AIMS We investigated a new lead extraction tool (Compression Coil; One-Tie, Cook Medical) in an experimental traction force study. METHODS AND RESULTS On 13 pacemaker leads (Setrox JS53, Biotronik) traction force testing was performed under different configurations. The leads were assigned to three groups: (i) traction force testing without central locking stylet support (n = 5), (ii) tractio...

Thirty-one patients (age 64 ± 13 [mean ± SD]) were enrolled, PDT were performed in three groups, 10 Ciaglia Blue Rhino (Cook), 10 PercuTwist (Rüsch) – a device employing a screw with a hydrophilic coating and 11 GWDF – using Griggs' specially designed dilational forceps (Portex). Duration of intervention, oxygenation parameters, blood loss and further complications peri-interventionally and pos...

To the Editor: We report a technique of orotracheal intubation using the combination of a flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope (FOB) and a stylet in a patient whose operation was postponed initially because of failed intubation. A 44-yr-old male was scheduled for total resection of the thyroid gland. After induction of anesthesia, a laryngeal view was not obtained by direct laryngoscopy. An experie...

Pre-curved needles are used in a variety of medical applications for both passive and active control of instrument position. In one application, the deployment of a pre-curved stylet from a concentric outer cannula can be used to achieve lateral positioning of the distal tip of the stylet. This paper outlines how the material and geometry of the stylet can be chosen to ensure that it will not y...

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate that Rocuronium Bromide can be used for rapid sequence induction in emergency conditions. METHODS Our study was performed between December 2005 and May 2006 in Jordan University Hospital, Jordan. We studied the efficacy and intubating conditions after administrating of Rocuronium Bromide 1 mg/kg at 60 second in group of 60 pregnant women undergoing elective or emergen...

BACKGROUND Lidocaine is a useful intravenous and topical adjunct to facilitate tracheal intubation. We evaluated the effect of tracheal lidocaine on tracheal intubating conditions without neuromuscular blocking agent and hemodynamics during anesthesia induction with propofol and remifentanil target-controlled infusion (TCI). METHODS Fifty patients, aged 18-60 years, scheduled for closed reduc...

OBJECTIVE To determine the correlation between anatomical features of the upper airway (evaluated via computed tomography imaging) and the ease of light wand-assisted endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing ear, nose and throat surgery under general anaesthesia. METHODS Mallampati class, laryngoscopic grade, thyromental distance, neck circumference, body mass index, mouth opening and u...

INTRODUCTION The Aintree intubating catheter (Cook® Medical Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA) has been shown to successfully facilitate difficult intubations when other methods have failed. The Aintree intubating catheter (Cook® Medical Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA) has a fixed length of 56 cm, and it has been suggested in the literature that it may be too short for safe use in patients who are tall. ...

OBJECTIVES We set out to compare emergency medicine residents' intubating times and success rates for direct laryngoscopy (DL), GlideScope-assisted intubation (GS), and the Supraglottic Airway Laryngopharyngeal Tube (SALT) airway with and without biohazard gear. METHODS Each resident passed through 2 sets of 3 testing stations (DL, GS, SALT) in succession, intubating Laerdal mannequin heads w...

PURPOSE To report successful awake insertion of the intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach) and subsequent tracheal intubation through it, in a patient with predicted difficult tracheal intubation, due to limited mouth opening, and difficult ventilation through a facemask, due to a large mass at the corner of the mouth. CLINICAL FEATURES A 53-yr-old woman with a large post-gangrenous mass on the...