Insertion of the endotracheal tube, laryngeal mask airway and oesophageal-tracheal Combitube. A 6-month comparative prospective study of acquisition and retention skills by medical students.

Objective: To assess the ability of medical students to learn and retain skills of airway manipulation for insertion of the endotracheal tube, the laryngeal mask airway (Laryngeal Mask Company, Henley-on-Thames, UK) and the oesophageal-tracheal Combitube (Kendall-Sheridan Catheter Corp., Argyle, NY, USA).

Methods: A 6-month prospective study was conducted among fifth-year medical students attending a 3-week clerkship in the Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine in the Soroka Medical Center.

The dilemma of immediate preoperative hypertension: to treat and operate, or to postpone surgery?

Study Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and complications of immediate preoperative reduction of arterial blood pressure (BP) in patients with well-controlled hypertension but with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 110 and 130 mmHg on arrival at the operating room (OR).

Design: Prospective, randomized, large-sample study.

Setting: University-affiliated, 550-bed community hospital.