Improving the management of patients with chronic cardiac and respiratory diseases by extending pulse-oximeter uses: the dynamic pulse-oximetry.

Respiratory and cardio-vascular chronic diseases are among the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, accounting for a large portion of health-care costs in terms of mortality and disability. Their prevalence is expected to rise further in the coming years as the population ages. The current model of care for diagnosing and monitoring NCDs is out of date because it results in late medical interventions and/or an unfavourable cost-effectiveness balance based on reported symptoms and subsequent inpatient tests and treatments.

Awake intubation with the Bonfils fibrescope in patients with difficult airway.

Background: In the majority of patients with difficult airways intubated using the Bonfils fibrescope, intubations have been performed under general anaesthesia. Our aim is to report a consecutive series of intubations on awake patients with anticipated difficult airways, performed using the Bonfils fibrescope.

Methods: A prospective case series of intubations performed with the Bonfils fibrescope by a single anaesthesiologist is described in this article.

Massive venous air embolism in the semi-sitting position during surgery for a cervical spinal cord tumor: anatomic and surgical pitfalls.

Although venous air embolism (VAE) in neurological surgery is mainly associated with posterior fossa procedures, this complication may also occur, with comparable severity, in the posterior cervical spine approach in patients who are semi-sitting. We report a patient with a massive VAE that occurred in the semi-sitting position during a posterior approach to an extended cervical-thoracic level (C3-T2) intramedullary tumor, which interrupted the surgical procedure. We discuss the possible causes of air embolism, the anatomic and pathogenetic mechanisms, treatment and preventive measures.

Orbital head pain elicited by neuroendoscopy of the third ventricle performed under local anesthesia.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETVS) is considered a minimally invasive procedure for blocked hydrocephalus. In 24 cases, this procedure was carried out in awake patients under local anesthesia. All patients reported abrupt orbital pain when the third ventricle floor was manipulated.

Posterior capsule opacification after phacoemulsification: silicone CeeOn Edge versus acrylate AcrySof intraocular lens.

Purpose: To compare the rates and morphologic features of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after small-incision phacoemulsification and in-the-bag implantation of 2 foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) over an 18-month follow-up.

Setting: Departments of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Conegliano, Conegliano, and Maggiore Hospital of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Methods: In an open clinical study, 78 cataract patients were randomly selected to have implantation of a silicone CeeOn Edge (Pharmacia) or acrylate AcrySof (Alcon) IOL after phacoemulsification cataract surgery.