Factors influencing the continuity of evidence-based practice in perioperative airway management for elderly patients with fractures:A qualitative study

BACKGROUND More and more evidence-based practices are emerging,but researchers mostly focus on short-term effects,resulting in evidence-based practices not being applied in the clinic in the long term.In this study,we took the evidence-based practice of perioperative airway management in elderly fracture patients as an example and adopted a descriptive phenomenological approach to understand the influencing factors of its sustainability to provide a reference basis for promoting the continuity of evidence-based practice in the clinic.AIM To explore factors influencing the persistence of evidence-based practice in perioperative airway management in elderly patients with fractures.METHODS This study was qualitative research.Nine nurses who implemented evidencebased practice in the orthopedic ward of a tertiary comprehensive hospital in Shanghai from September 2023 to October 2023 were selected using purposive sampling as research subjects.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with them,and the data were analyzed using the Colaizzi phenomenological analysis method based on the three dimensions and ten factors of the NHS sustainability model.RESULTS Three main themes and ten subthemes were identified:Process aspects(benefits to patients,benefits to nurses,lack of follow-up,complex processes);staff aspects(insufficient human resources,inadequate training and education,lack of leadership support);and organizational environment aspects(inadequate infrastructure,poor patient compliance,poor doctor cooperation).CONCLUSION Human resources,training and education,leadership support,infrastructure,and patient-physician collaboration are important factors influencing the sustainability of evidence-based practice for perioperative airway management in older patients with fractures.

Airway management of a patient with linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis:A case report

BACKGROUND There is limited literature on managing the airway of patients with linear immunoglobulin A(IgA)bullous dermatosis,a rare mucocutaneous disorder that leads to the development of friable bullae.Careful clinical decision making is necessary when there is a risk of bleeding into the airway,and a multidisciplinary team approach may lead to decreased patient morbidity during these high-risk scenarios,especially when confronted with an unusual cause for bleeding.CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old African American female presented to our ambulatory surgical center for right corneal transplantation due to corneal perforation after blunt trauma in the setting of cicatricial conjunctivitis and diffuse corneal neovascularization from linear IgA bullous dermatosis.The diagnosis of IgA dermatosis was recent,and the patient had been lost to follow-up.The severity of the disease and extent of airway involvement was unknown at the time of the surgery.Significant airway bleeding was noticed upon intubation and the otorhinolaryngology team had to be called to the operating room.The patient required transfer to the intensive care unit where a multidisciplinary team was involved in her case.The patient was extubated on postoperative day 4.CONCLUSION A multidisciplinary approach to treating this disease is the best course of action before a surgical procedure.In our case,key communication between the surgery,anesthesia,and dermatology teams led to the quick and safe treatment of our patient’s disease.Ambulatory surgery should not be considered for these cases unless they are in full remission and there is no mucous membrane involvement.

Mechanism of Yanghe Pingchaun granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats based on IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis

Objective: To investigate the effects of Yanghe Pingchuan Granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and to explore the mechanism of Interleukin-6/Janus kinase 2/ Signal transducing activator of transcription 3(IL-6/JAK2/STAT3) signal axis. Methods: We separated 42 healthy male SD rats into two groups, a control group (7) and a model group (35).The model group was sensitized with a combination of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide for 2 weeks, while the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline.After 2 weeks, the modeling group was randomly divided into Model group, Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, medium and low dose groups and Dexamethasone group, each group consisted of 7 animals. After 4 weeks, OVA atomization and gavage were used for stimulation and treatment. Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, middle and low groups were given 15.48, 7.74, 3.87 g∙kg-1 Yanghe Pingchuan Granules daily, dexamethasone group was given 0.0625 mg∙kg-1 dexamethasone daily, and the other groups were given the same amount of normal saline. HE, PAS and Masson staining were used to observe the lung histopathological changes in rats. The levels of interleukin-6, IL-23 and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 in lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in rat lung tissue. Results: The lung tissue structure of the model group was severely damaged compared to the control group, accompanied by a great many of inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were more obvious. The expressions of IL-6, IL- 23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly increased (P<0.01), the protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01);Compared with the model group, inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell proliferation, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were significantly reduced in each administration group, and the expressions of IL-6, IL-23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly decreased (P< 0.01). The protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: Yanghe Pingchuan Granules can significantly alleviate airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and its mechanism may be through inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signal axis.

