Lateral position intubation followed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided angiotherapy in acute esophageal variceal rupture: A case report

Diagnosis and Management of Esophagogastric Varices

Acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is a potentially fatal complication of clinically significant portal hypertension and is one of the most common causes of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Thus, esophagogastric varices represent a major economic and population health issue. Patients with advanced chronic liver disease typically undergo an upper endoscopy to screen for esophagogastric varices. However, upper endoscopy is not recommended for patients with liver stiffness < 20 KPa and platelet count > 150 × 10⁹/L as there is a low probability of high-risk varices. Patients with high-risk varices should receive primary prophylaxis with either nonselective beta-blockers or endoscopic band ligation. In cases of AVB, patients should receive upper endoscopy within 12 h after resuscitation and hemodynamic stability, whereas endoscopy should be performed as soon as possible if patients are unstable. In cases of suspected variceal bleeding, starting vasoactive therapy as soon as possible in combination with endoscopic treatment is recommended. On the other hand, in cases of uncontrolled bleeding, balloon tamponade or self-expandable metal stents can be used as a bridge to more definitive therapy such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. This article aims to offer a comprehensive review of recommendations from international guidelines as well as recent updates on the management of esophagogastric varices.

Flexible Bronchoscope versus Video Laryngoscope for Orotracheal Intubation During Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgery in Left Lateral Position: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has become the primary treatment for early upper gastrointestinal tract lesions. During endoscopic surgery, endotracheal intubation is generally performed in the patients’ supine position, and patients are shifted to the left lateral position for endoscopic surgery. This study compared the efficacy of flexible bronchoscope-guided intubation with that of video laryngoscope-guided intubation in the left lateral position.

Patients and Methods

Forty-eight patients receiving ESD were randomly divided into the flexible bronchoscope group (group F) or the video laryngoscope group (group V). Tracheal intubation was performed by a trained anesthetist with a flexible bronchoscope (group F) or unchanneled video laryngoscope (group V) in the left lateral position. Primary outcomes included the intubation duration and success rate. Secondary outcomes included the ease of intubation technique and the occurrence of complications.

Results

Twenty-four (100%) patients in group F and twenty-three (95.8%) in group V were successfully intubated (P = 1.000). The median intubation time in group F was 37s (interquartile range, 33.0, 44.5), which was significantly shorter compared to group V (53s [45.5, 66.5]; P < 0.001). The flexible bronchoscope was significantly easier to manage than the video laryngoscope, as reflected by the users scoring system (9 [9, 10] vs 8 [7, 8]; P < 0.001). The presence of perioperative adverse events and complications were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion

Both flexible bronchoscope- and video laryngoscope-guided intubation in patients’ left lateral position achieved high success rates and comparable complication rates. However, intubation with the flexible bronchoscope was completed more quickly.