Lemierre's syndrome: a case study with a short review of literature.

Objective And Importance: Lemierre's syndrome (LS) is a rare condition that typically starts with a bacterial oropharyngeal infection complicated by a thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and septic emboli to the lungs or other organs. The most common organism isolated is Fusobacterium necrophorum, although other causative organisms are isolated in rare cases.

Case Presentation: We discuss a case of LS in a 44-year-old, previously healthy man presenting with an oropharyngeal infection.

A newly developed tracheal tube offering 'pressurised sealing' outperforms currently available tubes in preventing cuff leakage: A benchtop study.

Background: No currently used tracheal tube offers full protection against aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions into the lower airways.

Objective: We developed a tracheal tube equipped with two polyvinylchloride (PVC) cuffs with a supplementary port opening between the cuffs through which a continuous positive pressure of 5 cmH2O is provided [double-cuffed PVC (PVCdc)]. We compared this PVCdc with four different cuff types (cylindrical PVC, conical PVC, cylindrical polyurethane and conical polyurethane).

Condensation of humidified air in the inflation line of a polyurethane cuff precludes correct continuous pressure monitoring during mechanical ventilation.

Within continuously controlled limits of cuff pressure, an endotracheal tube cuff made of polyurethane (PU) prevents secretion inflow better than a conventional polyvinylchloride cuff. However, the temperature difference between ventilator gas and the air inside a PU cuff produces condensation droplets that accumulate in the cuff inflation canal. We investigated whether condensation influenced continuous cuff pressure monitoring.