Is there a correlation between the changes in airway inflammation and the changes in respiratory mechanics after vaping in patients with asthma?

BACKGROUND Electronic cigarettes(ECs)have been promoted as alternatives to traditional cigarettes.To investigate ECs’effects on respiratory system,especially in patients with respiratory diseases.METHODS We randomly selected 25 smokers with stable moderate asthma and matched them with 25 healthy smokers.All were subjucted to pulmonary function tests(PFTs),impulse oscillometry(IOS),fraction exhaled Nitric Oxide(FeNO),exhaled breathe condensate(EBC)and biomarker measurements before and after vaping one nicotinecontaining EC.RESULTS The increase in FeNO 30 minutes after EC,reflecting airway inflammation,significantly correlated with increase of residual volume(RV),total lung capacity,respiratory impedance at 5 Hz(Z5Hz)and respiratory resistance at 5 and 20 Hz(R5Hz and R20Hz).No significant correlations were found between EBC biomarkers'changes and respiratory mechanics.CONCLUSION This is the first study demonstrating that the changes in airway inflammation caused by EC have direct effects in respiratory mechanics of asthmatic patients.

Clinical and pathological characteristics and expression of related molecules in patients with airway disseminated lung adenocarcinoma

Objective:Lung adenocarcinoma exhibits diverse genetic and morphological backgrounds,in addition to considerable differences in clinical pathology and molecular biological characteristics.Among these,the phenomenon of spread through air space(STAS),a distinct mode of lung cancer infiltration,has rarely been reported.Therefore,this study aimed to explore the relationship between STAS tumor cells and the clinical and molecular characteristics of patients with lung adenocarcinoma,as well as their impact on prognosis.Methods:This study included 147 patients who were diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Cancer Institute between January 2014 and December 2017.Surgical resection specimens were retrospectively analyzed.Using univariate and multivariate Cox analyses,we assessed the association between STAS and the clinicopathological features and molecular characteristics of patients with lung adenocarcinoma.Furthermore,we investigated the effects on patient prognosis.In addition,we developed a column–line plot prediction model and performed internal validation.Results:Patients with positive STAS had a significantly higher proportion of tumors with a diameter≥2 cm,with infiltration around the pleura,blood vessels,and nerves,and a pathological stage>IIB than in STAS-negative patients(P<0.05).Cox multivariate survival analysis revealed that clinical stage,STAS status,tumor size,and visceral pleural invasion were independent prognostic factors influencing the 5-year progression-free survival in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.The predictive values and P values from the Hosmer-Lemeshow test were 0.8 and 0.2,respectively,indicating no statistical difference.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated areas under the curve of 0.884 and 0.872 for the training and validation groups,respectively.The nomogram model exhibited the best fit with a value of 192.09.Conclusions:Clinical stage,pleural invasion,vascular invasion,peripheral nerve invasion,tumor size,and necrosis are independent prognostic factors for patients with STAS-positive lung adenocarcinoma.The nomogrambased on the clinical stage,pleural invasion,vascular invasion,peripheral nerve invasion,tumor size,and necrosis showed good accuracy,differentiation,and clinical practicality.

Research on the Application of Evidence-Based Quality Control Circle to Improve the Implementation Rate of Airway Management Measures in Adult Critically Ill Patients

Objective: To explore the effect of evidence-based quality control circle (QCC) in improving the implementation rate of airway management measures in adult critically ill patients. Methods: Based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) evidence-based health care model, the best evidence of airway management in adult critically ill patients was obtained and applied to the clinic. Results: The total implementation rate of airway management measures in adult critically ill patients increased from 23.62% before the implementation of quality control circle to 88.82%, and the pulmonary infection rate in critically ill patients decreased from 42.31% to 21.74%, with statistical significance between the two groups (P 0.05). Conclusion: Evidence-based quality control circle activities can standardize the practice standards of airway management in critically ill patients, reduce the occurrence of patients’ airway related complications, and improve clinical outcomes.

