A combination of fentanyl-midazolam-propofol provides better intubating conditions than fentanyl-lignocaine-propofol in the absence of neuromuscular blocking agents

Airway management in patients with burn contractures of the neck

Airway management of patients with burn contracture of the neck (PBC neck) is a challenge to the anesthesiologist. Patient evaluation includes history, physical and airway examination. A safe approach in the airway management of a patient with moderate to severe PBC neck is to secure the airway with the patient awake. The anesthesiologist should have a pre-planned strategy for intubation of the difficult airway. The choices advocated for airway management of such patients include awake fiberoptic-guided intubation, use of intubating laryngeal mask airway, intubation without neuromuscular blocking agents, intubation with neuromuscular blocking agents after testing the ability to ventilate by mask, pre-induction neck scar release under local anesthesia and ketamine or sedation followed by direct laryngoscopy and intubation and video-laryngoscope guided intubation, amongst others. Preparation of the patient includes an explanation of the proposed procedure, sedation, administration of antisialogogues and regional anesthesia of the airway. The various options for intubation of patients with PBC neck, intraoperative concerns and safe extubation are described. Back-up plans, airway rescue strategies and a review of literature on this subject are presented.

Magnesium sulphate: an adjuvant to tracheal intubation without muscle relaxation--a randomised study

CONTEXT

Tracheal intubation without administration of a neuromuscular blocking drug is used frequently in anaesthesia. Several techniques and adjuvants have been tried to improve intubating conditions. Magnesium sulphate is an agent with analgesic, anaesthetic and muscle relaxant effects.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of magnesium sulphate on intubating conditions after induction of anaesthesia without a neuromuscular blocking drug.

DESIGN

Double-blinded randomised study.

PATIENTS

Sixty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1/2 scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were included.

SETTING

Avicenna Military Hospital between June 2010 and March 2011.

INTERVENTIONS

Before induction of general anaesthesia, patients were assigned to receive either a 10-min infusion of magnesium sulphate 45 mg kg(-1) in 100 ml of isotonic saline (magnesium group, n = 30) or the same volume of saline (control group, n = 30). Anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl 3 μg kg(-1) followed 3 min later by propofol 2.5 mg kg(-1).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Intubating conditions were evaluated by a blinded anaesthesiologist using the criteria of the Copenhagen consensus conference: ease of laryngoscopy, vocal cord position and/or movement and response to intubation or cuff inflation (cough or diaphragmatic movement). Intubating conditions were considered as acceptable (excellent or good) or unacceptable (poor). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were also recorded during the study period.

RESULTS

The two groups were comparable in their demographic profiles. Clinically acceptable intubating conditions were observed more frequently in the magnesium group than in the control group: 25 (83%) vs. 18 patients (60%) (P = 0.042). There was no failed intubation. There were no differences between the groups with regard to haemodynamic variables.

CONCLUSION

Addition of magnesium sulphate to propofol and fentanyl at induction of anaesthesia significantly improved intubating conditions without administration of a neuromuscular blocking drug.

[Sedation and analgesia for the brain-injured patient]

Sedation-analgesia occupies an essential place in the specific therapeutic arsenal of the brain-injured patients. The maintenance of the perfusion of the brain, its relaxation and its protection are the fundamental objectives whose finality is to avoid the extension of the lesions and to preserve the neuronal capital. Sedation is instituted when patients are severely agitated or present a deterioration of their state of consciousness (GCS< or =8). Under cover of mechanical ventilation, sedation is the first line treatment of intracranial hypertension, a common pathway of various acute brain diseases of traumatic, vascular or other origin. The use of the combination of hypnotic and opioids is the rule. The combined action of these two classes reinforces and improves their sedative effects. Midazolam is the 2 benzodiazepine of reference. Propofol is more and more frequently added to the combination of hypnotic and opioids. The "propofol infusion syndrome" is a severe limitation to its long term administration in particular among patients presenting a severe septic or inflammatory state. Propofol will be imperatively stopped in the event of metabolic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, acute renal insufficiency, hyperkaliemia or increase in the blood triglyceride levels. The use of thiopental is restricted to the most severe cases. Its use as a monotherapy at high doses is abandoned to the profit of a co-administration with midazolam or even with the combination of midazolam and propofol. Thiopental overdose is very frequent in the event of associated hypothermia. Etomidate does not have its place apart from induction in fast sequence. The neuro-protective effects of ketamine require to be demonstrated in man before being recommended routinely. Withdrawal of sedation can be responsible for a state of agitation which can be controlled by neuroleptics.