Overinflation of the cuff and pressure on the neck reduce the preventive effect of supraglottic airways on pulmonary aspiration: an experimental study in human cadavers.

Background: The oesophageal leak pressure is defined as the pressure which breaks the seal between the cuff of a supraglottic airway and the peri-cuff mucosa, allowing penetration of fluid into the pharynx and the oral cavity. As a consequence, a decrease in this variable increases the risk of reflux and can lead to pulmonary aspiration. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of cuff overinflation and pressure on the neck on the oesophageal leak pressure of seven supraglottic airways.

Minimal Invasive Fixation of Hamate Hook Fractures Through a Dorsal Percutaneous Approach Using a Mini Compression Screw: An Experimental Feasibility Study.

Purpose: Isolated fractures of the hamate hook can be treated by conservative or surgical means. Because nonoperative treatment is associated with high nonunion rates, surgical treatment with open reduction and internal fixation through a palmar approach is often preferred. The aim of this study was to refine surgical treatment of hamate hook fractures using a cannulated mini compression screw through a dorsal percutaneous approach.

Oesophageal seal of the novel supralaryngeal airway device I-Gel in comparison with the laryngeal mask airways Classic and ProSeal using a cadaver model.

Background: Supraglottic airway devices are increasingly used in anaesthesia and emergency medicine. This study was designed to investigate the oesophageal seal of the novel supralaryngeal airway device, I-Gel (I-Gel), in comparison with two of the laryngeal mask airways, Classic (cLMA) and ProSeal (pLMA), in a model of elevated oesophageal pressure.

Methods: The three supralaryngeal airway devices were inserted into eight unfixed cadaver models with exposed oesophagi that had been connected to a water column producing both a slow and a fast oesophageal pressure increase.

A comparison of seal in seven supraglottic airway devices using a cadaver model of elevated esophageal pressure.

Background: Supraglottic airway devices are increasingly important in clinical anesthesia and prehospital emergency medicine, but there are only few data to assess the risk for aspiration. We designed this study to compare the seal of seven supraglottic airway devices in a cadaver model of elevated esophageal pressure.

Methods: The classic laryngeal mask airway, laryngeal mask airway ProSeal, intubating laryngeal mask airway Fastrach, laryngeal tube, laryngeal tube LTS II, Combitube, and Easytube were inserted into unfixed human cadavers with an exposed esophagus that had been connected to a water column of 130 cm height.

[Electrical nerve stimulation for plexus and nerve blocks].

Despite the increasing use of ultrasound, electrical nerve stimulation is commonly used as the standard for both plexus and peripheral nerve blocks. Several recent randomized trials have contributed to a better understanding of physiological and clinical correlations. Traditionally used currents and impulse widths are better defined in relation to the distance between needle tip and nerves.