Airway ultrasound for patients anticipated to have a difficult airway:Perspective for personalized medicine

Airway ultrasound allows for precise airway evaluation,particularly for assessing the difficult airway and the potential for front of neck access.Many studies have shown that identification of the cricothyroid membrane by airway ultrasound is more accurate than digital palpation.However,no reports to date have provided clinical evidence that ultrasound identification of the cricothyroid membrane increases the success rate of cricothyroidotomy.This is a narrative review which describes patients with difficult airways for whom airway ultrasound may have been useful for clinical decision making.The role of airway ultrasound for the evaluation of difficult airways is summarized and an approach to the use of ultrasound for airway management is proposed.The goal of this review is to present practical applications of airway ultrasound for patients predicted to have a difficult airway and who undergo cricothyroidotomy.

Continuous positive airway pressure for treating hypoxemia due to pulmonary vein injury:A case report

BACKGROUND Vascular injury during thoracoscopic surgery for esophageal cancer is a rare but life-threatening complication that can lead to severe hypotension and hypoxemia.Anesthesiologists need to provide rapid and effective treatment to save patients'lives.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old male patient was scheduled to undergo a thoracoscopic-assisted radical resection of esophageal cancer through the upper abdomen and right chest.While dissociating the esophagus from the carina through the right chest,unexpected profuse bleeding occurred from a suspected pulmonary vascular hemorrhage.While the surgeon attempted to achieve hemostasis,the patient developed severe hypoxemia.The anesthesiologist implemented continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)using a bronchial blocker(BB),which effectively improved the patient’s oxygenation and the operation was completed success-fully.CONCLUSION CPAP using a BB can resolve severe hypoxemia caused by accidental injury of the left inferior pulmonary vein during surgery.

Comparison of emergency surgical cricothyroidotomy and percutaneous cricothyroidotomy by experienced airway providers in an obese,in vivo porcine hemorrhage airway model

Background: Emergency front-of-neck airway(eFONA) is a life-saving procedure in “cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate”(CICO). The fastest and most reliable method of eFONA has not been determined. We compared two of the most advocated approaches: surgical cricothyroidotomy and percutaneous cricothyroidotomy, in an obese, in vivo porcine hemorrhage model, designed to introduce real-time physiological feedback, relevant and high provider stress. The primary aim was to determine the fastest method to secure airway. Secondary aims were arterial saturation and partial pressure of oxygen, proxy survival and influence of experience.Methods: Twelve pigs [(60.3±4.1) kg] were anesthetized and exposed to 25%–35% total blood volume hemorrhage before extubation and randomization to Seldinger technique “percutaneous cricothyroidotomy”(n=6) or scalpelbougie-tube technique “surgical cricothyroidotomy”(n=6). Specialists in anesthesia and intensive care in a tertiary referral hospital performed the eFONA, simulating an actual CICO-situation.Results: In surgical cricothyroidotomy vs. percutaneous cricothyroidotomy, the median(interquartile range, IQR) times to secure airway were 109(IQR 71–130) s and 298(IQR 128–360) s(P=0.0152), arterial blood saturation(SaO2) were 74.7(IQR 46.6–84.2)% and 7.9(IQR 4.1–15.6)%(P=0.0167), PaO_(2) were 7.0(IQR 4.7–7.7) kPa and 2.0(IQR 1.1–2.9) kPa(P=0.0667), and times of cardiac arrest(proxy survival) were 137–233 s, 190(IQR 143–229) s, from CICO. All six animals survived surgical cricothyroidotomy, and two of six(33%) animals survived percutaneous cricothyroidotomy. Years in anesthesia, 13.5(IQR 7.5–21.3), did not influence time to secure airway.Conclusions: eFONA by surgical cricothyroidotomy was faster and had increased oxygenation and survival, when performed under stress by board certified anesthesiologists, and may be an indication of preferred method in situations with hemorrhage and CICO, in obese patients.

Laryngeal mask airway bougie ultrasonography guided intubation in a morbidly obese patient with diffi cult airway

Airway management of morbidly obese patients is challenging due to inherent anatomical and physiological variations.[1]The frequent association of compromised hemodynamics,hypoxemia,or acidosis in an emergency department(ED)setting adds to the difficulty of the procedure.Rapid airway management position(RAMP),awake fiber-optic guided intubation,use of intubating laryngeal mask airway(ILMA),and video-laryngoscope are a few techniques that have been described to tackle difficult airways in these patients.[2]Studies have shown that the availability of fi ber-optic scopes(3%–60%),videolaryngoscopes(39%–88%),and laryngeal mask airways(LMA)(65%–83%)varies in different ED settings.[3,4]Furthermore,a lack of adequate training and the need for time-bound resuscitation make implementation of the above techniques challenging.

