Clinical evaluation and airway management for adults with cervical spine instability.

Airway management of patients with cervical spine instability may be difficult as a result of immobilization, and may be associated with secondary neurologic injury related to cervical spine motion. Spinal cord instability is most common in patients with trauma, but there are additional congenital and acquired conditions that predispose to subacute cervical spine instability. Patients with suspected instability should receive immobilization during airway management with manual in-line stabilization.

Discretionary carotid patch angioplasty leads to good results.

Background: This study evaluated the type and need for angioplasty in 253 consecutive carotid endarterectomies.

Methods: Polyester knitted gelatin sealed patch (DP) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patches were used in, respectively, 159 and 29 patients, with 65 vessels closed primarily (no patch [NP]).

Results: Surgical results, estimated blood loss, and surgical time were similar in each group.

Short-stay carotid endarterectomy in a tertiary-care Veterans Administration hospital.

Background: This study focused on 200 carotid endarterectomies (CEA) performed at our Veterans Administration Hospital (VAH) to determine whether 1-day hospitalization after CEA is safe and the degree to which it can be achieved.

Methods: Over 36 months, 200 CEAs were performed for asymptomatic stenosis (n = 104), transient ischemic attacks (n = 68), and stroke (n = 28). General anesthesia was used in 189 procedures.