Explore the vast range of titles available.

Purpose The effect of the routine use of a stylet during tracheal intubation on first-attempt intubation success is unclear. We hypothesised that the first-attempt intubation success rate would be higher with tracheal tube + stylet than with tracheal tube alone. Methods In this multicentre randomised controlled trial, conducted in 32 intensive care units, we randomly assigned patients to tracheal tube + stylet or tracheal tube alone (i.e. without stylet). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with first-attempt intubation success. The secondary outcome was the proportion of patients with complications related to tracheal intubation. Serious adverse events, i.e., traumatic injuries related to tracheal intubation, were evaluated. Results A total of 999 patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis: 501 (50%) to tracheal tube + stylet and 498 (50%) to tracheal tube alone. First-attempt intubation success occurred in 392 patients (78.2%) in the tracheal tube + stylet group and in 356 (71.5%) in the tracheal tube alone group (absolute risk difference, 6.7; 95%CI 1.4–12.1; relative risk, 1.10; 95%CI 1.02–1.18; P  = 0.01). A total of 194 patients (38.7%) in the tracheal tube + stylet group had complications related to tracheal intubation, as compared with 200 patients (40.2%) in the tracheal tube alone group (absolute risk difference, − 1.5; 95%CI − 7.5 to 4.6; relative risk, 0.96; 95%CI 0.83–1.12; P = 0.64). The incidence of serious adverse events was 4.0% and 3.6%, respectively (absolute risk difference, 0.4; 95%CI, − 2.0 to 2.8; relative risk, 1.10; 95%CI 0.59–2.06. P  = 0.76). Conclusions Among critically ill adults undergoing tracheal intubation, using a stylet improves first-attempt intubation success.

The occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is linked to the aspiration of contaminated pharyngeal secretions around the endotracheal tube. Tubes with cuffs made of polyurethane rather than polyvinyl chloride or with a conical rather than a cylindrical shape increase tracheal sealing. To test whether using polyurethane and/or conical cuffs reduces tracheal colonization and VAP in patients with acute respiratory failure. We conducted a multicenter, prospective, open-label, randomized study in four parallel groups in four intensive care units between 2010 and 2012. A cohort of 621 patients with expected ventilation longer than 2 days was included at intubation with a cuff composed of cylindrical polyvinyl chloride (n = 148), cylindrical polyurethane (n = 143), conical polyvinyl chloride (n = 150), or conical polyurethane (n = 162). We used Kaplan-Meier estimates and log-rank tests to compare times to events. After excluding 17 patients who secondarily refused participation or had met an exclusion criterion, 604 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Cumulative tracheal colonization greater than 10(3) cfu/ml at Day 2 was as follows (median [interquartile range]): cylindrical polyvinyl chloride, 0.66 (0.58-0.74); cylindrical polyurethane, 0.61 (0.53-0.70); conical polyvinyl chloride, 0.67 (0.60-0.76); and conical polyurethane, 0.62 (0.55-0.70) (P = 0.55). VAP developed in 77 patients (14.4%), and postextubational stridor developed in 28 patients (6.4%) (P = 0.20 and 0.28 between groups, respectively). Among patients requiring mechanical ventilation, polyurethane and/or conically shaped cuffs were not superior to conventional cuffs in preventing tracheal colonization and VAP. Clinical trial registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01114022).

Among critically ill adults undergoing tracheal intubation, hypoxemia increases the risk of cardiac arrest and death. The effect of preoxygenation with noninvasive ventilation, as compared with preoxygenation with an oxygen mask, on the incidence of hypoxemia during tracheal intubation is uncertain. In a multicenter, randomized trial conducted at 24 emergency departments and intensive care units in the United States, we randomly assigned critically ill adults (age, ≥18 years) undergoing tracheal intubation to receive preoxygenation with either noninvasive ventilation or an oxygen mask. The primary outcome was hypoxemia during intubation, defined by an oxygen saturation of less than 85% during the interval between induction of anesthesia and 2 minutes after tracheal intubation. Among the 1301 patients enrolled, hypoxemia occurred in 57 of 624 patients (9.1%) in the noninvasive-ventilation group and in 118 of 637 patients (18.5%) in the oxygen-mask group (difference, -9.4 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -13.2 to -5.6; P<0.001). Cardiac arrest occurred in 1 patient (0.2%) in the noninvasive-ventilation group and in 7 patients (1.1%) in the oxygen-mask group (difference, -0.9 percentage points; 95% CI, -1.8 to -0.1). Aspiration occurred in 6 patients (0.9%) in the noninvasive-ventilation group and in 9 patients (1.4%) in the oxygen-mask group (difference, -0.4 percentage points; 95% CI, -1.6 to 0.7). Among critically ill adults undergoing tracheal intubation, preoxygenation with noninvasive ventilation resulted in a lower incidence of hypoxemia during intubation than preoxygenation with an oxygen mask. (Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense; PREOXI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05267652.).

