Feasibility of an endotracheal tube-mounted camera for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with single use bronchoscopes versus reusable bronchoscopes – a prospective randomized trial (TraSUB)

Background

Apart from conventional reusable bronchoscopes, single-use bronchoscopes (SUB) were recently introduced. Data suggest that SUB might prevent from the risk of cross contamination (i.e. multiresistant pathogens, SARS CoV-2) and save costs. We aimed to investigate visualization, ventilation, handling characteristics, changes in patients’ gas exchange, and costs associated with both types of bronchoscopes during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT).

Methods

In this prospective, randomized, noninferiority study, 46 patients undergoing PDT were randomized 1:1 to PDT with SUB (Ambu aScope) or reusable bronchoscopes (CONV, Olympus BF-P60). Visualization of tracheal structures rated on 4-point Likert scales was the primary end-point. Furthermore, quality of ventilation, device handling characteristics, changes in the patients’ gas exchange, pH values, and costs were assessed.

Results

Noninferiority for visualization (the primary endpoint) was demonstrated for the SUB group. Mean visualization scores (lower values better) were 4.1 (95% confidence intervals: 3.9;4.3) for SUB vs. 4.1 (4.0;4.2) for CONV. Noninferiority of ventilation (estimated by minute volume and SpO₂) during the procedure could be shown as well. Mean score was 2.6 (2.0;3.1) for SUB vs. 2.4 (2.1;2.7) for CONV (lower values better). No significant differences regarding handling (SUB: 1.2 (1.0;1.4), CONV: 1.3 (1.1;1.6)), blood gas analyses and respiratory variables were found. Cost analysis in our institution revealed 93 € per conventional bronchoscopy versus 232.50 € with SUB, not considering an estimate for possible infection due to cross-contamination with the reusable device.

Conclusion

In our study, visualization and overall performance of the SUB during PDT were noninferior to reusable bronchoscopes. Therefore, PDT with SUB is feasible and should be considered if favored by individual institution’s cost analysis.

Trial registration.

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03952247. Submitted for registration on 28/04/2019 and first posted on 16/05/2019.

Is HFJV a better alternative ventilation technique for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy? A randomised trial

BACKGROUND

High-Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV) has been used for the treatment of tracheal lesions, airway surgery, and treatment of secondary lesions after tracheostomy for many years however, reports on the use of HFJV during PDT are limited. This study compares the use of traditional method, ventilation with LMA, and HFJV through ETT with respect to the duration of PDT procedure and complications.

METHODS

Seventy-five patients were randomized into one of the three groups with computergenerated random numbers: Group ETT (n_25), group LMA (n=25), and group HFJV (n=25). Demographic data, duration of PDT, complications such as ETT cuff puncture and tube transaction, accidental extubation, difficult cannula insertion, bleeding, desaturation during the procedure, arterial blood gases immediately before and after the procedure have been recorded.

RESULTS

Mean time for successful PDT in group ETT was 5.9±1.35 minutes, in group LMA 4.96±0.78 minutes, and 3.88±0.78 minutes in group HFJV. PDT duration was shorter in the LMA group than in the ETT group (p<0.05). In the HFJV group, the PDT duration was shorter than the LMA group (p<0.05) and the ETT group (p<0.001). In terms of the total number of complications, significantly fewer complications were observed in the HFJV group compared with group ETT and group LMA.

CONCLUSIONS

HFJV may be a more effective alternative method for airway management during PDT, facilitating and reducing the duration of the intervention.

Tracheal Tube-Mounted Camera Assisted Intubation vs. Videolaryngoscopy in Expected Difficult Airway: A Prospective, Randomized Trial (VivaOP Trial)

Background: Tracheal intubation in patients with an expected difficult airway may be facilitated by videolaryngoscopy (VL). The VL viewing axis angle is specified by the blade shape and visualization of the larynx may fail if the angle does not meet anatomy of the patient. A tube with an integrated camera at its tip (VST, VivaSight-SL) may be advantageous due to its adjustable viewing axis by means of angulating an included stylet.

Methods: With ethics approval, we studied the VST vs. VL in a prospective non-inferiority trial using end-tidal oxygen fractions (etO₂) after intubation, first-attempt success rates (FAS), visualization assessed by the percentage of glottis opening (POGO) scale, and time to intubation (TTI) as outcome parameters.

Results: In this study, 48 patients with a predicted difficult airway were randomized 1:1 to intubation with VST or VL. Concerning oxygenation, the VST was non-inferior to VL with etO₂ of 0.79 ± 0.08 (95% CIs: 0.75–0.82) vs. 0.81 ± 0.06 (0.79–0.84) for the VL group, mean difference 0.02 (−0.07 to 0.02), p = 0.234. FAS was 79% for VST and 88% for VL (p = 0.449). POGO was 89 ± 21% in the VST-group and 60 ± 36% in the VL group, p = 0.002. TTI was 100 ± 57 s in the VST group and 68 ± 65 s in the VL group (p = 0.079). TTI with one attempt was 84 ± 31 s vs. 49 ± 14 s, p < 0.001.

