Laryngeal Airway Research Articles

Achieving Successful Extubation and Cost-Effective Recovery Following Anesthetic Airway Management in Supracarinal Tracheal Reconstruction Surgeries: A Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction From an anesthesiologist's perspective, perioperative concerns related to supracarinal tracheal reconstruction surgery include having uninterrupted smooth ventilation without any laryngeal edema, glottic dysfunction, and airway leak. Surgical concerns comprise various kinds of anastomotic dissections, fistulas to innominate arteries, and the esophagus. The most serious complication following tracheal surgery is anastomotic separation, which might manifest modestly as stridor, respiratory distress, and extremis. To avoid dire repercussions, prompt management and securing the airway are necessary.Against this background,we wanted tohighlight the importance of early extubation and discharge of supracarinal tracheal reconstruction patients from hospitals without any postoperative complications and with the least expenses possible, since mostof these patients have already undergone postintubation tracheal stenosis and prolonged intensive care unit stay, and have experienced significant financialburden incurring from preceding events. Methodology Medical records of allpatients admitted for tracheal reconstruction during the period from March 2019 toApril 2022(four years)were reviewed to collect patient demographic details, surgical descriptions, anesthesia data, records of pre-anesthetic evaluations, and postoperative details up until the hospital discharge. Results The most common reason for tracheal stenosis among our patients was post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS), which was seen in 8/13 patients (61.53%);4/13patients (30.76%)had stridorat rest and underwent emergency tracheostomy preoperatively immediately following admission to the hospital.The stenosis was situated at a median distance of 3 cm [interquartilerange (IQR): 0.5-7] from the true vocal cords or 7 cm (IQR: 3-9) from the carina. The median length of tracheal resection was 2 cm(IQR: 1-4).Weobserved that the mode ofinductionfor airway management was tracheostomytubein four patients (with 90% tracheal stenosis), placement of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with spontaneous ventilationin four patients (with 75% tracheal stenosis), andsmall-size (#5-7.5sizes) endotracheal tube (ETT) placement in five patients (with less than 75% tracheal stenosis).The postoperative complicationnoted was bleeding from the operative site in 1/13 patients (7.6%); a 0% mortality rate was noted during the hospital stay and up until six months post-discharge. We noted that the median duration of postoperative hospitalizationwas five days (IQR: 2-15), and the total cost incurred by each patientwas less thanINR 85,000 (USD 1,000). Conclusion Our analysis revealed that all our patients were extubated in the operative room andshifted to the ward. In the "open airway phase",standard distal tracheal intubation and cross-field ventilation techniques, and tracheal suturing were facilitated by the apnoea-ventilation-apnoea technique. Both the techniques along with the emergency tracheostomies done in severe tracheal obstruction preoperatively and intraoperative anesthesia management with the insertion of LMA Supreme,maintained with spontaneous breathing techniques, offered potential advantages in the management ofsupracarinal tracheal reconstruction surgeries. The multidisciplinary teamwork along with close communication and good rapport with the surgical team was found to be the key factor in the fast-track extubation and recovery of these patients.

Military Standard Testing of Commercially Available Supraglottic Airway Devices for Use in a Military Combat Setting.

Airway obstruction is the second leading cause of death on the battlefield. The harsh conditions of the military combat setting require that devices be able to withstand extreme circumstances. Military standards (MIL-STD) testing is necessary before devices are fielded. We sought to determine the ability of supraglottic airway (SGA) devices to withstand MIL-STD testing. We tested 10 SGA models according to nine MIL-STD-810H test methods. We selected these tests by polling five military and civilian emergency-medicine subject matter experts (SMEs), who weighed the relevance of each test. We performed tests on three devices for each model, with operational and visual examinations, to assign a score (1 to 10) for each device after each test. We calculated the final score of each SGA model by averaging the score of each device and multiplying that by the weight for each test, for a possible final score of 2.6 to 26.3. The scores for the SGA models were LMA Classic Airway, 25.9; AuraGain Disposable Laryngeal Mask, 25.5; i-gel Supraglottic Airway, 25.2; Solus Laryngeal Mask Airway, 24.4; LMA Fastrach Airway, 24.4; AuraStraight Disposable Laryngeal Mask, 24.1; King LTS-D Disposable Laryngeal Tube, 22.1; LMA Supreme Airway, 21.0; air-Q Disposable Intubating Laryngeal Airway, 20.1; and Baska Mask Supraglottic Airway, 18.1. The limited (one to three) samples available for testing provide adequate preliminary information but restrict the range of failures that could be discovered. Lower scoring SGA models may not be optimal for military field use. Models scoring sufficiently close to the top performers (LMA Classic, AuraGain, i-gel, Solus, LMA Fastrach, AuraStraight) may be viable for use in the military setting. The findings of our testing should help guide device procurement appropriate for different battlefield conditions.

