Endotracheal intubation was performed, and a water bubbling sound was heard from the anaesthesia device immediately after the release of gases to administer the O2-air-sevoflurane mixture. The flowmeter on the anaesthesia device was then found to be filled with water. The breakdown of the dryer in the medical air compressor system was determined as the source of the problem, since a greasy flui...

Background: Acute organophosphate poisoning (AOPP) is related to several clinical complications that may be fatal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of demographic, clinical and laboratory findings on AOPP outcome. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, medical records of all patients with AOPP admitted to Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, were reviewed from Jan...

There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of rigid indirect laryngoscopy or 'video' laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation. We summarise some of the key issues, comparing rigid indirect laryngoscopy with direct conventional laryngoscopy.

A new portable infra-red CO2 detector was assessed in 50 intubated patients. This device was 100% accurate in distinguishing between tracheal and oesophageal intubation when used by nursing and paramedic personnel.

The approach of the anaesthetist to the leprosy patient is discussed and the pathology of the disease in this context is briefly described. Pre^operative examination should include an assessment of the degree of sensation present at the site of operation. Involvement of the larynx by the disease may complicate endotracheal intubation. Steroid therapy is frequently used in the treatment of lepro...

We report the successful use of the Airtraq as a rescue device following failed direct laryngoscopy, in patients deemed at increased risk for difficult tracheal intubation. In a series of seven patients, repeated attempts at direct laryngoscopy with the Macintosh blade, and the use of manoeuvres to aid intubation, such as the gum elastic bougie placement, were unsuccessful. In contrast, with th...

Injury to multiple terminal branches of the maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal nerve is described. The injury occurred following difficult tracheal intubation using a retrograde technique. The possible anatomical basis of the injury is described.

There have been various attempts at defining what is meant by a difficult intubation. Repeated attempts at intubation, the use of a bougie or other intubation aid have been used in some papers, but perhaps the most widely used classification is by Cormack and Lehane [1] which describes the best view of the larynx seen at laryngoscopy (figure 1). This should be recorded in the patient’s notes wh...

Little is known about the acquisition of intubation skills among novice physicians during their one-year clinical training. Our primary objective was to determine the changes in the intubation skills of novice physicians between prior to the clinical training and after completion of the clinical training. We used data of a prospective longitudinal multicenter data registry developed to investig...