Fibreoptic intubation through a laryngeal mask airway in an infant with Robin sequence

Acts of neurosurgery, neuroradiology and radiation therapy are not always identified in the French "nomenclature générale des actes professionnels" (NGAP) (general nomenclature of professional acts). Project of a new "nomenclature commune des actes professionnels" (NCAP) (communal nomenclature of professional acts) is described and discussed.     

Usefulness of the intubating laryngeal mask airway for cases with predicted difficult intubation

We evaluated the usefulness of the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) in patients who were predicted to have possible difficult airway. Patients with possible difficult airway were defined as those with limited head extension, Mallampati's classification of grade IV, thyro-mental distance < 4 cm, or Cormack grade III-IV on the laryngoscopy. The control group was consisted of the patients without these conditions or impaired mouth opening. Insertion of the ILMA was successfully performed in all patients of both groups. In the group of possible difficult airway, 83% of patients were intubated through the ILMA successfully, and in the control group, 86%. We conclude that the ILMA may become an additional tool in patients with difficult intubation.     

The laryngeal mask airway in paediatric practice

Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous needle biopsy is often necessary to evaluate small intrathoracic lesions. Not infrequently, an overlying structure such as a rib or vessel precludes insertion of the biopsy needle within the CT slice containing the lesion. Insertion and angulation of the needle at a site within an adjacent CT slice is then required. In order to determine the optimal skin-entry site and degree of angulation for biopsy needle insertion, we analyzed the geometric relationship between lesion depth, needle length, and needle angulation.     

Laryngoscopy and fibreoptic intubation in acromegalic patients

Acromegaly is recognized as a cause of difficulty in airway management and tracheal intubation. We evaluated prospectively the conditions for laryngoscopy and fibreoptic intubation in 15 acromegalic patients. Each patient served as his or her own control. Ventilation of the lungs with a face mask was successful in all patients. In five of 15 patients the vocal cords could not be seen using the Macintosh laryngoscope with a size 5 blade. Difficult laryngoscopy was associated significantly with the number of attempts required to see the vocal cords with the fibrescope (P < 0.01, Spearman rank correlation). The larynx could not be seen with both techniques in one patient, and the trachea was intubated blindly with the help of an introducer. Our results showed that fibreoptic intubation may prove difficult or fail in acromegalic patients. Difficulties in seeing the vocal cords with a fibrescope were present most often in patients who also had probable intubation difficulties with a rigid laryngoscope.     

The laryngeal mask airway: a new standard for airway evaluation in thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND: Thoracic surgeons typically perform fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) before thoracotomy, usually on the day of the operation after intubation with a single-lumen endotracheal tube (ETT) and before insertion of a double-lumen ETT. This routine requires two laryngoscopies and two intubations. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is an airway device developed in England and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1991 for clinical use in the United States. It requires neither mask ventilation nor laryngoscopy and allows FOB visualization of the epiglottis, larynx, and entire trachea. We assessed the LMA as an alternative to a single-lumen ETT for FOB before thoracotomy. METHODS: Through prospective assessment, 50 patients underwent FOB after insertion of an LMA before thoracotomy. Pulse rate, blood pressure, ease of insertion of the LMA, quality of FOB, and complications of LMA insertion were assessed. RESULTS: During LMA insertion, blood pressure and pulse rate increased less than 5% from baseline in all patients. The LMA was inserted successfully in all patients within 10 seconds. No complications occurred as a result of LMA insertion. CONCLUSIONS: Insertion of the LMA causes minimal hemodynamic response. From the time of induction of general anesthesia, insertion of the LMA is quick, simple, and safe and eliminates the need for endotracheal intubation with a single-lumen ETT before double-lumen tube insertion. The LMA, in contrast to the ETT, allows a complete survey of the larynx and trachea. The LMA is autoclavable, reusable, and cost effective. Therefore, in patients who require FOB immediately before thoracotomy, LMA use should be the standard for airway evaluation.     