Clinical usefulness of transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography in otolaryngology practice during COVID-19 pandemic: a literature review.

As a consequence of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the clinical practice of otolaryngologists underwent profound transformations. Non-aerosol-generating procedures have been researched and implemented. Transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasonography (TLUSG) provides a rapid and noninvasive method to assess laryngeal function and can support the management of laryngeal disorders. With the aim of investigating the clinical usefulness of TLUSG in otolaryngology practice, a review of the literature published on PubMed, Cochrane Library and Ovid/ Medline databases was performed up to March 2022. 38 studies were eligible to be included in the review. The selected papers were divided into six topics of interest: evaluation of vocal cords function, diagnosis of laryngeal disorders in infants and children, evaluation of swallowing disorders, assessment of laryngeal cancer and other laryngeal lesions, ultrasound-guided cricothyroidotomy, ultrasound-guided laryngeal electromyography. The results of this review demonstrated that TLUSG, applied to ENT practice, can be a valid method for dynamic laryngeal assessment and airway management, since it is time-efficient, non invasive, well tolerated and easily performed.

Listening for Dysphagia: Voice Quality Sequelae of Material in the Airway

Postswallow voice abnormality is often assumed to indicate the presence of material in the laryngeal airway (MIA), but prior research has not shown definitive evidence of a causal relationship. This study investigated if endoscopically confirmed MIA (prandial material or secretions) generates specific voice quality attributes that can be perceptually identified by experienced listeners. Forty-four dysphagic adults underwent endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Time-linked audiovisual recordings of pre- and postswallow phonation were analyzed to determine the presence, amount, and location of prandial material or secretions in the larynx during phonation. Expert listeners completed auditory-perceptual ratings of phonation samples. Voice quality ratings did not differ significantly when there was MIA during postswallow phonation. However, judgments of voice quality abnormality for MIA samples were elevated when analyses controlled for effects of baseline dysphonia. Listeners were most likely to perceive voice quality abnormality when larger amounts of secretions were present, as compared to prandial material. Interrater reliability was variable and ranged from low to moderate across perceptual parameters. MIA during phonation occurred for many participants, but perception of voice quality abnormality was variable when MIA was present. Baseline dysphonia is common among individuals with dysphagia and may limit perception of voice quality abnormalities generated by MIA. Secretions in the laryngeal airway may have a greater impact on voice quality parameters.

A Prospective Randomized Study for the Placement of Flexible Laryngeal Airway Mask with Two-Step of Jaw-Thrust Technique by Both Hands for Adults.

