Conditioning Inspired Gases for Tracheostomy

Conditioning inspired gases:the search for relevant physiologic end points.

Conditioning inspired gases during mechanical ventilation by adding heat and humidity is a well accepted standard of care.1 Failure to heat and humidify inspired gas in an intubated patient results in well described complications, including inspissation of secretions, deciliation, bronchospasm, airway obstruction, atelectasis, and endotracheal tube (ETT) occlusion.2 Though these issues are unif...

The conditioning of medical gases with hot water humidifiers

A simple device for humidification of inspired gases during volatile anesthesia in rats.

The typical setup for administering volatile anesthetics to laboratory rats does not provide for humidification of the inspired gases, although it is known that failing to provide humidification can lead to airway inflammation and impaired pulmonary function during prolonged experimental protocols. We developed a simple humidification system in which a nebulizer was inserted into the nonrebreat...

Techniques for emergency tracheostomy.

Emergency standard open tracheostomy is performed in impending or actual cardiac and respiratory-cardiac arrest. Indications are rare, but the procedure must be safe and rapidly effective. Neither facilitating (but risky) neck manipulations nor electrocautery are required nor, because of the urgency to obtain airway ingress, are bilateral traction stitches applied. No intravenous line should be...

Retrosternal Percutaneous Tracheostomy: An Approach for Predictably Impossible Classic Tracheostomy

Percutaneous tracheostomy is a routine procedure in intensive care units. In cases of very low position of the larynx, cervical spine deformation, morbid obesity, or neck tumor, performance of the classic tracheostomy is inapplicable. Retrosternal approach to tracheostomy in such 20 patients is herein reported. After preoperative neck computerized tomography to define the neck anatomy, a small ...