Milrinone and nitric oxide: combined effect on pulmonary artery pressures after cardiopulmonary bypass in children.

Objective: To investigate the effect of milrinone combined with nitric oxide (NO) on the pulmonary artery pressures (PAP) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), for repair of congenital heart defects (CHD) in children.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Setting: University affiliated community hospital.

Difficult laryngoscopy: incidence and predictors in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery versus general surgery patients.

Objective: Cardiac surgery patients might have a higher incidence of difficult laryngoscopy than the general population because of older age, dental problems, and obesity. The authors estimated the incidence and predictors of difficult laryngoscopy in coronary artery bypass surgery patients.

Design: Prospective, controlled study.

The effect of high-frequency ventilation of the lungs on postbypass oxygenation: A comparison with other ventilation methods applied during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: To compare the effect of high-frequency ventilation versus other ventilation methods applied during cardiopulmonary bypass on postbypass oxygenation.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: University hospital.

Increased body mass index per se is not a predictor of difficult laryngoscopy.

Purpose: We investigated the association between morbid obesity and difficult laryngoscopy (DL).

Methods: In a prospective, controlled study we evaluated the impact of different variables on the prediction of DL in 200 morbidly obese (study group-SG), and 1272 non-obese (control group-CG) patients undergoing elective surgery. Variables assessed included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), protruding, loose, and missing upper teeth, thyro-mental distance, temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) function, neck extension, and Mallampati class.