The ProSeal™ Laryngeal Mask Airway is an Effective Alternative to Laryngoscope-Guided Tracheal Intubation for Gynaecological Laparoscopy

We tested the hypothesis that the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway is superior to laryngoscope-guided tracheal intubation for gynaecological laparoscopy. One-hundred and eighty consecutive patients (ASA grade 1-2, aged 18-80y) were divided into two equal-sized groups for airway management with the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway or tracheal tube. Induction was with fentanyl/propofol, maintenance with sevoflurane and muscle relaxation with atracurium. The following primary variables were tested: time to achieve an effective airway, ventilatory capability, peak airway pressure before and after pneumoperitoneum, duration of surgery and pneumoperitoneum and haemodynamic responses. Data about gastric size, airway trauma and sore throat were collected. The number of attempts for successful insertion were similar, but effective airway time was shorter for the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (20±2s vs 37±3s, P<0.001). All devices were successfully inserted within three attempts. There was no episode of failed ventilation or hypoxia. The haemodynamic stress responses to insertion and removal were greater for the tracheal tube than the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway. The duration of surgery, duration of pneumoperitoneum and intraabdominal pressures were similar. Gastric size was similar at the start and end of surgery. There were no differences in the frequency of complications or sore throat.

We conclude that the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway is a similarly effective airway device to conventional laryngoscope-guided tracheal intubation for gynaecological laparoscopy, but is more rapidly inserted and associated with an attenuated haemodynamic response to insertion and removal.

Comparison of the AMBU® Laryngeal Mask and the LMA Classic in Anaesthetised, Spontaneously Breathing Patients

There may be a role for single-use laryngeal mask airways with concerns about inability to adequately sterilise laryngeal mask airways to eradicate prion proteins. A single-blinded prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare the clinical performance of the single-use AMBU®LMA with the reuseable LMA Classic. There was no difference in time to insertion, successful insertion at first attempt, oropharyngeal leak pressure, haemodynamic response to insertion or complications of placement. The AMBU®LMA was easier to insert. There was a suggestion of reduced postoperative sore throat and pharyngeal trauma for the AMBU® LMA group. The AMBU®LMA is a viable alternative to the LMA Classic for airway management in spontaneously breathing patients.

A Comparison of the GlideScope® with the Macintosh Laryngoscope for Tracheal Intubation in Patients with Simulated Difficult Airway

We compared the use of the GlideScope® and the conventional Macintosh laryngoscope in a simulated difficult airway. The primary hypothesis was that time to intubation would be shorter using the GlideScope® than using the Macintosh laryngoscope.

After obtaining approval from the ethics committee and written informed consent, we recruited 60 ASA 1 and 2 patients to our randomized controlled trial. Group G (n=30) had tracheal intubation performed using the GlideScope® and Group M (n=30) were intubated using a Macintosh laryngoscope. We simulated a difficult airway in each patient by having an experienced assistant provide in-line manual stabilization of the head and neck. We recorded the best laryngeal view; difficulty of the tracheal intubation; time taken for successful tracheal intubation; manoeuvre needed to aid tracheal intubation and complications associated with the tracheal intubation.

The median Cormack and Lehane grade was significantly better in Group G than Group M. Group G had a significantly shorter intubation time than group M (mean 41.8s±SD 20.2 vs mean 56.2s±26.6, P<0.05).

The GlideScope® improved the laryngeal view and decreased time for tracheal intubation time when compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope in patients with simulated difficult airway. The GlideScope® may be a good alternative for managing the difficult airway but clinical trials evaluating its use on patients with an actual difficult airway are needed.

