The use is described of a prototype device to prevent regurgitation of gastric contents in 16 patients, three of whom appeared to have been at risk of regurgitation. The "Oesophageal Vent-Laryngeal Mask" consists of a laryngeal mask attached to an oesophageal tube that has a balloon at the distal end, allowing drainage of any fluid in the oesophagus.

The purpose of this study was to determine the preferences of Canadian anesthesiologists in difficult intubation and cannot intubate-cannot ventilate (CICV) situations. Using a mailed survey, we asked anesthesiologists their preferences for and comfort level in using (a) alternative airway devices in a difficult intubation scenario and (b) infraglottic airway in a CICV scenario. Chi-square anal...

PURPOSE The i-gel™ is one of the second generation supraglottic airway devices. Our study was designed to compare the i-gel and the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic™ with respect to the clinical performance. METHODS We compared the performance of the i-gel with that of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic in 120 patients undergoing urologic surgery during general anesthesia without muscle relaxant ...

We studied 20 patients, in a randomized, cross-over study, to determine if manual in-line stabilization of the head and neck altered the ease of insertion of the laryngeal mask and its correct positioning. After induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular block, the laryngeal mask was inserted and adequacy of ventilation assessed while the patient's head and neck were placed in the Magill and ma...

A 63-yr-old woman was anaesthetized for sub-total thyroidectomy. The thyroid gland was large, deviating the trachea to the right and causing 30% tracheal narrowing at the level of the suprasternal notch. Mask ventilation was easy but laryngoscopy was Cormack and Lehane grade 3. Despite being able to see the tip of the epiglottis, tracheal intubation was impossible. An intubating laryngeal mask ...

Obstruction of the upper airway is the commonest complication of general anaesthesia and is potentially life threatening. The first skill that all anaesthetists must therefore acquire is how to keep the airway patent. A further complication of anaesthesia is the loss of upper airway reflexes, which may result in the accidental aspiration of gastric contents into the tracheobronchial tree with t...

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is important in the management of severe, treatment-resistant, and life-threatening psychiatric illness. Anesthesia supports clinical efficacy tolerability ECT. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted ECT services, including anesthesia. This study documents strategies for managing anesthesia during pandemic. Data were collected between March November 20...