Difficult airway due to cervical haemorrhage caused by spontaneous rupture of a parathyroid adenoma: A case report

BACKGROUND Cervical haemorrhage due to spontaneous rupture of a parathyroid adenoma is a rare complication that may cause life-threatening acute airway compromise.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital 1 day after the onset of right neck enlargement, local tenderness, head-turning difficulty, pharyngeal pain, and mild dyspnoea. Repeat routine blood testing showed a rapid decrease in the haemoglobin concentration, indicating active bleeding. Enhanced computed tomography images showed neck haemorrhage and a ruptured right parathyroid adenoma. The plan was to perform emergency neck exploration, haemorrhage removal, and right inferior parathyroidectomy under general anaesthesia. The patient was administered 50 mg of intravenous propofol, and the glottis was successfully visualised on video laryngoscopy. However, after the administration of a muscle relaxant, the glottis was no longer visible and the patient had a difficult airway that prevented mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation. Fortunately, an experienced anaesthesiologist successfully intubated the patient under video laryngoscopy after an emergency laryngeal mask placement. Postoperative pathology showed a parathyroid adenoma with marked bleeding and cystic changes. The patient recovered well without complications.CONCLUSION Airway management is very important in patients with cervical haemorrhage. After the administration of muscle relaxants, the loss of oropharyngeal support can cause acute airway obstruction.Therefore, muscle relaxants should be administered with caution. Anaesthesiologists should pay careful attention to airway management and have alternative airway devices and tracheotomy equipment available.

Anesthesia management in a pediatric patient with complicatedly difficult airway:A case report

BACKGROUND Reports on perioperative anesthesia management in pediatric patients with difficult airways are scarce.In addition to relatively more difficulties in the technique of endotracheal intubation,the time for manipulation is restricted compared to adults.Securing the airways safely and avoiding the occurrence of hypoxemia in these patients are of significance.CASE SUMMARY A 9-year-old boy with spastic cerebral palsy,severe malnutrition,thoracic scoliosis,thoracic and airway malformation,laryngomalacia,pneumonia,and epilepsy faced the risk of anesthesia during palliative surgery.After a thorough preoperative evaluation,a detailed scheme for anesthesia and a series of intu-bation tools were prepared by a team of anesthesiologists.Awake fiberoptic intubation is the widely accepted strategy for patients with anticipated difficult airways.Given the age and medical condition of the patient,we kept him sedated with spontaneous breathing during endotracheal intubation.The endotracheal intubation was completed on the second attempt after the failure of the first effort.Fortunately,the surgery was successful without postoperative complications.CONCLUSION Dealing with difficult airways in the pediatric population,proper sedation allows time to intubate without interrupting spontaneous breathing.The appropriate endotracheal intubation method based on the patient’s unique characteristics is the key factor in successful management of these rare cases.

Experimental study on the regulation effect of Qiaoqin Qingfei agent on cough variant asthma based on airway neurogenic inflammation

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of regulation of airway neurogenic inflammation by Qiaoqin Qingfei agent in rats with cough variant asthma(CVA).Methods:48 SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,montelukast sodium group(1.05 mg/kg)and high,medium and low dose groups(26,13,6.5 g/kg),with 8 rats in each group.The rat CVA model was established by the method of ovalbumin(OVA)combined with aluminum hydroxide(Al(OH)3)sensitization and repeated stimulation.From the second day of sensitization,the rat CVA model was given by gavage for 28 days.The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed under microscope by HE staining.The content changes of nerve growth factor(NGF)and substance P(SP)in alveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were determined by double-antibody sandwich ABC-ELISA,and the protein expression levels of NGF and SP in lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:Pathological findings showed significant inflammatory manifestations in the model group,and the inflammatory infiltration in the high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups of Qiaoqin Qingfei agent and montelukast sodium groups were alleviated to varying degrees.Compared with blank group,the protein expression levels of NGF and SP in lung tissue of model group were significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with model group,the protein expression levels of NGF and SP in lung tissue and the contents of NGF and SP in alveolar lavage fluid in high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups and montelukast sodium group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:Qiaoqin Qingfei agent may reduce airway inflammation and relieve cough variant asthma by regulating the protein expression levels of NGF and SP in airway neurogenic inflammation.

