Videolaryngoscopy use before and after the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: The report of the VL-iCUE survey with responses from 96 countries.

Background: The potential benefit of videolaryngoscopy use in facilitating tracheal intubation has already been established, however its use was actively encouraged during the COVID-19 pandemic as it was likely to improve intubation success and increase the patient-operator distance.

Objectives: We sought to establish videolaryngoscopy use before and after the early phases of the pandemic, whether institutions had acquired new devices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether there had been teaching on the devices acquired.

Design: We designed a survey with 27 questions made available via the Joint Information Scientific Committee JISC online survey platform in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese.

Management of transgender patients in critical care.

As clinicians working in critical care, it is our duty to provide all of our patients with the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their gender identity. The transgender community continues to suffer discrimination from the media, politicians and general public. As healthcare workers we often pride ourselves on our ability to safely care for all patients.

The perioperative management of transgender patients: a knowledge gap we can no longer ignore.

Recent years have seen an increase in the number of people openly identifying as transgender in the UK, with current estimates ranging between 200 000 and 600 000 individuals. There has also been an increase in the number of patients undergoing both medical and surgical gender-affirming treatment. There are several important, specific considerations that perioperative clinicians must be aware of when caring for transgender patients, including changes to the airway, potential respiratory and cardiovascular complications, and the management of hormone therapy.

Early quantitative infrared pupillometry for prediction of neurological outcome in patients admitted to intensive care after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Quantitative pupillometry is recommended for neuroprognostication after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 72 h or more after ICU admission, but the feasibility and utility of earlier assessment is unknown.

Methods: This was a study of the utility of an early quantitative pupillometry index in predicting neurological outcome in patients with reduced consciousness after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Quantitative infrared pupillometry index was measured at 0, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h from admission.

Cardiogenic Shock: Protocols, Teams, Centers, and Networks.

The mortality of cardiogenic shock (CS) remains unacceptably high. Delays in the recognition of CS and access to disease-modifying or hemodynamically stabilizing interventions likely contribute to poor outcomes. In parallel to successful initiatives in other disease states, such as acute ST-elevation MI and major trauma, institutions are increasingly advocating the use of a multidisciplinary 'shock team' approach to CS management.

Ergonomics in the anaesthetic workplace: Guideline from the Association of Anaesthetists.

Ergonomics in relation to anaesthesia is the scientific study of the interaction between anaesthetists and their workspace environment in order to promote safety, performance and well-being. The foundation for avoiding pain or discomfort at work is to adopt and maintain a good posture, whether sitting or standing. Anaesthetists should aim to keep their posture as natural and neutral as possible.

Non-Obstetric Safety of Epidurals (NOSE).

Epidurals are a useful perioperative procedure for effective analgesia that allow early mobilisation after major surgery and help to minimise postoperative pulmonary, cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications. However, there are potential rare but life-changing complications such as an epidural haematoma. These require a high standard of post-epidural care for prompt recognition and prevention of permanent paralysis.

Airway Leads and Airway Response Teams: Improving Delivery of Safer Airway Management?

Purpose Of Review: Airway management remains a source of significant morbidity and mortality. This review considers recent summaries of complications and looks toward strategies to improve practice using a coordinated approach.

Recent Findings: A safety gap can exist between national recommendations and local practice.

Perioperative care of people with dementia.

As the population ages, there is a higher prevalence of both dementia and conditions that require major surgery. However, patients with dementia undergoing surgery have poorer outcomes than surgical patients without dementia. This article explores new guidance about delivering perioperative care for patients with dementia presenting for surgery.

Difficult airway communication between anaesthetists and general practitioners.

Background And Aims: Advance warning of patients who are difficult to intubate may prevent an airway catastrophe but relies on effective communication between specialties. Anaesthetists aim to inform general practitioners whenever a difficult airway is encountered and expect general practitioners to include this information in subsequent referrals. We investigated how anaesthetists communicated with general practitioners, their knowledge of the Read Code (used by general practitioner computer systems) for difficult tracheal intubation, and how likely general practitioners were to pass the information on.