Use of the laryngeal mask airway as an alternative to the tracheal tube during ambulatory anesthesia

Apoptosis is a major determinant of the effectiveness of antitumor chemotherapy since most of the drugs used in cancer treatment provoke cell death by this process. We selected L1210/0.7R (7-fold) and L1210/3R (16-fold) murine leukemia cells resistant to cisplatin (CDDP) by adaptation of parental L1210/S cells to increasing drug concentration. L1210/0.7R exhibited a decreased apoptosis response to CDDP compared to parental L1210/S, while it was totally defective in L1210/3R as analyzed by cell morphology, DNA fragmentation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. This default in apoptosis did not result from differential expression of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2 or from altered expression of p53. L1210/3R was resistant to other cross-linking agents and sensitive to topoisomerase II inhibitors and microtubule poisons. Whatever the drug sensitivity phenotype to these agents, L1210/3R was totally defective in apoptosis in response to drug treatment, showing that apoptosis control cannot be directly involved in the resistance process of these cell lines.     

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy via laryngeal mask in children

The article describes the method and results of the puncture sclerotherapy of nonparasitic liver cysts in 30 patients. Cooled to -28 degrees C 96% ethyl alcohol was used as a sclerosing agent. The total destructive effect of the agent was obtained due to the combination of its chemical and physical (temperature) factors. Complete recovery was obtained in 86.6% of the patients. The puncture sclerotherapy can be used as a medical alternative for nonparasitic liver cysts.     

Pulmonary airway resistance with the endotracheal tube versus laryngeal mask airway in paralyzed anesthetized adult patients

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that airway resistance is less with the laryngeal mask airway than with the endotracheal tube was tested. METHODS: Thirty-six paralyzed, anesthetized adult patients with no respiratory disease (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1-3; age, 18-80 yr) were randomly allocated (9 men, 9 women in each group) to receive either a size-4 laryngeal mask airway or an endotracheal tube (men, 9-mm ID; women, 8-mm ID). A pulmonary monitor with flow transducer and esophageal balloon was used to measure peak airway pressure and mean airway resistance (device resistance plus pulmonary airway resistance) at three different tidal volumes (5, 10, and 15 ml/kg). Device resistance was measured in vitro with the distal end of the endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway open to the atmosphere and using the same ventilator settings. Pulmonary airway resistance was derived by subtracting the mean device resistance from the mean airway resistance. RESULTS: Peak airway pressure, mean airway resistance, device resistance, and pulmonary airway resistance were greater for the endotracheal tube (all P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The laryngeal mask airway triggers less bronchoconstriction than does the endotracheal tube in paralyzed anesthetized adult patients. This may have implications for maintaining intraoperative pulmonary function and reducing the risk for atelectasis and pulmonary infection.     

The importance of the laryngeal mask in the difficult intubation and early experience with the intubating laryngeal mask airway--ILMA--Fastrach

The conventional laryngeal mask airway ("Standard" laryngeal mask airway SLMA is of outstanding importance in the management of the difficult airway. The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA, commercial name Fastrach) has become available recently. First results indicate that the excellent ventilation characteristics of SLMA are maintained, but in addition blind intubation is successful in more than 90% of patients with normal anatomy as well as with difficult intubation. PURPOSE: We present the use of ILMA, compare the potential of the two laryngeal mask types in difficult intubation by own results, present the results of a first symposium on the ILMA held at Jersey in December 1996, the role of the SLMA in difficult intubation as proposed by the American and the French Societies of Anaesthesiology, as well as an outlook on possible uses of the ILMA in the light of the available results. METHODS: The SLMA was prospectively used between 1992 and 1997 for 66 operations in 55 patients with difficult intubation (laryngoscopic view Cormack grade IV, n = 24; grade III, n = 35; grade < III, n = 7). 48 operations were performed after resection of a facial carcinoma, 14 on patients without carcinoma who could not be intubated conventionally, 5 on patients with periglottic pathology, and on 50 normals. The ILMA was used on 150 patients between 11/1996 and 11/1997, 106 had normal anatomy, 33 were difficult to intubate (Cormack grade IV, n = 12; grade III, n = 21), 24 had a reduced mouth opening of < or = 2.5 cm awake, 14 of these also were difficult to intubate. RESULTS: Ventilation was superior to a face mask (FM): (SLMA: ventilation not sufficient (SaO2 < 90% > 30 sec) with a FM in 22 operations compared to 5 with a SLMA; ILMA: ventilation not sufficient with a FM in 7 operations compared to 3 with an ILMA). Blind intubation through a SLMA had a success rate of 50% and 34% in 50 normals and in 32 operations with difficult intubation after a mean of 2.6 intubation attempts each. The success rate per intubation attempt for the SLMA was 22% in normals and 13% in difficult intubation. Through an ILMA, blind intubation was successful in 92% of normals, 5 of them with immobile spine, in 91% in patients with difficult intubation, and in 83% in patients with reduced mouth opening. The success rate per intubation attempt was 60% in normals, 46% in difficult intubation, and 46% in reduced mouth opening, with a success rate for the first intubation attempt of 57%. This compares favourably with results presented at the Jersey symposium in 554 patients. CONCLUSION: The ILMA maintains the superb ventilation potential of a SLMA in difficult intubation but doubles the success rate of blind intubation irrespective of anatomical difficulties, with a 50% success rate during the first intubation attempt. Possible uses of the ILMA may be in difficult intubation situations including immobile spine, in cannot ventilate--cannot intubate situations comparable to a SLMA with an improved chance of successful intubation, and perhaps as a device for ventilation and intubation for untrained people. The use of the ILMA can be trained during everyday practice. Expert assessment of successful endotracheal tube position is mandatory.     