A new software scheme for scatter correction based on a simple radiographic scattering model

In common radiography, image contrast is often limited due mainly to scattered x-rays and noise, decreasing the quantitative usefulness of x-ray images. Several scatter reduction methods based on software correction schemes have been extensively investigated in an attempt to overcome these difficulties, most of which are based on measurement, mathematical-physical modeling, or a combination of both. However, those methods require special equipment, system geometry, and extra manual work to measure scatter characteristics. In this study, we investigated a new software scheme for scatter correction based on a simple radiographic scattering model where the intensity of the scattered x-rays was directly estimated from a single x-ray image using a weighted l¹-norm contextual regularization framework. We implemented the proposed algorithm and performed a systematic simulation and experiment to demonstrate its viability. We also conducted some clinical image studies using patient's image data of breast and L-spine to verify the clinical effectiveness of the proposed scheme. Our results indicate that the degradation of image characteristics by scattered x-rays and noise was effectively recovered by using the proposed software scheme, thus improving radiographic visibility considerably. Graphical abstract The schematic illustrations of scatter suppression methods by using a an antiscatter grid and b a scatter estimation algorithm.

Probing the molecular determinants of fluorinase specificity

Molecular determinants of FlA1 fluorinase specificity were probed using 5'-chloro-5'-deoxyadenosine (5'-ClDA) analogs as substrates and FlA1 active site mutants. Modifications at F213 or A279 residues are beneficial towards these modified substrates, including 5'-chloro-5'-deoxy-2-ethynyladenosine, ClDEA (>10-fold activity improvement), and conferred novel activity towards substrates not readily accepted by wild-type FlA1.

Histogram analysis of greyscale sonograms to differentiate between the subtypes of follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic value of histogram analysis using ultrasound (US) to differentiate between the subtypes of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study included 151 patients with surgically confirmed FVPTC diagnosed between January 2014 and May 2016. Their preoperative US features were reviewed retrospectively. Histogram parameters (mean, maximum, minimum, range, root mean square, skewness, kurtosis, energy, entropy, and correlation) were obtained for each nodule.

RESULTS

The 152 nodules in 151 patients comprised 48 non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTPs; 31.6%), 60 invasive encapsulated FVPTCs (EFVPTCs; 39.5%), and 44 infiltrative FVPTCs (28.9%). The US features differed significantly between the subtypes of FVPTC. Discrimination was achieved between NIFTPs and infiltrative FVPTC, and between invasive EFVPTC and infiltrative FVPTC using histogram parameters; however, the parameters were not significantly different between NIFTP and invasive EFVPTC.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to use greyscale histogram analysis to differentiate between NIFTP and infiltrative FVPTC, but not between NIFTP and invasive EFVPTC. Histograms can be used as a supplementary tool to differentiate the subtypes of FVPTC.

Injury Related Deaths in Singapore

Background

Injury is the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality amongst the younger age groups. Management of injuries has been identified as one of the major health issues facing our community. The study objective was to define the epidemiology of injury related deaths in Singapore.

Methods

A nationwide review of all deaths arising as a result of injury in 1995 was conducted.

Results

There were 913 cases with an injury mortality rate of 27 per 100,000 population. Ninety-seven percent (97%) were due to blunt injury. Falls from heights from deliberate self-harm was the commonest mechanism, followed by motor vehicle collisions (MVC). Fifty-two percent (52%) of MVC deaths were motorcyclists or pillion riders. Sixty-six percent (66%) of all deaths occurred in the prehospital phase. Central nervous system injury was the main cause of hospital deaths.

Conclusion

Results from this study will help our community focus on the appropriate preventive strategies to reduce mortality and the cost of injuries to our society.

A Case of Nonfatal Non-Collapsed Patient with Extreme Hyperkalaemia

This is a report of a non-collapsed patient with nonfatal, extreme hyperkalaemia of 10.7 mmol/L. The patient's hyperkalaemia was initially treated in the Emergency Department and then transferred to the Department of Renal Medicine of another hospital for further stabilisation. There have only been a few reported cases of successful management of extreme hyperkalaemia in excess of 10.0 mmol/L.

