 0.012 and &lt;0.001, respectively). There was a significant reduction in postoperative pain, as measured by VAS score, and an increase in sedation, as measured by Ramsay sedation score, in groups D and C compared to the placebo group. There was no statistical difference in agitation score, shivering score, PONV score, time to extubation, and incidence of complications among the three groups (p-value &gt;0.05). Conclusion: Administration of 1 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine or 3 μg/kg of clonidine over 10 minutes prior to recovery from General Endotracheal Tube Anaesthesia (GETA) results in a better quality of recovery, as evidenced by a statistically significant reduction in cough scores in patients undergoing elective laparotomies when compared to patients of placebo group.

Comparison of Analgesic Effect of Clonidine as an Adjuvant with Different Concentration of Ropivacaine (0.35% and 0.2%) in Thoracic Paravertebral Block among Modified Radical Mastectomy Patients: A Randomised Double Blinded Clinical Study

Introduction: Thoracic Paravertebral Block (TPVB) appears promising for reduction of postoperative pain in Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM). Various combinations of local anaesthetics and adjuvants have been tried in TPVB but search for an ideal combination is still on. Aim: To evaluate analgesic efficacy of clonidine (1 µg/kg) as adjuvant with different concentrations of ropivacaine (0.35%, 0.2%) for TPVB in MRM surgery. Materials and Methods: This randomised double blind comparative clinical study was carried out in a tertiary care centre in Southern Rajasthan from January 2019 to March 2020, clinical study, 120 American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade I, II patients aged 18-60 years female patients undergoing MRM surgery were randomised into three groupsRP, RC and LDRC to receive 0.35% Ropivacaine 19 mL, 0.35% Ropivacaine 19 ml+Clonidine (1 µg/kg) and 0.2% Ropivacaine 19 ml+Clonidine(1 µg/kg) diluted upto total 20 ml with normal saline, respectively. TPVB was performed at T4 level as single injection followed by administration of general endotracheal anaesthesia. The primary outcome measured was duration of analgesia. Secondary outcomes measured included consumption of rescue analgesic, Visual analog scale and perioperative haemodynamic parameters. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square test respectively. p&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean duration of analgesia was prolonged in clonidine groups RC and LDRC (811.5±110.99 and 753±119.76 min, respectively) as compared to group RP (400.125±108.13 min), although no statistically significant difference was noted between group RC and LDRC. Similar observations were noted when total dose of rescue analgesic in group RC (82.50±7.21 mg) and LDRC (99.38±35.57 mg) was compared to group RP (142.50±53.169 mg) as well as when total number of rescue analgesic doses in group RC (1.10±0.496) and group LDRC (1.32±0.474) were compared to group RP (1.92±0.694). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was noted at rest, cough, movement at 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours and showed a statistically significant difference between ropivacaine group RP and ropivacaine clonidine groups. Conclusion: Addition of clonidine to ropivacaine in TPVB during breast cancer surgery results in lower pain scores, prolong duration of analgesia and reduce postoperative requirement of rescue analgesics. Both lower (0.2%) and higher (0.35%) concentrations of ropivacaine provide equally effective postoperative analgesia.