To investigate the effect of two-step of jaw-thrust technique on the placement of flexible laryngeal mask with both hands. 157 patients scheduled for functional endoscopic sinus surgery were divided into two groups using a random number table method: control group (group C, n = 78) and test group (group T, n = 79). After induction of general anesthesia, the traditional method was applied to insert the flexible laryngeal airway mask in group C, and the two-step of jaw-thrust technique with both hands by the nurse was applied to help place the laryngeal mask in group T. The success rate, alignment status, oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) of the laryngeal mask, soft tissue injury of the oropharyngeal cavity and postoperative sore throat, and the incidence of adverse airway event were recorded in both groups. Results: The success rate of the first placement of flexible laryngeal masks in group C and group T were 73.8% and 97.5%, and the final success rates were 97.5% and 98.7%, respectively. Compared with group C, the success rate of first placement in group T was higher, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the final success rate between the two groups (P = 0.56). The alignment score showed that the placement of group T was better than that of group C, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The OLP of group C was 22.1 ± 2.6 cmH2O, and the OLP of group T was 25.4 ± 3.8 cmH2O. The OLP of group T was significantly higher than that of group C (P < 0.01). The incidence of mucosal injury and postoperative sore throat in group T were 2.5% and 5.0%, which were significantly lower than that of 23.0% and 16.7% in group C (both P < 0.01). There was no adverse airway event in each group. Conclusion: The two-step of jaw-thrust technique with both hands can improve the success rate of the first placement of the flexible laryngeal mask and the positioning of the laryngeal mask, increase the sealing pressure of the laryngeal mask, and reduce the incidence of oropharyngeal soft tissue injury and postoperative pharyngeal pain.

Comparison between Air Q and intubating laryngeal mask airway as intubation conduits in patients with simulated fixed cervical spine: a prospective observational study.

The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) can be used for ventilation and oxygenation between intubation attempts, but there is a varied success rate ranging from 33% to 96%. Air Q is a relatively new entrant. Parker flex tube aids in atraumatic intubation. The primary aim of this study was to compare Air Q intubating laryngeal airway with ILMA as intubation conduits in patients with simulated fixed cervical spine using a Parker flex tube. It was a single-blinded, randomized, prospective, and comparative study conducted on 91 patients aged between 18 to 60 years of either sex, scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II. Out of 45 patients in each group, Air Q was successfully placed in 43 patients and ILMA was successfully placed in 44 patients. 35.56% of the patients required maneuvers for placing the Air Q, whereas, for placing the ILMA, only 15.56% of the patients required maneuvers. Intubation through the AIR Q was successful in 39 patients and through the ILMA in 44 patients, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. The number of attempts and the time of device insertion were comparable. There were a similar number of attempts, maneuvers required, and time is taken for endotracheal intubation. The incidence of cough and sore throat was comparable in both groups. We conclude that ILMA has a higher success rate than Air Q for tracheal intubation with Parker Flex tube in patients with simulated fixed cervical spine. More optimized maneuvers were required for the placement of Air Q.

Application of multimodal combined surgical strategy in children with intractable laryngeal airway obstruction

Objective:To explore the selection of surgical methods and intraoperative strategies for the treatment of children with intractable laryngeal airway obstruction, and to provide new options for the diagnosis and treatment of children with intractable laryngeal airway obstruction. Methods:The clinical data of 12 children with intractable laryngeal airway obstruction treated by our team from January 2005 to December 2021 were retrospective analyzed. All the children were treated with minimally invasive surgery under rigid bronchoscope or suspension laryngoscope combined with electronic endoscope. The surgical methods included laryngeal microsurgery, plasma ablation, balloon dilatation, drug-eluting stents, laser ablation, endoscopic snare, etc. The patients were followed up after operation. Results:All patients completed the operation under general anesthesia, and there were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Except for one patient with bilateral vocal cord paralysis who failed to extubation due to restenosis, the others were successfully extubated after operation. Among them, 9 cases of benign space-occupying obstruction were followed up for 5-60 months without recurrence, and 2 cases of malignant tumor-induced obstruction were followed up for 24 months（acinar cell carcinoma） and 36 months（mucoepidermoid carcinoma） without recurrence. Conclusion:Endoscopic multi-operation is effective for children with intractable obstruction. Compared with traditional thoracotomy, endoscopic multi-operation strategies has the advantages of less trauma, faster and safer. For different sizes, locations and pathological types of obstruction, different surgical equipment and methods should be combined.

Implementation of Surfactant Administration through Laryngeal or Supraglottic Airways (SALSA): A Jordanian NICU's Journey to Improve Surfactant Administration.

