Otolaryngologic Uses for Spinal Drains

Surgical vacuum drains: types, uses, and complications.

High- and low-pressure vacuum drains are commonly used after surgical procedures. High-pressure vacuum drains (ie, sealed, closed-circuit systems) are efficient and allow for easy monitoring and safe disposal of the drainage. Low-pressure vacuum drains use gentle pressure to evacuate excess fluid and air, and are easy for patients to manage at home because it is easy to reinstate the vacuum pre...

Wound drains in posterior spinal surgery: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The use of drains following posterior spinal surgery is controversial. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis was to review the advantages and adverse effects of closed suction drainage systems in posterior spinal surgery. METHODS All randomized and non-randomized controlled trials comparing the use of closed suction drainage with no drainage in posterior spinal surgery were sought in...

Why Cannot Suction Drains Prevent Postoperative Spinal Epidural Hematoma?

BACKGROUND Postoperative spinal epidural hematoma (POSEH) is different from spontaneous or post-spinal procedure hematoma because of the application of suction drains. However, it appeared that suction drains were not effective for prevention of POSEH in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to test our hypothesis that POSEH can be caused by hypercoagulability. METHODS This was an e...

Pediatric otolaryngologic emergencies.

Anesthesiologists are often consulted to help in the management of pediatric otolaryngologic emergencies. These include airway obstruction in children suffering from acute epiglottitis and croup. Surgical otolaryngologic emergencies such as foreign body aspiration, post-tonsillectomy bleeding, obstructive laryngeal papillomatosis, peritonsillar abscess, and laryngeal trauma can be life threaten...

The otolaryngologic patient and nutrition.