Head elevation improves laryngeal exposure with direct laryngoscopy.

Study Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of changing head position on the laryngeal view in the same subject.

Design: Prospective, randomized, crossover comparison of laryngeal views.

Setting: Operating suite at a university-affiliated, community hospital.

Reversal of profound vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block under sevoflurane anesthesia: sugammadex versus neostigmine.

Background: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors cannot rapidly reverse profound neuromuscular block. Sugammadex, a selective relaxant binding agent, reverses the effects of rocuronium and vecuronium by encapsulation. This study assessed the efficacy of sugammadex compared with neostigmine in reversal of profound vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block under sevoflurane anesthesia.

The neuromuscular effects and tracheal intubation conditions after small doses of succinylcholine.

Unlabelled: Succinylcholine 1.0 mg/kg usually produces excellent tracheal intubation conditions in 60 s. Recovery of respiratory muscle function after this dose, however, is not fast enough to forestall oxyhemoglobin desaturation when ventilation cannot be assisted.

The relationship of posttetanic count and train-of-four responses during recovery from intense cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade.

Unlabelled: Posttetanic count (PTC) has been used to quantify intense degrees of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockade. Our objective in the present investigation was to discern whether PTC correlates with recovery from intense cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade under both inhaled and IV anesthesia. In 60 patients, anesthesia was induced with propofol 2 mg/kg and fentanyl 1.

Does the choice of intravenous induction drug affect intubation conditions after a fast-onset neuromuscular blocker?

Study Objectives: To compare intubation conditions and hemodynamic effects resulting from thiopental-rapacuronium, propofol-rapacuronium, and etomidate-rapacuronium intravenous (IV) induction.

Design: Randomized, blinded study.

Setting: Operating suites of a large university-affiliated medical center.

Tracheal intubation conditions and cardiovascular effects after modified rapid-sequence induction with sevoflurane-rapacuronium versus propofol-rapacuronium.

Study Objectives: To compare intubation conditions and hemodynamic effects resulting from rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane-rapacuronium and propofol-rapacuronium.

Design: Randomized, blinded study.

Setting: Operating suites of a large university-affiliated medical center.