An Audit of the Emergency Airway Service in a Regional Hospital in Singapore

Background: Emergency endotracheal intubations (EEI) performed outside of operating theatre (OT) tend to be more challenging and associated with higher risk of complications. In 2011, with the objective of improving patient outcomes, we set up an Emergency Airway Service (EAS) at our 1000-bed regional hospital, with the aim of providing specialized assistance for outside of OT difficult airway management. Method: A retrospective audit of EAS activation from 12/9/2016 and 27/10/2020 was conducted. EAS forms and electronic medical records were reviewed. We collected information on patient characteristics, EAS activation characteristics and its outcomes. Descriptive analysis method was used to present the collected data. Results: There were a total of 275 activations, of which 268 were analysed. Reasons for activation were anticipated difficult intubation (42.2% n = 113), failed intubation attempt (52.6%, n = 141) and advanced intubation equipment required (5.2% n = 14). Intubation was attempted in 261/268 (97.4%) cases by the EAS team. Of these, 255 (97.7%) cases were successful while 6 (2.3%) cases failed intubation. Of the successful intubations by the EAS team, 208/255 (81.5%) were successful on the first attempt. Out of the 6 unsuccessful intubation cases, 1 case required a rescue cricothyroidotomy and 4 cases required an open tracheostomy. Intubation was deemed easy by the EAS team in 170/261 (65.1%) cases. 64/170 (37.6%) cases were intubated with a video laryngoscope (VL). There were 85 cases (32.3%) classified as difficult intubation by the EAS specialist, 13/85 (15.3%) were intubated using only VL, 54/85 (63.5%) cases were intubated using VL with style/bougie. Conclusion: Audit results showed that providing an experienced and well-equipped team of airway specialists round-the-clock to assist in difficult and potentially difficult endotracheal intubations is justifiable and may reduce complications associated with EEI.

FGF2 is overexpressed in asthma and promotes airway in airway epithelial cells

Background: Airway inflammation is the core pathological process of asthma, with the key inflammatory regulators incompletely defined. Recently, fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2) has been reported to be an inflammatory regulator;however, its role in asthma remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory role of FGF2 in asthma.Methods: First, FGF2 expression was characterised in clinical asthma samples and the house dust mite(HDM)-induced mouse chronic asthma model. Second, recombinant mouse FGF2(rm-FGF2) protein was intranasally delivered to determine the effect of FGF2 on airway inflammatory cell infiltration. Third, human airway epithelium-derived A549 cells were stimulated with either HDM or recombinant human interleukin-1β(IL-1β) protein combined with or without recombinant human FGF2. IL-1β-induced IL-6 or IL-8 release levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the involved signalling transduction was explored via Western blotting.Results: Compared with the control groups, the FGF2 protein levels were significantly upregulated in the bronchial epithelium and alveolar areas of clinical asthma samples [(6.70±1.79) vs.(16.32±2.40), P=0.0184;(11.20±2.11) vs.(21.00±3.00), P=0.033, respectively] and HDM-induced asthmatic mouse lung lysates [(1.00±0.15) vs.(5.14±0.42),P<0.001]. Moreover, FGF2 protein abundance was positively correlated with serum total and anti-HDM IgE levels in the HDM-induced chronic asthma model(R^(2)=0.857 and 0.783, P=0.0008 and 0.0043, respectively). Elevated FGF2protein was mainly expressed in asthmatic bronchial epithelium and alveolar areas and partly co-localised with infiltrated inflammatory cell populations in HDM-induced asthmatic mice. More importantly, intranasal instillation of rm-FGF2 aggravated airway inflammatory cell infiltration [(2.45±0.09) vs.(2.88±0.14), P=0.0288] and recruited more subepithelial neutrophils after HDM challenge [(110.20±29.43) cells/mm^(2) vs.(238.10±42.77) cells/mm^(2), P=0.0392]without affecting serum IgE levels and Th2 cytokine transcription. In A549 cells, FGF2 was upregulated through HDM stimulation and promoted IL-1β-induced IL-6 or IL-8 release levels [up to(1.41±0.12)-or(1.44±0.14)-fold change vs.IL-1β alone groups, P=0.001 or 0.0344, respectively]. The pro-inflammatory effect of FGF2 is likely mediated through the fibroblast growth factor receptor(FGFR)/mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)pathway.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that FGF2 is a potential inflammatory modulator in asthma, which can be induced by HDM and acts through the FGFR/MAPK/NF-κB pathway in the airway epithelial cells.

