Choi JB, et al. Yonsei Med J. 2014 Sep;55(5):1430-1435. http://dx.doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2014.55.5.1430

For patients suspicious of cervical spine injury, a Philadelphia cervical collar is usually applied. Application of Philadelphia cervical collar may cause difficult airway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the laryngeal view and the success rate at first intubation attempt of the Airtraq and conventional laryngoscopy in patients with simulated cervical spine injury after application of a Philadelphia cervical collar. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium. After a Philadelphia cervical collar applied, patients were randomly assigned to tracheal intubation with an Airtraq (Group A, n = 25) or with conventional laryngoscopy (Group L, n = 25). Measurements included intubation time, success rate of first intubation attempt, number of intubation attempts, and percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score. Mean blood pressure and heart rate were also recorded at baseline, just before and after intubation. The success rate of the first attempt in Group A (96%) was significantly greater than with the Group L (40%). POGO score was significantly greater in Group A (84 ± 20%) than in Group L (6 ± 11%). The duration of successful intubation at first tracheal intubation attempt and hemodynamic changes were not significantly different between the two groups. The Airtraq offers a better laryngeal view and higher success rate at first intubation attempt in patients who are applied with a Philadelphia cervical collar due to suspicion of cervical spine injury.

Summary: Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system associated with tracheal intubation causes corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation. We postulated that the use of remifentanil during induction of anaesthesia might prevent this. Sixty unpremedicated, ASA grade 1 patients were selected and randomly allocated to receive either saline (group S), remifentanil 0.5 μg.kg ⁻¹ (group R 0.5) or remifentanil 1.0 μg.kg ⁻¹ (group R1.0) 1 min before laryngoscopy. The QTc interval was significantly prolonged immediately following intubation in group S and group R0.5, but it remained stable in group R1.0, compared with the QTc interval just before laryngoscopy. It is concluded that the administration of remifentanil 1.0 μg.kg ⁻¹ before intubation can prevent the prolongation of the QTc interval associated with tracheal intubation during induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane.

Robot-assisted prostatectomy requires pneumoperitoneum in a steep Trendelenburg position, which may induce endobronchial intubation or accidental extubation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of pneumoperitoneum in 30° Trendelenburg position on the displacement of the tracheal tube and to measure the changes in trachea length using fiberoptic bronchoscope. Thirty male patients scheduled for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy were enrolled. After induction of general anaesthesia, the distance between the vocal cords and the tracheal tube tip (ΔVE), between the tracheal tube tip and the carina (ΔEC) and between the vocal cords and the carina (ΔVC) was measured using a fiberoptic bronchoscope before and 10 min after pneumoperitoneum in neutral position (T1 and T2, respectively), and 2 h after pneumoperitoneum in 30° Trendelenburg position (T3). The ΔVC and ΔEC decreased significantly 10 min after pneumoperitoneum in neutral position (T2) and 2 h after pneumoperitoneum in Trendelenburg position (T3) compared with those before pneumoperitoneum in neutral position (T1) (all P < 0.001). The changes in ΔVE were not statistically significant. The confirmation of the tracheal tube position is recommended after pneumoperitoneum in steep Trendelenburg position during robot-assisted prostatectomy because the displacement of the tracheal tube may result in endobronchial intubation due to shortening of the carina-to-tube tip distance.