This classic article meticulously detailed the spiral ganglion cell (SGC) populations in 100 patients with variable degrees of hearing loss and known diagnoses to assess the correlation with speech discrimination scores and to hypothesize upon the inherent ability to stimulate the remaining spiral ganglia successfully with cochlear implants. Important observations from this study were that spir...

Despite use of sterile or disposable laryngoscope blades for each patient, disinfection of laryngoscope handles does not routinely occur, and these devices present a potential route of transmission of pathogens between patients and staff. A total of 192 specimens from 64 laryngoscope handles deemed 'ready for patient use' in the anaesthetic rooms of 32 operating theatres were semiquantitatively...

Laryngoscope, 121:2150–2154, 201

Purpose. Emergency physicians are at risk for infection during invasive procedures, and the respirators can reduce this risk. This study aimed to determine whether endotracheal intubation using direct laryngoscopes affected protection performances of respirators. Methods. A randomized crossover study of 24 emergency physicians was performed. We performed quantitative fit tests using respirators...

We determined the forces on the maxillary incisors during routine laryngoscopy in 65 adult patients. The forces were measured by a strain gauge based sensor positioned between the handle and the blade of the laryngoscope. The mean maximal force acting on the maxillary incisors was 49 N. In patients without maxillary incisors, the force acting on the gums was significantly lower at 21 N (p < 0.0...

The Airtraq laryngoscope (Prodol Meditec S.A., Vizcaya, Spain) is a new disposable optical laryngoscope designed to facilitate intubation in an uncomplicated or difficult airway. Its distinctive shape and its optical system can provide a full view of the glottis without the need to align the oropharyngeal axis. The use of this device as the primary technique to manage the airway of three patien...