Conclusion: In patients with difficult airways, tracheal intubation with the VST is feasible without negative impact on oxygenation, improves visualization but prolongs intubation. The VST deserves further study to identify patients that might benefit from intubation with VST.

Fiber-optic Bronchoscope-guided vs Mini-surgical Technique of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy in Intensive Care Units

Background

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PCDT) using fiber-optic bronchoscope (FOB) is a widely practiced technique, but its availability and cost remain a concern in nations with limited resources. Mini-surgical technique of PCDT incorporating minimal blunt dissection has shown improved results even without the use of FOB. The study is primarily intended to compare these two techniques and establish a safer cost-effective alternative to FOB-guided PCDTs.

Patients and methods

This randomized comparative study [registered (CTRI/2018/04/013191)] was conducted on 120 mechanically ventilated patients. In 60 patients, mini-surgical PCDT (group-M) was performed with 2 cm longitudinal skin incision and blunt dissection till pretracheal fascia without FOB guidance using Portex-Ultraperc^™ sets. In remaining 60 patients, PCDT was performed under FOB vision with similar skin incision (without blunt dissection) using Portex-Ultraperc^™ sets (group-F). Two techniques were compared with regard to procedural time and percentage of complications occurred during or after the procedure.

Results

Procedure time [group-M: 6.30 ± 1.28 minutes; group-F: 14.43 ± 1.84 minutes (p <0.001)] and mean blood loss [group-M: 5.33 ± 1.69 mL; group-F: 6.87 ± 3.11 mL (p = 0.001)] was significantly less in group-M. Higher incidence of desaturation [group-M: 16.7%; group-F: 35% (p = 0.022)] was noted in group-F, whereas arrhythmias [group-M: 21.7%; group-F: 6.7% (p = 0.018)] were higher in group-M. There was no statistical difference in incidence of pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema. There was no incidence of posterior tracheal wall perforation in any of the patients.

Conclusion

Mini-surgical technique is a faster alternative of FOB-guided PCDT with comparable incidence of complications. It can safely be used in intensive care units (ICUs) where FOB is not available.

Clinical trial registration number

CTRI/2018/05/014307.

Name of registry

Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI), URL-http://ctri.nic.in.

How to cite this article

Kumar A, Kohli A, Kachru N, Bhadoria P, Wadhawan S, Kumar D. Fiber-optic Bronchoscope-guided vs Mini-surgical Technique of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy in Intensive Care Units. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(11):1269-1274.

Navigation system for percutaneous tracheotomy

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) is a well-established method. The prerequisite is to identify anatomical landmarks of the neck. We introduce a three-dimensional navigation system - SafeTrach.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

We present an alternative technique using internal landmarks that can be used in patients with difficult anatomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The device is a forceps-like instrument with an outer and an inner shank. The later serves as a ventilation lumen and stabilizes the orotracheal tube in the midline of trachea. The outer shank acts as a three-dimensional guide for the puncturing needle.

RESULTS

Out of 48 patients we have determined the level of puncture in 20 patients by using intraoperative measurements. The distance from the vocal cords to the puncture site was about 50 mm for men and 40 mm for women. In 13 of the patients who had had CT scans, we studied the distance between the vocal cords and the optimal puncture site and found the median distance for men 45 mm and for women 42 mm.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

With the studied navigation system one may use external or internal landmarks to indicate the puncture level in PDT. The device may minimize the risk of injuring the posterior tracheal wall.

["Hybrid tracheostomy": a low risk procedure for tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients]

BACKGROUND

Tracheostomy in ventilated patients suffering from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) carries an increased risk of exposure to virus-containing aerosol for the staff.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of a risk-reduced procedure for tracheostomy.

METHOD

Presentation of "hybrid tracheostomy": a method combining the advantages of conventional surgical and percutaneous dilative tracheostomy.

RESULTS

Tracheostomy of six patients using the hybrid method without any complications.

CONCLUSION

"Hybrid tracheostomy" offers a minimally invasive and safe procedure with low risk of exposure to virus-containing aerosol.

VivaSight™ single-lumen tube guided bronchial blocker placement for one-lung ventilation in a patient with a tracheal tumor under video-assisted transthoracic surgery: a case report

BACKGROUND

Video-assisted transthoracic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive procedure that has been reported as a valid method for tracheal resection and reconstruction. However, for patients with tracheal tumors, one-lung ventilation during VATS is difficult to achieve, and utilizing a double-lumen tube is not applicable in these types of situations. When using a bronchial blocker, a fiberoptic bronchoscope is required to verify the position of bronchial blocker, though the repeated use of the fiberoptic bronchoscope increases the risk of tumor rupture and hemorrhage.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case with a middle tracheal tumor received tracheal resection and reconstruction under VATS, in which VivaSight™ single-lumen tube guided bronchial blocker placement was used for achieving one-lung ventilation. The VivaSight™ single-lumen tube can provide real-time and continuous monitoring of the position of bronchial blocker. Moreover, it does not require the aid of fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

VivaSight™ single-lumen tube combined with a bronchial blocker is a feasible choice for one-lung ventilation in this type of surgery.

