Airway Educational Project

Medinfo Sites weblog

‘Techniques’ Articles

Requiem for the reusable Eschman Bougie?

Posted: Jan 16th, 2010 •• Category: Devices, Techniques

At the end of every year a tradition from the networks and news organizations is to show us whom among celebrities and famous people died during the year. I must admit I do not pay close attention to it and rather think of whom or what  I would add to the list. This year something […]

Randomized controlled studies in airway topics… how common are they?

Posted: Jan 12th, 2010 •• Category: Education, Intubation, Techniques, Uncategorized

Despite some considering the airway as “the cornerstone of anesthesia” if one looks closely, the amount of RCS on the subject, actually are very, very rare. Doing studies on the airway is perhaps inherently difficult because the stakes of things going the wrong way are basically too high. The majority of the literature or information […]

Can’t intubate, can’t ventilate… are you and your institution ready?

Posted: Jan 5th, 2010 •• Category: Education, Techniques

Take a look at this interesting article from the U.K. They identified a problem and saw an opportunity to improve. Imagine if you will this study was done in Gainesville; wherever you worked today,last week, last month, do you know the location of the D.A cart? Do people that would be in charge of assisting […]

Interesting and Timely topic

Posted: Dec 22nd, 2009 •• Category: Education, Intubation, Techniques, VideoLaryngoscopy

The judge gave the verdict of… guilty. We are not currently doing this and I somewhat agree with the author. It would be interesting to see if you think we should and the issue of how, naturally comes to mind. Look forward to your comments. Glidescope letter

Handling the patient with potential or with known cervical spine issues

Posted: Dec 15th, 2009 •• Category: Trauma, VideoLaryngoscopy

The issue of elective/urgent/emergency airway management of patients with cervical spine issues is always a challenge and often comes out during oral boards questions. The bad thing is that there are multiple theories, methods, controversies and dangers etc… associated with this issue (reason why they love to ask these kind of questions)…..and those remain; the […]

RSA… I do not know if I like this one

Posted: Oct 26th, 2009 •• Category: SGA, Techniques, Trauma

Several posts in this site have dealt with controversies surrounding RSI. There are many unsolved issues (cric vs. no cric, ventilate vs. not ventilate, to use N.M relaxants outside the O.R vs. not use them, etc…) the truth is that more questions than answers exist. But how about this new concept coined in 2007 by […]

To further add to the complexity of airway management in OB patients

Posted: Oct 22nd, 2009 •• Category: Education, Intubation, Techniques

The difficulties, morbidity and mortality associated with airway management and obstetrics, lead to a culture shift, and regional anesthesia and specifically neuro-axial blocks are very often used to provide anesthesia in this patient population. This brings an interesting question.How to maintain skills, gain experience and train residents in the dying art of GA in obstetrics? […]

RSI…How

Posted: Jun 20th, 2009 •• Category: Education, Techniques

In 1951 Morton and Wylie described the technique of rapid IV administration of a barbiturate and a muscle relaxant almost simultaneously followed by intubation with a cuffed endotracheal tube “to prevent regurgitation or vomiting of gastric contents”. Later in 1971 Stept and Safar reported a fifteen-step technique to prevent “regurgitation, vomiting and aspiration during Induction […]

But the patient has GERD… Can and should you even consider a SGA?

Posted: May 22nd, 2009 •• Category: SGA, Techniques

If you have followed the blog, perhaps you have read the articles that deal with the issues of GERD and airway instrumentation. This article deals with this issue again. I suspect that it will lead to controversy… bring it on! SGA and increased esophageal pressure

Expanding Role and importance of SGA’s (LMA in particular) for Airway Management

Posted: May 19th, 2009 •• Category: Education, SGA, Techniques

As discussed with some of you, we live, work and train at a place that is ultra conservative in the use of SGA’s for airway management. In the “real world” the role of SGA’s and the LMA is different and expanding. We have to learn from these people and their experiences. Be open minded. Look […]