Severely Injured Patients Presenting to the Singapore General Hospital: a one Year Study

Study objectives

To determine the quantity and resource utilisation in management of the severely injured patients presenting at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

Method

All patients who were initially triaged to the hospital Emergency Department's (ED) resuscitation room and all trauma related mortality in the year 1998 were studied. All records were traced and the cases were followed up. Important outcomes studied were mortality and length of hospital stay.

Results

Three hundred and forty-seven (0.2%) severely injured patients who were initially treated at the ED's resuscitation room were studied. The median age of the patients was 32 years old. Male patients formed 82.1% of the total. The three main causes of trauma in such patients were fall from height, motor vehicle related accidents and penetrating injuries caused by sharp instruments and firearms. Of all the patients, 62.8% were admitted to the ED between 1601 hours to 0759 hours and 30.5% of all severely injured patients were treated at the ED on weekends. One hundred and twenty three (35.4%) patients had emergency surgery within 24 hours of admission to the ED and 42.4% of the patients had an ISS score of 16 or more; 22.8% of patients had ISS score of 25 or more. The mortality of patients with ISS score of 25 or more was 39.2%.

Conclusion

One percent of all new ED patients with trauma were classified as ‘severely’ injured and these occurred mostly outside “normal working hours”. There was significant mortality in patients with ISS score of 25 or more.

Patients who Self-Discharge from the Emergency Department: a Three-Month Telephone Survey

Study objectives

To determine the main causes and outcomes of patients who self-discharged from the Emergency Department (ED).

Methods

Records of all patients who self-discharged from the ED of a tertiary level hospital were traced and telephone interviews were conducted. The duration of the study was from 15 July 2002 to 14 October 2002.

Results

There were 28,898 new attendances during the period of study and of these, 450 (1.6%) patients signed the self-discharge form. Of the 357 patients recruited into the study, the majority signed the self-discharge form because of refusal of admission to inpatient units (52.1%) or the ED observation ward (43.4%) for further treatment. One hundred and thirteen (31.7%) patients acknowledged that they were unwell during the interview and 85 (23.8%) patients sought some form of medical attention after leaving the ED.

Conclusion

Most of the patients who self-discharged from the ED were for personal reasons and very few were due to financial reasons.

Aseptic Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Early Pregnancy

This is a rare case of sagittal sinus thrombosis occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy. A literature review was performed.

The prevalence of osteoporosis and the rate of bone loss in Korean adults: the Chungju metabolic disease cohort (CMC) study

Because the rate of bone loss is an important risk factor for fracture, we studied longitudinal changes in bone mineral density (BMD). Although the BMD of the hip decreased over time, spine BMD remained largely stable or increased. Therefore, spine BMD may not be appropriate for assessing BMD change.

INTRODUCTION

The rate of age-dependent bone loss has been shown to be an important risk factor for fracture. However, longitudinal rates of BMD loss in Korea have not yet been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate longitudinal changes in BMD in Korea.

METHODS

This cohort study was performed in a population of individuals 40 years of age or older living in the rural area of Chungju City, Korea. A second BMD examination was conducted approximately 4 years after a baseline examination. A total of 3755 of the 6007 subjects completed the follow-up visit, corresponding to a follow-up rate of 62.51%.

RESULTS

The age-standardized osteoporosis prevalence was 12.81% in males and 44.35% in females. In males, the average annual BMD loss at the total hip increased from -0.25% per year in their 40s to -1.12% per year in their 80s. In females, the average annual BMD loss at the total hip increased from -0.69% per year in their 40s to -1.51% per year in their 80s. However, the average annual percentage change in spine BMD in females increased from -0.91% per year in their 40s to +1.39% per year in their 80s.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial number of subjects had osteoporosis, even though we standardized the prevalence of osteoporosis. In total hip, the mean BMD was decreased during the follow-up period; in addition, the annual percentage loss increased with age. However, spine BMD remained approximately stable or increased over time and therefore may not be appropriate for assessing BMD change.