Administration of liquid surfactant through an endotracheal tube for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome has been the standard of care for decades. Surfactant administration through laryngeal or supraglottic airways (SALSA) is a simplified procedure for delivery of surfactant that is less invasive and better tolerated. The Al Bashir Maternity and Children’s Hospital NICU in Amman, Jordan, implemented SALSA as a potentially better practice in 2019 with the objective to effectively and efficiently deliver surfactant in a minimally invasive way and to decrease the adverse events associated with intubation–surfactant–extubation (InSurE) and laryngoscopy. The quality improvement initiative was conducted from March 2019 to December 2019. All infants who weighed 750 g or more who required surfactant were eligible. As physicians were trained in the technique and use expanded, we were able to use plan–do–study–act cycles to observe differences between SALSA and InSurE. The primary aim was the optimization of non-invasive ventilation by the effective and efficient delivery of surfactant. Balancing measures included episodes of bradycardia while receiving surfactant or the need for a second dose of surfactant. We evaluated 220 infants who received surfactant by SALSA or InSurE with a mean gestational age of 32 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1.8 kg. The Respiratory Severity Score (RSS) prior to surfactant administration was 2.7 in the SALSA group compared to 2.9 in the InSurE group (p = 0.024). Those in the InSurE group had a lower mean heart rate during the procedure (p =< 0.0001) and were more likely to need a second dose of surfactant (p = 0.026) or require intubation for mechanical ventilation (p = 0.022). Both groups were effectively delivered surfactant as evidenced by improvement in their RSS over an 8 h period. SALSA was a more time efficient surfactant delivery method (93 vs. 111 secs, p =< 0.0001). Implementation of SALSA into the Al Bashir NICU was successful. We found that it was equally effective to InSurE, but was a more efficient method of delivery. Infants who received surfactant by this method tolerated it well.

Postnatal remodeling of the laryngeal airway removes body size dependency of spectral features for ultrasonic whistling in laboratory mice

AbstractIn many mammals, spectral properties of acoustic signals scale with body size within and among species. In rodents, however, despite drastic changes in body size, fundamental frequency (F0) range of ultrasonic whistles produced for social communication remain relatively uniform from birth to adulthood. Such divergent patterns may be due to a novel sound production mechanism unique to rodents involving an intralaryngeal midline pocket termed the ventral pouch. In this study, we analyzed the postnatal shape and size of the laryngeal airway in CD1 mice over ontogeny to better understand the association between ventral pouch geometry and F0 of ultrasonic whistles. Ventral pouch volume (0.06 ± 0.01 mm3) did not differ between pups and 1‐year‐old adults despite extensive shape‐inducing remodeling of the intralaryngeal musculature and connective tissue. In contrast, ventral pouch volume was 50% less in 2‐year‐old compared to 1‐year‐old mice. Thus, allometry of the laryngeal airway appears to explain spectral overlap between ultrasonic whistles of young, small mice and older, larger mice. The causal association between the reduction in vocal behavior and a seemingly shrinking ventral pouch in geriatric mice remains unclear. Together, these data inform our understanding of the postnatal development and remodeling of the intralaryngeal airway in Mus musculus.

Air-Q ILA as a conduit for orotracheal intubation in children: A randomized control trial for comparison between supine and lateral patient positions.

Airway management in children is always challenging and becomes a concern if required in the lateral position. We evaluated the efficacy of orotracheal intubation using the Air-Q intubating laryngeal Airway (Air-Q ILA) in supine and lateral positions in children. This study included 100 children weighing 7-30 kg, scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia. They were randomized into the supine (S) group or lateral (L) group. After anesthesia induction, the child was placed in a standard sniffing position for conventional laryngoscopy in the S group, and the child was turned into the lateral position in the L group. Both Air-Q ILA and endotracheal tube were placed blindly in the supine position in the S group and lateral position in group L. The grading of glottic view, success rate, insertion time of the Air-Q ILA, and endotracheal intubation were noted in both the groups. The Air-Q ILA was successfully placed at the first attempt in 47 children in group S and 48 in group L. The overall blind orotracheal intubations, including first and second attempts, were successful in 45 children in the S group and 47 in the L group (P = 0.715). Eighty percent of patients in group L and 70% in group S had glottis grade 1 or 2 compared to grade 3, 4,5 (P = 0.249). The mean time of Air-Q ILA placement in groups S and L was 15.73 ± 5.64 s and 14.42 ± 4.16 s (P = 0.195). The mean duration of blind endotracheal intubation through the Air-Q ILA was 24.88 ± 14.75 s in group S and 17.57 ± 5.35 s in group L (P = 0.002). In both the groups, none of the children had bronchospasm, laryngospasm, desaturation, or aspiration. The airway trauma evident by blood staining on the Air-Q ILA on removal was revealed in 2 cases in group S, and 3 cases in group L. None of the children in group S and 4 children in group L had postoperative stridor. Postoperative hoarseness was reported in 3 children in group S and none in group L within 24 hours. The Air-Q ILA can be used as a conduit for blind orotracheal intubation in children in both supine and lateral positions while maintaining an effective airway seal.

