Identification of Airway Structures Necessary for Airway Access Via the Skin
Upper Airway ObstructionLiterature shows that anaesthetists have a low success-rate when trying to access the airway percutaneously in case of failed ventilation and intubation. The study will investigate anaesthetists ability to locate the trachea and the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage in patients, using different methods including application of ultrasonography.
The Association Between Pulmonary Function Tests and Difficult Airway
Airway ObstructionThe airflow moving from mouth to the lungs, which can be measured by pulmonary function tests, may be affected by the anatomic disorders of the upper airway. Difficult airway can be considered as the anatomic disorder of the upper airway as well. Therefore, there can be a relationship between difficult airway and pulmonary function tests. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the association between the pulmonary function tests and difficult airway.
Cricothyroidotomy Training for Physicians Outcomes Study
Airway ObstructionThis study will assess whether the type of simulation model used in cricothyroidotomy training has an effect on the subsequent confidence and competence in the procedure.
Mandibular Advancement Bite Block Efficacy Observational Study
Airway ObstructionThe purpose of this study is to compare the effect of mandibular advancement bite block to standard bite block for prevention of hypoxemia, intervention events and adverse effects during endoscopic examinations.
CHOKing Prevention Project
Health KnowledgeAttitudes1 moreThe aim of such study is to compare three different school-based (in nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools) interventions aimed at teaching to families how to prevent food choking injuries. The topic of food choking primary and secondary prevention is placed in a more general topic regarding food safety, including education on food labeling and on food waste prevention.
A New Flexible Extended-Length Pharyngeal Airway for Deep Sedation
Upper Airway ObstructionThe purpose of this prospective pilot provider adoption study was to evaluate user experience a new airway device in adult patients with airway obstruction under deep sedation. Fifteen hospital systems served as testing sites. Fifty-four anaesthetist providers reported their experience with the airway device in 84 cases across two phases of surveying.
The Effect of Supraglottic Airway Insertion on the Accuracy of Cricothyroid Membrane Identification...
Airway ObstructionProspective, observational, study that will examine if a sited supraglottic airway (the igel) will increase the accuracy of identifying the cricothyroid membrane in female patients. Consented patients that meet inclusion criteria are assessed by clinicians under general anaesthesia with and without a supraglottic airway in situ. The accuracy of CTM identification by palpation will be evaluated using ultrasound.
Evaluation of the Use of Tracheal Intubation Through a Laryngeal Tube to Intubate Anesthetized Patients...
Airway ObstructionDifficult IntubationFailed intubation is currently one of the most important factors leading to morbidity and mortality in anesthesia. The development of supraglottic airway devices (SGDs), such as the intubating laryngeal tube, has revolutionized airway management, as these devices allow adequate ventilation and oxygenation in situations where ventilation and/or intubation via conventional means pose a challenge. Several publications describe the usefulness of such devices for salvaging ventilation in patients that cannot be intubated with direct laryngoscopy or who cannot be ventilated with a facemask. In these salvage situations, SGDs are highly effective in achieving adequate patient oxygenation. Achieving effective oxygenation with an SGD and completely isolating the airway by intubation at the same time. This is now possible thanks to the so called supraglottic intubation devices (SGIDs). For that reason, we believe it is necessary to conduct a study that allows evaluation of the performance of this device in the context of daily clinical practice. Its design characteristics, its capacity to be used in intubation applications, its soft and atraumatic materials as well as its disposability augur this product a significant expansion in the next few years. Nonetheless, no data are available on the success of intubation when the intubating laryngeal tube suction device (ILTSD) is used. The idea behind this study is to assess the possibilities to use the ITLSD device to intubate patients in regular anesthetic practice.
Jaw Elevation Device in Deep Sedation Study
Airway ObstructionMaintaining a patent airway is a constant concern to any anesthesia provider performing deep sedation cases. The doses of sedative medications often required for the desired level of sedation in a patient often result in occlusion of the airway and the patient becoming apneic. Opening the collapsed or occluded airway requires the use of an invasive airway device, (e.g. laryngeal mask airway (LMA), oral airway or nasal airway) or the application of a jaw thrust maneuver. When the provider provides jaw thrust while attending to the other duties, the patient may not have adequate ventilation and the patient's oxygen saturation can fall producing hypoxemia. Airway management devices currently available require deeper levels of sedation to be tolerated by patients. In order to avoid the need for internal airway devices, providers attempt to carefully adjust the level of sedation so that no airway support is required. For safety, providers usually try to stay on the "light" side of the sedation scale. Unfortunately, this often results in an uncomfortable patient or one who is moving too much to successfully carry out the procedure. Until the availability of the Jaw Elevation Device (JED) there was no external device providers could utilize to assist in opening a patient's airway. By duplicating the jaw thrust maneuver, the JED maintains a patent airway. Once applied, it frees the anesthesia provider to attend to other duties associated with administration of anesthesia without requiring the provider to manually maintain a jaw thrust maneuver. The advantages with such a device would allow a level of sedation deep enough for the patient to tolerate the procedure as well as maintain a patent airway. To date, there have not been any studies evaluating the JED in clinical practice. The investigators wish to evaluate the JED in a standardized fashion during deep sedation or monitored anesthesia care (MAC). Our study would involve 50 patients who became apneic during deep sedation or MAC. A jaw thrust maneuver will be initially performed to demonstrate that each patient's airway can be adequately supported by this maneuver. The JED will then be placed in order to maintain a patent airway, while leaving the level of sedation unchanged. Intraoperative monitoring, continuous ECG, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, capnography, will be routine, and determined by the anesthesia team. The investigators will also track how often the provider was required to adjust the JED to maintain a patent airway, and if the need to convert to an alternate method of airway management was required. The investigators will pursue publication of the results as the first study demonstrating the efficacy of the JED.
Relationship Between STOP BANG Score and Airway Management
Airway ObstructionObstructive Sleep Apnea1 moreNowadays, anesthetists may encounter many patients who are not diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) to undergo elective surgery. Recognition of these patients by anesthesiologists and taking necessary precautions will significantly reduce perioperative complications and mortality. STOP-BANG is a questionnaire used to predict high risk of OSAS. The aim of our study is to evaluate the clinical use of the oxygen reserve index as an early warning of possible desaturation in patients with low and high risk of OSAS according to the Stop Bang score.