İbrahim Öztürk

Comparison of the i-gel™ and the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic™ in terms of clinical performance

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 with respect to the number of attempts for successful insertion, insertion time, peak airway pressure, incidence of regurgitation, fiberoptic glottic view and postoperative complications. Second generation supraglottic airway devices were inserted by the same anesthesiologist, experienced in use of both devices (>200 uses and first time failure rate <5%). Methylene blue method was used to detect gastric regurgitation. RESULTS There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding the success of insertion of second generation supraglottic airway device (p=0.951). The laryngeal mask insertion time for the i-gel group was significantly shorter than that for the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic group (11.6±2.4s versus 13.1±1.8s [p=0.001]). The fiberoptic glottic view scores for the i-gel group was significantly better than that for the ones for the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic group (p=0.001). On fiberoptic view, there was no sign of methylene blue dye at any time point in either group. In addition, there was no difference between the groups in patient response regarding the presence of a sore throat when questioned 24h after the procedure (p=0.752). CONCLUSION Both devices had good performance with low postoperative complications and without occurrence of regurgitation. The i-gel provided a shorter insertion time and a better fiberoptic view than the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic.

Comparação da máscara laríngea i‐gel (i‐gel™) com a máscara laríngea clássica (LMA‐Classic™) em relação ao desempenho clínico

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 with respect to the number of attempts for successful insertion, insertion time, peak airway pressure, incidence of regurgitation, fiberoptic glottic view and postoperative complications. Second generation supraglottic airway devices were inserted by the same anesthesiologist, experienced in use of both devices (>200 uses and first time failure rate <5%). Methylene blue method was used to detect gastric regurgitation. RESULTS There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding the success of insertion of second generation supraglottic airway device (p=0.951). The laryngeal mask insertion time for the i-gel group was significantly shorter than that for the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic group (11.6±2.4s versus 13.1±1.8s [p=0.001]). The fiberoptic glottic view scores for the i-gel group was significantly better than that for the ones for the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic group (p=0.001). On fiberoptic view, there was no sign of methylene blue dye at any time point in either group. In addition, there was no difference between the groups in patient response regarding the presence of a sore throat when questioned 24h after the procedure (p=0.752). CONCLUSION Both devices had good performance with low postoperative complications and without occurrence of regurgitation. The i-gel provided a shorter insertion time and a better fiberoptic view than the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic.

Comparison between two anatomic landmarks using ultrasonography in spinal anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Background and objective: Tuffier’s line is the most used anatomic landmark in clinical practice. We aimed to compare the accuracy of Tuffier’s line with a landmark that joins the two lowest points of the tenth rib on the flanks with the help of ultrasound. Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial was performed with 200 patients aged between 18 and 50. Patients taller than 180 cm or shorter than 150 cm, or with body mass index >30 kg/m2 were excluded. The first anesthesiologist examined Group T according to Tuffier’s line and Group R according to the tenth rib line and marked L4–5. Only one anesthesiologist evaluated the marked level with ultrasound for accuracy of the anesthesiologist’s examination. Results: There was no difference between groups for demographic and surgical data (p > 0.05). However, we observed a significant difference between the two techniques for success rate (60% in group T vs. 74% in group R) at estimation of correct level (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between success of estimation and patients’ demographic data. Conclusion: We conclude that the tenth rib line is better than Tuffier’s line for accuracy with palpation. However, it must be confirmed by further studies including more than one examiner for palpation and also include different patient populations.

Oral mask ventilation is more effective than face mask ventilation after nasal surgery

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare the face mask (FM) and oral mask (OM) ventilation techniques during anesthesia emergence regarding tidal volume, leak volume, and difficult mask ventilation (DMV) incidence. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, crossover study. SETTING Operating room, training and research hospital. SUBJECTS American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II adult patients scheduled for nasal surgery. INTERVENTIONS Patients in group FM-OM received FM ventilation first, followed by OM ventilation, and patients in group OM-FM received OM ventilation first, followed by FM ventilation, with spontaneous ventilation after deep extubation. The FM ventilation was applied with the 1-handed EC-clamp technique. The OM was placed only over the mouth, and the 1-handed EC-clamp technique was used again. A childs size FM was used for the OM ventilation technique, the mask was rotated, and the inferior part of the mask was placed toward the nose. MEASUREMENTS The leak volume (MVleak), mean airway pressure (Pmean), and expired tidal volume (TVe) were assessed with each mask technique for 3 consecutive breaths. A mask ventilation grade ≥3 was considered DMV. MAIN RESULTS DMV occurred more frequently during FM ventilation (75% with FM vs 8% with OM). In the FM-first sequence, the mean TVe was 249±61mL with the FM and 455±35mL with the OM (P=.0001), whereas in the OM-first sequence, it was 276±81mL with the FM and 409±37mL with the OM (P=.0001). Regardless of the order used, the OM technique significantly decreased the MVleak and increased the TVe when compared to the FM technique. CONCLUSION During anesthesia emergence after nasal surgery the OM may offer an effective ventilation method as it decreases the incidence of DMV and the gas leak around the mask and provides higher tidal volume delivery compared with FM ventilation.

Anaesthesia Management in a Patient with Waardenburg Syndrome and Review of the Literature.

Waardenburg syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disease that may cause hearing loss, pigmentary abnormalities, neurocristopathy and partial albinism. Incidence is estimated as 2%-3% among the cases of congenital deafness and 1/42,000 of the general population. Children with Waardenburg syndrome usually require anaesthesia for the cochlear implant operation in early age. The features of the syndrome that may bear importance for anaesthetic management are laryngomalacia, multiple muscle contractures, limited neck movements, cyanotic cardiopathy and electrolyte imbalance. Patients with Waardenburg syndrome stand for difficult airway. We aimed to report anaesthetic management of a child with Waardenburg syndrome who underwent surgery for cochlear implantation.