Getting started

This chapter provides a basic overview of anaesthetic equipment and its safe use. Topics include the provision of anaesthetic gases, the basic components of the anaesthetic machine, breathing systems, positive-pressure ventilation, and airway equipment including laryngoscopes, endotracheal tubes and supraglottic airway devices. Methods of long-term venous access are discussed.

Simulated airway drills as a tool to measure and guide improvements in endotracheal intubation preparation in the paediatric emergency department

IntroductionEmergent paediatric intubation is an infrequent but high-stakes procedure in the paediatric emergency department (PED). Successful intubations depend on efficient and accurate preparation. The aim of this study was to use airway drills (brief in-situ simulations) to identify gaps in our paediatric endotracheal intubation preparation process, to improve on our process and to demonstrate sustainability of these improvements over time in a new staff cohort.MethodThis was a single-centre, simulation-based improvement study. Baseline simulated airway drills were used to identify barriers in our airway preparation process. Drills were scored for time and accuracy on an iteratively developed 16-item rubric. Interventions were identified and their impact was measured using simulated airway drills. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t-tests between the three data collection periods.ResultsTwenty-five simulated airway drills identified gaps in our airway preparation process and served as our baseline performance. The main problem identified was that staff members had difficulty locating essential airway equipment. Therefore, we optimised and implemented a weight-based airway cart. We demonstrated significant improvement and sustainability in the accuracy of obtaining essential airway equipment from baseline to postintervention (62% vs 74%; p=0.014), and postintervention to sustainability periods (74% vs 77%; p=0.573). Similarly, we decreased and sustained the time (in seconds) required to prepare for a paediatric intubation from baseline to postintervention (173 vs 109; p=0.001) and postintervention to sustainability (109 vs 103; p=0.576).ConclusionsSimulated airway drills can be used as a tool to identify process gaps, measure and improve paediatric intubation readiness.

Surgical approach for kidney transplantation under spinal anesthesia

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It has been shown to improve quality of life as well as extending life of patients with ESRD as compared to renal replacement therapy (5-year survival rate of 68% after transplant vs 36% dialysis) (Hart A, Smith JM, Skeans MA. OPTN/SRTR 2015 annual data report: kidney. Am J Transplant 2017;17:21–116). Traditionally, patients undergo general endotracheal tube anesthesia for this surgery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, general anesthesia drugs and airway equipment were in short supply. Additionally, airway manipulation was avoided when possible due to concern for virus spread from aerosolizing procedures (i.e. intubation/extubation). In this case report, we review a 65-year-old female with an ESRD due to hypertension and diabetes that underwent deceased donor kidney transplant under spinal anesthesia. We will further discuss the benefits of spinal anesthesia in renal transplant operations.

Endoscopic airway equipment part 1: physical principles

The use of advanced endoscopic airway equipment has become increasingly important to the provision of safe anaesthesia for patients with complex anatomical and pathological conditions. Fundamental to the correct selection and use of the equipment is an understanding of the physical properties underlying its construction and function. This relies primarily on conventional optics, fibreoptics, video sensors and light-emitting diode technology.