The use of the laryngeal mask in a female patient with an unpredictable difficult intubation

A laryngeal mask was used after repeated ineffective attempts at intubation. Preoperative examinations failed to defect signs of a possible difficult intubation. Laryngoscopy showed a true glottis, but it was impossible to insert tube No. 6 in the trachea. Failure of attempts at intubation made us use a laryngeal mask for maintaining the patency of the upper airways. Anesthesia coursed smoothly in the presence of stable hemodynamics and gas exchange. Use of laryngeal mask helped solve the problem of unpredictable difficult intubation and provide reliable patency of the upper respiratory airways in a female patient with latent stenosis of the subglottal space.     

Retrograde fibreoptic intubation in a child with Nager's syndrome

PURPOSE: The authors describe a retrograde fibreoptic technique for tracheal intubation in a micrognathic child with a tracheo-cutaneous fistula. CLINICAL FEATURES: A four-year-old child with Nager's syndrome presented for surgical closure of a tracheocutaneous fistula. A tracheostomy tube had been placed in the neonatal period for management of upper airway obstruction due to severe micrognathia. At 2 1/2 yr of age, after a successful mandibular advancement procedure, the tracheostomy was removed and the child allowed to breathe through the natural airway. Preoperative physical examination revealed an uncooperative child, unable to open her mouth due to limited temporo-mandibular motion. The child was first anaesthetized with ketamine, 70 mg im, then halothane by mask. The authors were unable to open the child's mouth sufficiently to allow rigid laryngoscopy. Attempts at oral and nasal fibreoptic intubation were unsuccessful. Ultimately, the authors were able to intubate nasally by passing an ultrathin Olympus LF-P laryngoscope under direct vision through the tracheocutaneous fistula in a cephalad direction, through the larynx and nasopharynx, then out the nares. An endotracheal tube was then advanced over the fibreoptic scope and positioned distal to the tracheocutaneous fistula. The surgical procedure was successfully accomplished and the trachea was extubated postoperatively without difficulty. CONCLUSION: Retrograde fibreoptic intubation may be an option for airway management of a select group of children who cannot be intubated by traditional techniques.     

Emergency use of the laryngeal mask airway in severe upper airway obstruction caused by supraglottic oedema

We report two cases of severe upper airway obstruction caused by supraglottic oedema which developed rapidly at the time of anaesthesia. Conventional methods to relieve the obstruction failed and it was only overcome when a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted and positive pressure applied manually during inspiration. In one case a fibrescope was passed via the LMA and this revealed two cushions of oedematous false vocal cords protruding into the bowel of the LMA which were pushed out of the way when positive pressure was applied during inspiration. We believe that the LMA should be considered in the emergency management of severe upper airway obstruction even when this involves supraglottic oedema.     

The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA): initial experience in Singapore

We have evaluated the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) for ventilation and for blind tracheal intubation. After induction of anaesthesia with fentanyl 1 microgram kg-1 and propofol 3 ml kg-1, the ILMA was placed successfully on the first attempt in all 100 patients. After administration of atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1, blind tracheal intubation was successful in 97% of patients--50% on the first attempt, 42% on the second and 5% on the third. Success was improved by pulling the metal handle of the ILMA towards the intubator in an "extension" manoeuvre, if intubation was not possible on the first attempt. These findings confirm the effectiveness of the ILMA in an Asian population.