Temporal Sequence of Laryngeal Vestibule Closure and Reopening is Associated With Airway Protection.

Upper esophageal sphincter opening (UESO), and laryngeal vestibule closure (LVC) are two essential kinematic events whose timings are crucial for adequate bolus clearance and airway protection during swallowing. Their temporal characteristics can be quantified through time-consuming analysis of videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS). We sought to establish a model to predict the odds of penetration or aspiration during swallowing based on 15 temporal factors of UES and laryngeal vestibule kinematics. Manual temporal measurements and ratings of penetration and aspiration were conducted on a videofluoroscopic dataset of 408 swallows from 99 patients. A generalized estimating equation model was deployed to analyze association between individual factors and the risk of penetration or aspiration. The results indicated that the latencies of laryngeal vestibular events and the time lapse between UESO onset and LVC were highly related to penetration or aspiration. The predictive model incorporating patient demographics and bolus presentation showed that delayed LVC by 0.1 s or delayed LVO by 1% of the swallow duration (average 0.018 s) was associated with a 17.19% and 2.68% increase in odds of airway invasion, respectively. This predictive model provides insight into kinematic factors that underscore the interaction between the intricate timing of laryngeal kinematics and airway protection. Recent investigation in automatic noninvasive or videofluoroscopic detection of laryngeal kinematics would provide clinicians access to objective measurements not commonly quantified in VFSS. Consequently, the temporal and sequential understanding of these kinematics may interpret such measurements to an estimation of the risk of aspiration or penetration which would give rise to rapid computer-assisted dysphagia diagnosis. 2 Laryngoscope, 133:521-527, 2023.

Effects of a novel, 3D printed bilateral arytenoid abductor on canine laryngeal airway resistance ex vivo

BackgroundLaryngeal paralysis is a disease process most commonly seen in older, large breed dogs. When both arytenoid cartilages are affected dogs can develop life-threatening respiratory compromise, therefore surgical intervention is recommended. While there are multiple surgical procedures that have been described to treat laryngeal paralysis, there remains a considerable risk for postoperative complications, most commonly aspiration pneumonia. The objective of this ex vivo experimental study was to evaluate the effects of a novel, 3D printed bilateral arytenoid abductor on laryngeal airway resistance in canine cadaver larynges. Laryngeal airway resistance was calculated for each specimen before (control) and after placement of a 3D printed, bilateral arytenoid abductor. The airway resistance was measured at an airflow of 10 L/min with the epiglottis closed and at airflows ranging from 15 L/min to 60 L/min with the epiglottis open. The effects of the bilateral arytenoid abductor on laryngeal airway resistance were evaluated statistically.ResultsWith the epiglottis open, median laryngeal airway resistance in all larynges with a bilateral arytenoid abductor were significantly decreased at airflows of 15 L/min (0.0cmH2O/L/sec), 30 L/min (0.2cmH2O/L/sec), and 45 L/min (0.2cmH2O/L/sec) compared to the controls 15 L/min (0.4cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.04), 30 L/min (0.9cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.04), and 45 L/min (1.2cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.04). When the epiglottis was closed, there was no significant difference in laryngeal resistance between the control (18.8cmH2O/L/sec) and the abducted larynges (18.1cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.83).ConclusionsPlacement of a bilateral arytenoid abductor reduced laryngeal resistance in canine cadaver larynges compared to the controls when the epiglottis was open. With the epiglottis closed, there was no loss of laryngeal resistance while the device abducted the arytenoid cartilages. The results of this ex vivo study is encouraging for consideration of further evaluation of the bilateral arytenoid abductor to determine an appropriate material and tolerance of this device in vivo.