Intubation in neonates is challenging, and repeated attempts are associated with adverse events. Among neonates undergoing urgent intubation, video laryngoscopy resulted in more successful first attempts than direct laryngoscopy.

Hypoxemia during tracheal intubation may increase the risk of cardiac arrest and death. In this multicenter trial, adults undergoing tracheal intubation were randomly assigned to receive bag-mask ventilation during the interval between induction and laryngoscopy or no ventilation. Bag-mask ventilation increased oxygen saturation as compared with no ventilation.

Purpose High-flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNC) has the potential to provide apnoeic oxygenation. We decided to assess in a proof-of-concept study whether the addition of HFNC to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) could reduce oxygen desaturation during intubation, compared with NIV alone for preoxygenation, in severely hypoxaemic intensive care unit (ICU) patients with respiratory failure. Methods We conducted a randomised, controlled, single-centre trial with assessor-blinded outcome assessment in patients admitted to the ICU. Hypoxaemic patients requiring orotracheal intubation for respiratory failure were randomised to receive preoxygenation using HFNC [flow = 60 L/min, fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) = 100 %] combined with NIV (pressure support = 10 cmH 2 O, positive end-expiratory pressure = 5 cmH 2 O, FiO 2  = 100 %) in the intervention group or NIV alone in the reference group prior to intubation. The primary outcome was the lowest oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) during the intubation procedure. Secondary outcomes were intubation-related complications and ICU mortality. Results Between July 2015 and February 2016, we randomly assigned 25 and 24 patients to the intervention and reference groups, respectively. In both groups the main reasons for respiratory failure were pneumonia and ARDS. During the intubation procedure, the lowest SpO 2 values were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the reference group [100 (95–100) % vs. 96 (92–99) %, p  = 0.029]. After exclusion of two patients from analysis for protocol violation, no (0 %) patients in the intervention group and five (21 %) patients in the reference group had SpO 2 below 80 % ( p  = 0.050). We recorded no significant difference between the groups in intubation-related complications or ICU mortality. Conclusions A novel strategy for preoxygenation in hypoxaemic patients, adding HFNC for apnoeic oxygenation to NIV prior to orotracheal intubation, may be more effective in reducing the severity of oxygen desaturation than the reference method using NIV alone.

Visual laryngoscope, as the most commonly used tracheal intubation tool in clinical practice, has a high intubation success rate and is quick to learn, but there are risks of over flexion of the neck, tooth loss, etc. The visual stylet helps to make up for these shortcomings. This study aimed to compare the effects of the visual stylet and visual laryngoscope on transoral single lumen tracheal intubation in non-difficult airways. The primary outcome was intubation time, and secondary outcomes included glottic exposure time, first success rates, hemodynamic indices, intubation-related complications. A total of 148 patients were included, with 75 in the visual stylet (VS) group and 73 in the visual laryngoscope (VL) group. The intubation time in the VS group was 35 (11) seconds, significantly shorter than the 41 (9) seconds in the VL group ( P  < 0.001). Immediately post-intubation, the MAP in the VS group was 80 (20.5) mmHg, lower than 87 (23) mmHg in the VL group ( P  < 0.01). Intubation-related complications are also lower in VS group compared to VL group. Other outcomes don’t have significant difference. Our study has demonstrated that the visual stylet significantly reduces intubation time and provides more stable hemodynamics. For patients with limited mouth opening, shorter thyromental distance, or higher Cormack-Lehane grades, the visual stylet may potentially be a better choice compared to video laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation. Trial registration China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100051812) (05/10/2021).

