detailed evaluation; however it presents clear advantages for monitoring SjO2 during CEA. Further refinements may improve this technique, including use of a guide wire for introducing the catheter into the internal jugular vein. In addition, this method should be compared with the conventional technique of monitoring SjO2 during CEA in terms of 1) accuracy and continuity of measurements, 2) tim...

STUDY OBJECTIVE Laryngeal mask airways (LMAs) are often used as airway rescue devices where laryngoscopy is difficult. The LMA does not protect the airway and is preferably replaced with a cuffed endotracheal tube. There are reports of cases where an Eschmann tracheal tube introducer (ETTI) was successfully used to bridge between a standard LMA and an endotracheal tube. This project was designe...

The purpose of this study was to compare two epidural catheters--the Portex epidural catheter and Vas-Cath catheter. One hundred and fifty patients in labour who received epidural anaesthesia were selected and either one or the other catheter was used, based on random assignment. Ease of insertion, maintenance and removal of the catheter were assessed, as was the incidence of blood return and p...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine the patency of standard and modified Portex tracheostomy tubes inserted by the percutaneous dilatational technique. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Medical-surgical ICUs in a tertiary care community hospital. PATIENTS Medical-surgical ICU patients requiring tracheostomy. INTERVENTIONS Consecutive medical-surgical ICU patients requiring trach...

BACKGROUND Emergency medical technicians intubate patients in unfamiliar surroundings and with less than ideal positioning. This study was designed to evaluate advanced life support (ALS) emergency medical technicians' (EMTs) ability to successfully intubate a simulated airway using a video-assisted semi-rigid fiberoptic stylet, the Clarus Video System (CVS). METHODS ALS EMTs were first shown...