Caustic Ingestion

Caustic ingestions are rare, life-threatening injuries with life-long consequences. Injury can occur anywhere from the lips to stomach but tends to be most severe in the esophagus. Aspiration of caustic substances can lead to laryngeal or tracheobronchial injury and airway compromise. Caustic injuries come in two main varieties: acidic and alkaline-induced injuries. The type and state of agent determines in part the location of injury and depth of injury. Management consists of comprehensive evaluation and stabilization and must consider airway safety. Endoscopic evaluation and staging of the esophagus should be done within 24 hours of ingestion but not before 6 hours. Nasogastric tube placement should be considered based on the stage of the injury. Antibiotics, acid-suppressants, and corticosteroids may have a roll for certain patients but must be determined on an individual basis. Long-term follow up is required to monitor for strictures and patients with caustic esophageal injury are at increased risk of esophageal carcinoma. This review will help both junior and senior Otolaryngology residents recognize, evaluate and manage causing ingestions in pediatric patients. This review contains figures, tables, and references Keywords: Caustic ingestion, acid, alkali, endoscopic grading, strictures, mitomycin C, balloon dilatation

Surfactant Administration Through Laryngeal or Supraglottic Airways (SALSA): A Viable Method for Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries.

Administration of liquid surfactant through an endotracheal tube for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome has been the standard of care for decades. A skilled health care provider is needed to perform this procedure. In lower-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), healthcare resources are often limited, leading to increased mortality of premature infants, many of whom would benefit from surfactant administration. Therefore, having a simplified procedure for delivery of surfactant without the need for advanced skills could be life-saving, potentially diminish gaps in care, and help ensure more equitable global neonatal survival rates. Modifications to the standard approach of surfactant administration have been put into practice and these include: INtubation-SURfactant-Extubation (INSURE), thin catheter surfactant administration (TCA), aerosolized surfactant, and surfactant administration through laryngeal or supraglottic airways (SALSA). Although there is a need for larger studies to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of these newer methods, these methods are being embraced by the global community and being implemented in various settings throughout the world. Because the SALSA technique does not require laryngoscopy, a provider skilled in laryngoscopy is not required for the procedure. Therefore, because of the ease of use and safety profile, the SALSA technique should be strongly considered as a viable method of delivering surfactant in LMICs.

Expiratory Muscle Strength Treatment for Refractory Chronic Cough: A Short-term Single Exercise Program

Patients with chronic cough are some of the most challenging to treat. This preliminary study is the first to examine the effects of a single exercise muscle strength training program to reduce cough severity in patients who failed other treatments. A total of 19 females were included in this study, ranging from age 24 to 80. The maximum phonation time (MPT), laryngeal airway resistance (LAR), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), Voice Handicap Index-10, (VHI-10) and the Cough Severity Index (CSI) values were obtained pre- and post-treatment. ANOVA two-factor without replication was used to compare values pre- and post-treatment. MIP (Mean of 62.00 to a mean of 78.53) and MEP (Mean of 90.00 to a mean of 112.16) showed significant increase post-treatment. In addition, LAR (Mean of 73.30 to a mean of 60.67) and CSI (Mean of 19.37 to a mean of 15.00) significantly decreased post-treatment. General changes in pre- and post-treatment values were identified with MPT (Mean of 14.89 to a mean of 16.17) and VHI-10 (Mean of 8.00 to a mean of 6.76). A follow-up questionnaire indicated that the majority of patients felt their cough was better after 4 weeks. Muscle strength training provides a tool to aid in the control of cough for patients who are refractory to medical and other behavioral treatments. Improvement in cough may be associated with a reduction in subglottic pressure and increased air flow resulting in lower laryngeal airway resistance.