Excessive force during laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation can result in injury to airway soft tissues and hemodynamic stress responses. In this randomized controlled trial on simulated intubation, we aimed to evaluate the effect of bed height on laryngoscopy force and operator ergonomics. This study was registered on Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) registry (KCT0006948). Fifty operators with varying levels of experience were enrolled to intubate an airway mannequin at two different bed heights- anterior superior iliac spine (level A) and xyphoid process (level X) of each operator-in a randomized sequence. The laryngoscopy force measured with a Pliance® pressure sensor attached to the surface of the Macintosh laryngoscopy blade, intubation characteristics, and ergonomic score based on the Rapid Entire Body Assessment tool were compared between the two bed heights (level A vs. X). Peak and impulse laryngoscopy forces were significantly lower at xyphoid (level X) compared to the lower bed height (level A) (peak force: 36.06 ± 9.77 N vs. 33.74 ± 8.69 N, P = 0.049; impulse force: 251.82 ± 106.06 N vs. 224.18 ± 86.48, P = 0.005). Laryngeal view (Cormack-Lehane grade) and subjective comfort were also better at level X (P = 0.0024 and P < 0.001, respectively). The ergonomic score was higher at the lower bed height (level A, P < 0.001), indicating a more strenuous work posture. Bed height at xyphoid level reduced laryngoscopy force while improving laryngeal view and ergonomic comfort compared to ASIS level. Adjusting the bed height before endotracheal intubation can improve the operating environment, which in turn may contribute to safety of both patient and operator.

To date, endotracheal tube (ETT) remains the mainstream for preterm infants receiving general anesthesia. We aim to compare the perioperative respiratory adverse events between using supraglottic airway device (SAD) and ETT in former preterm infants receiving general anesthesia. Former preterm infants below 52 weeks of postmenstrual age scheduled for herniorrhaphy were randomized to receive SAD or ETT for general anesthesia. Infants with severe congenital cardiopulmonary disease, prolonged oxygen or mechanical ventilation dependence, and recent respiratory tract infection were excluded. Muscle relaxant agents and opioids were avoided in this study. 40 infants were assigned into SAD or ETT groups. Infants in the SAD group had a much lower rate of intraoperative desaturation than those in the ETT group (21.1% vs. 73.7%, p  = 0.003). Incidences of other intraoperative and postoperative 24-h respiratory adverse events were similar between groups, including laryngospasm/bronchospasm, cough and stridor during anesthesia, and postoperative apnea, bradycardia, and supplemental oxygen use. All participants were extubated successfully in the operation room. SAD is recommended in former preterm infants receiving general anesthesia for herniorrhaphy in their early infancy as it much decreases the incidence of intraoperative desaturation compared to ETT.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) compared with a single-lumen tube (SLT) in total minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIE). Adult patients who underwent MIE were randomly assigned to either group using an LMA ( n  = 45) or an SLT ( n  = 45). The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative pneumonia. Eighty-seven patients completed the study protocol. There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative pneumonia (33% vs. 38%; p  = 0.665). The incidence of sore throat 2 h after the operation was lower in the LMA group than in the SLT group (10% vs. 27%; p  = 0.039). The LMA group had lower pain scores at 2 h (2[2–3] vs. 3[2–4]; p  = 0.035) and 1 day (1.5[1–2] vs. 2[1–3]; p  = 0.047) after the operation. Compared with the SLT group, the LMA group had a shorter extubation time (16 [15–18] min vs. 18 [17–23.5] min; p  < 0.001) and fewer days with gastric tube indwelling (3 [3–5.5] vs. 5 [3–7]; p  = 0.011). Nausea and vomiting, hoarseness, delirium, pulmonary aspiration, pleural effusion, anastomotic leakage and postoperative hospital stay did not differ between the two groups. The application of LMA in patients who underwent total MIE enhanced postoperative comfort without increasing the incidence of pulmonary complications. LMA could be a feasible and safe technique for patients with oesophageal cancer.