We report a case of acute upper airway obstruction caused by a rapidly expanding blood-filled bulla in the oropharynx (angina bullosa haemorrhagica), requiring tracheal intubation. The larynx could not be visualized by either awake fibreoptic laryngoscopy or direct laryngoscopy under anaesthesia. Surgical tracheostomy was therefore performed under general anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine if ultrasound (US) measurements of anterior neck soft tissue thickness at hyoid bone (DSHB), thyrohyoid membrane (DSEM), and anterior commissure (DSAC) levels can be used to predict difficult laryngoscopy. MATERIAL/METHODS We included 203 patients age 20-65 years scheduled to undergo general anesthesia in this prospective observational study. ...

BACKGROUND Nasotracheal intubation typically comprises three distinct stages: (i) nasopharyngeal intubation; (ii) direct laryngoscopy to identify the vocal cords; and (iii) the passage of the tracheal tube into the trachea. The aim of this study was to identify and compare the cardiovascular responses associated with each of these stages. METHODS Seventy-five ASA I or II patients, aged 16-65 ...

BACKGROUND The optimal technique to intubate the trachea in patients presenting with a potential or documented cervical spine (C-spine) injury remains unresolved. Using continuous fluoroscopic video assessment, C-spine motion during laryngoscopy with an AirTraq Laryngoscope (King Medical Systems, Newark, DE) was compared to that with intubation using a Macintosh blade. METHODS Twenty-four hea...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To develop and validate a clinical algorithm for management of patients with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema (AIIA). STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort observational study. METHODS Over 1 year, 40 patients with AIIA were evaluated by otolaryngology, underwent laryngoscopy, and were followed until disease resolution. The need for airway intervent...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The objective was to explore the role of specific patient-related and operator-related factors in pain perception during flexible laryngoscopy, which is one of the most common ENT procedures. STUDY DESIGN Monocentric, randomized, individual prospective study. METHODS A total of 532 patients (145 men and 387 women), without any relevant ENT diseases, underwent laryngosc...

Preoperative airway assessment for prediction of difficult laryngoscopy and intubation was done using the modified Mallampati test and Wilson risk sum score in three hundred and seventy two obstetric patients undergoing elective as well as emergency Cesarean section under general anesthesia. 25 (6.7%) patients had laryngoscopy grade III or IV of whom 24 (6.4%) patients were difficult at trachea...

The influence of the level of experience of the laryngoscopist on the duration of laryngoscopy, the forces exerted on the tongue and on the maxillary incisors during laryngoscopy, were investigated. Five groups (anaesthetists, residents in anaesthesia, nurse anaesthetists, surgeons and medical students), each consisting of 15 individuals, participated in the study. An intubation manikin was use...