Influence of different head and neck positions on oropharyngeal leak pressures and cuff positions with Ambu® AuraGainTM laryngeal airway in children

Background: Ambu® AuraGain™ laryngeal airway is a supraglottic airway device designed to provide better airway protection and airway seal pressures. Aim of Study: To quantify oropharyngeal leak pressures (OPLPs), fibreoptic view, peak airway pressure and ventilation scoring with Ambu® AuraGain™ in children in different head and neck positions such as maximum flexion, maximum extension and lateral rotation. Patients and Methods: Sixty-eight children aged between 1 and 6 years posted for surgery were enrolled. Ambu® AuraGain™ was inserted after the induction of anaesthesia and ventilation was confirmed. OPLP, fibreoptic view, peak airway pressure and ventilation scores were noted in different head and neck positions such as maximum flexion, maximum extension and lateral rotation. Results: The OPLP significantly increased in flexion (P < 0.001) and significantly decreased in extension (P < 0.001) when compared to the neutral position. Airway pressure (Paw) increased significantly in flexion (P < 0.001) and decreased in extension (P = 0.04) when compared to the neutral position. Tidal volume delivery was comparable in all positions. There was a statistically significant decrease in ventilation scoring in the flexed position when compared to the neutral position (P = 0.005). There was a significant worsening of fibreoptic view in flexion when compared to the neutral position (P < 0.001). Fibreoptic view in the lateral position and extension was comparable with the neutral position. Conclusions: Use of Ambu® AuraGain™ laryngeal airway provides the best ventilatory parameters and Paw in children with head in the neutral and lateral position but lower OPLP with head in extension. However, flexing the head results in the worst ventilatory parameters and Paw among the positions studied.

Gnana Laryngeal Airway Device – A Case Series of Our Experience at a Tertiary Care Cancer Hospital

Gnana laryngeal airway (GLA) is a supraglottic airway device with capability of hypopharyngeal suctioning for removing oral secretions. It is easy to insert and is an effective means of airway management. We present a case series of 32 patients in whom GLA was used as a primary device to manage the airway after induction of general anaesthesia for breast surgeries, intracavitary application of brachytherapy and cystoscopy. The GLA was found to be easy to insert in a short time.

Endotracheal intubation in an adult patient of Hallermann-Streiff syndrome-Case report and review of literature.

Dear Editor, Hallermann–Streiff syndrome (HSS), a rare genetic polymalformative dysostic syndrome with only 150 reported cases, was first described in 1893 and is characterized by bird-like facies, hypoplasia of nasal bridge, mandibular hypoplasia, hypertrichosis, ocular abnormalities, severe tracheomalacia, and dwarfism.[1] Because of facial features, airway management is considered difficult in them; however, reports are scarce with only two adult patients previously reported.[1] Paucity of literature on airway management in adult HSS patients prompted us to report the present patient as when syndromes are rare, case reports guide an anesthesiologist for management. A 20-year-old female patient of HSS, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I, 55 kg, and 154 cm height, was posted for septo-rhinoplasty because of progressive nasal deformity since birth. She had history of snoring not associated with daytime somnolescence or night awakenings. Airway examination revealed microstomia, mouth opening of 2 cm, retrognathia, hyomental distance of 21/2 fingers, large tongue, crowding of teeth, high arched palate, small nares, and modified Mallampati Grade 3 [Figures 1 and 2]. Systemic examination and biochemical profile revealed no abnormality. As patient was anxious regarding awake fiberoptic intubation (FOI), plan was to first assess Cormack and Lehane (CL) grade on laryngoscopy in spontaneously breathing patient without muscle relaxants and in case of failure of endotracheal intubation (ETI) oral FOI under anesthesia was planned (nasal FOI was not possible due to small nares). Informed consent for emergency tracheostomy was taken. In the operation theater, routine monitors were attached. Following preoxygenation with 100% oxygen for 3 min, intravenous ketamine 50 mg with glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg was injected and sevoflurane 2–8% was gradually administered in 4–6 L/min 100% O2 preserving spontaneous respiration. Oropharyngeal airway was required for effective ventilation. Under deep anesthesia, check laryngoscopy with C Mac video laryngoscope size 3 blade revealed CL grade 1. Following this, injection atracurium 0.5 mg/kg was given and a cuffed endotracheal tube 6.5 was inserted successfully at first attempt. Intraoperative analgesia was supplemented with injection fentanyl 2 mcg/kg and paracetamol. Rest of the intraoperative period was uneventful. Surgery lasted for 3 h. At the end of surgery, neuromuscular blockade was reversed with neostigmine and glycopyrrolate and trachea extubated with no adverse sequelae. Patient was observed in recovery room for 2 h and was discharged from ward after 2 days.Figure 1: Frontal view of patient showing small and deformed naresFigure 2: Lateral view of patient showing retrognathia and decreased hyomental distanceThere are only eight reported cases of anesthesia management in HSS patients with two described in adults [Table 1][23456789] of which details of two non-English PubMed reported patients were not found.[46]Table 1: Reported cases of HSS patientsIn the reported adult patients, ETI was anticipated to be difficult; thus, awake ETI was performed in one and lighted stylet via the intubating laryngeal airway was used in the other. However in both patients, ETI was easily performed.[89] In the present patient also, airway management was anticipated to be difficult because of associated facial features like microstomia, <2 cm mouth opening, retrognathia, large tongue, crowding of teeth, and high arched palate. Contrarily ETI was easily established without any manipulations or adjuncts. This could be probably due to presence of small teeth, normal BMI, and adequate mouth opening. Through this case report, we want to highlight that even though adult HSS patients are considered to have difficult ETI, previous two reports including the present one have indicated that in an adult HSS patient, ETI might not be difficult; however, mask ventilation might be challenging. Declaration of patient consent The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.