[Airway management in intensive care and emergency medicine : What is new?]

In acute respiratory insufficiency, oxygenation and/or ventilation support by mechanical ventilation is an integral part of intensive care and emergency medicine. Effective airway management is essential to prevent hypoxic complications during the securing of the airway. This includes for example the recognition of difficult airways and adequate pre-oxygenation. While the laryngeal tube can be used in the context of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in emergency medicine, endotracheal intubation is standard in intensive care medicine. In addition to direct laryngoscopy (DL), indirect laryngoscopy using video laryngoscopy (VL) is also available. Compared to DL, advantages in intubation success, anticipated difficult airways, and a reduction of mucosa damage have been shown for VL, whereas the advantage for intubation success could only be demonstrated for experienced physicians who should always be present due to the potential complications of intubation. With regard to mortality and incidence of hypoxia, no difference between DL and VL could be shown. According to current data, the VL should not be used preclinically. A tracheostomy is often performed for long-term ventilation. It is still unclear which patients benefit from an early tracheostomy. Usually the bed-side percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy technique is used, which is often performed under bronchoscopic guidance.

Endotracheal tube-mounted camera-assisted intubation versus conventional intubation in intensive care: a prospective, randomised trial (VivaITN)

BACKGROUND

For critically ill patients, effective airway management with a high first-attempt success rate for endotracheal intubation is essential to prevent hypoxic complications during securing of the airway. Video guidance may improve first-attempt success rate over direct laryngoscopy (DL).

METHODS

With ethics approval, this randomised controlled trial involved 54 critically ill patients who received endotracheal intubation using a tube with an integrated video camera (VivaSight™-SL tube, VST, ETView Ltd., Misgav, Israel) or using conventional intubation under DL.

RESULTS

The two groups did not differ in terms of intubation conditions. The first-attempt success rate was VST 96% vs. DL 93% (not statistically significant (n. s.)). When intubation at first attempt failed, it was successful in the second attempt in all patients. There was no difference in the median average time to intubation (VST 34 s (interquartile range 28-39) vs. DL 35 s (28-40), n. s.). Neither vomiting nor aspiration or accidental oesophageal intubation were observed in either group. The lowest pulsoxymetric oxygen saturation for VST was 96 (82-99) % vs. 99 (95-100) % for DL (n. s.). Hypotension defined as systolic blood pressure < 70 mmHg occurred in the VST group at 20% vs. the DL group at 15% (n. s.).

CONCLUSION

In this pilot study, no advantage was shown for the VST. The VST should be examined further to identify patient groups that could benefit from intubation with the VST, that is, patients with difficult airway conditions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02837055 . Registered on 13 June 2016.

Bronchoscopy versus an endotracheal tube mounted camera for the peri-interventional visualization of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy - a prospective, randomized trial (VivaPDT)

Background

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in critically ill patients often involves bronchoscopic optical guidance. However, this procedure is not without disadvantages. Therefore, we aimed to study a recently introduced endotracheal tube-mounted camera (VivaSight^TM-SL tube [VST]; ETView, Misgav, Israel) for guiding PDT.

Methods

This was a randomized controlled trial involving 46 critically ill patients who received PDT using optical guidance with a VST or with bronchoscopy. The primary outcome measure was visualization of the tracheal structures (i.e., identification and monitoring of the thyroid, cricoid, and tracheal cartilage and the posterior wall) rated on 4-point Likert scales. Secondary measures were the quality of ventilation (before puncture and during the tracheostomy procedure rated on 4-point Likert scales) and blood gases sampled at standardized time points.

Results

The mean ratings for visualization (lower values better; values given for per-protocol analysis) were 5.4 (95% CI 4.5–6.3) for the VST group and 4.0 (95% CI 4.0–4.0) for the bronchoscopy group (p < 0.001). Mean ventilation ratings were 2.5 (95% CI 2.1–2.9) for VST and 5.0 (95% CI 4.4–5.7) for bronchoscopy (p < 0.001). Arterial carbon dioxide increased to 5.9 (95% CI 5.4–6.5) kPa in the VST group vs. 8.3 (95% CI 7.2–9.5) kPa in the bronchoscopy group (p < 0.001), and pH decreased to 7.40 (95% CI 7.36–7.43) in the VST group vs. 7.26 (95% CI 7.22–7.30) in the bronchoscopy group (p < 0.001), at the end of the intervention.

Conclusions

Visualization of PDT with the VST is not noninferior to guidance by bronchoscopy. Ventilation is superior with less hypercarbia with the VST. Because visualization is not a prerequisite for PDT, patients requiring stable ventilation with normocarbia may benefit from PDT with the VST.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02861001. Registered on 13 June 2016.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-017-1901-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.