Cochlear implant and surgical intervention for CHARGE syndrome with laryngeal airway lesions

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of surgical intervention for laryngeal airway lesions with concurrent cochlear implantation in CHARGE syndrome concomitant laryngeal airway lesions, and provide clinical data for cochlear implantation in children with CHARGE syndrome concomitant laryngeal airway lesions. Methods:The medical records of five cases diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome were retrospectively reviewed, two of them treated with surgical intervention for laryngeal airway lesions and concurrent cochlear implantation. One child treated with balloon dilatation of laryngeal stenosis and Cochlear implant, and another case received with modified supraglottoplasty for laryngeal malacia and Cochlear implant. Results:Two cases of CHARGE syndrome concomitant laryngeal airway disease, who underwent Cochlear implant and concurrent surgical intervention, recovered well after treatment. The remining three cases treated with Cochlear implant, who previously received deformity-correction surgery. All of the five cases presented with CHD7 mutation. Conclusion:Cochlear implant concurrent with surgical intervention of laryngeal airway lesions for the treatment of CHARGE syndrome concomitant laryngeal airway disease was safe and efficient, which could be a treatment option for children in this situation.

Surfactant Administration Through Laryngeal or Supraglottic Airways.

Noninvasive ventilation is frequently used in the treatment of infants with respiratory distress syndrome. This practice is often effective in higher gestational age neonates, but can be difficult in those with lower gestational ages as surfactant deficiency can be severe. While noninvasive ventilation avoids the negative effects of intubation and ventilator-induced lung injury, failure of this mode of support does occur with relative frequency and is primarily caused by the poorly compliant, surfactant-deficient lung. Because of the potential problems associated with laryngoscopy and intubation, neonatologists have developed various methods to deliver surfactant in minimally invasive ways with the aim of improving the success of noninvasive ventilation. Methods of minimally invasive surfactant administration include various thin catheter techniques, aerosolization/nebulization, and the use of a laryngeal mask airway/supraglottic airway device. The clinician should recognize that currently the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved device to deliver surfactant is an endotracheal tube and all methods reviewed here are considered off-label use. This review will focus primarily on surfactant administration through laryngeal or supraglottic airways, providing a review of the history of this technique, animal and human trials, and comparison with other minimally invasive techniques. In addition, this review provides a step-by-step instruction guide on how to perform this procedure, including a multimedia tutorial to facilitate learning.