Shikani Optical Stylet–guided Intubation via the Intubating Laryngeal Airway in Patients With Scar Contracture of the Face and Neck

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of the Shikani Optical Stylet （SOS）-guided inmbation through a new Intubafing Laryngeal Airway （ILA） in anticipated difficult airways caused by scar contracture of the face and neck. Methods Thirty-three adult patients with anticipated difficult airways undergoing selective faciocervical scar plastic surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. After anesthesia induction, a size 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 ILA was inserted. Following good lung ventilation being verified, the SOS preloaded with an endotracheal tube was inserted via the ILA. Once the clear vocal cords came into view under the SOS, the endotracheal tube was advanced through glottis into the trachea. Results The ILA provided an effective airway in all patients, lntubation was successful at the first attempt on 22/33 （66.7%） occasions and at the second attempt on 6/33 （18.2%）. Intubation failed in 5 （15.1%） patients who suffered from severe limitation of head extension due to scar contracture of the neck. These patients＇ tracheas were finally intubated using a fibreoptic bronchoscope via the ILA. Conclusions The SOS-guided intubating method via the ILA is a feasible technique in patients with scar contracture of the face and neck. However, in patients with severe limitation of head extension, the use of SOS cannot be recommended. The SOS can be used as an alternative apparatus when the fibreoptic bronchoscope is not available.

Airway foreign bodies: A critical review for a common pediatric emergency

BACKGROUND:Airway foreign bodies(AFBs)is an interdisciplinary area between emergency medicine,pediatrics and otolaryngology.It is a life-threatening condition that is not infrequently seen;however,it is poorly covered in medical literature.Accidental aspiration of an element into airways is a widespread clinical scenario among children under 3 years,predominantly males.Moreover,it is the leading cause of infantile deaths and the fourth one among preschool children.DATA RESOURCES:A systemic search was conducted in July 2015 using Pub Med/Pub Med Central Database of The National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI)(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).A total of 1 767 articles were identified and most of them were meta-analyses,systematic reviews,and case series.Those thoroughly discussing assessment and management of AFBs were retrieved.RESULTS:AFBs episodes may be either witnessed or missed.Presence of a witness for the inhalation is diagnostic.The later usually present with persistent active cough.A classical triad of paroxysmal cough,wheezing,and dyspnoea/decreased air entry was reported,though many presentations have inconsistent findings.Hence,diagnosis requires high index of clinical suspicion.Flexible fibro-optic bronchoscopy is the gold standard of diagnosis,whereas inhaled objects are best retrieved by rigid bronchoscopes.CONCLUSIONS:Close supervision of pediatrics is the hallmark of prevention.Caregivers should ensure a safe surrounding milieu,including the toys their offspring play with.Immediate complications result from direct obstruction or injury by the inhaled object.Alternatively,prolonged lodging traps air and induces inflammatory response causing atelectesis and pneumonia,respectively.

Creation method for bi-level positive airway pressure based on pressure and flow feedback

An airway pressure and flow data acquisition system is developed to investigate the approach to building the bi-level positive airway pressure BiPAP in a ventilator.A number of experiments under different breathing situations and states are conducted and the experimental data are recorded.According to the data from these experiments the variation characteristics of the pressure and flow are analyzed using Matlab. The data analysis results show that the pressure increases while the flow decreases in the expiratory phase contrarily the pressure decreases while the flow increases in the inspiratory phase during the apnea state both the pressure and the flow remain unchanged. According to the above variation characteristics of breath a feedback-based method for creating bi-level positive airway pressure is proposed. Experiments are implemented to verify the BiPAP model. Results demonstrate that the proposed method works effectively in following respiration and caters well to most polypnea and apnea events.

Inhibitory Effect of Dexamethasone on Expression of Cysteine-rich 61 Protein in Airway Epithelial Cells of Allergic Mouse Models

Summary： In order to study whether cysteine-rich 61 protein （cyr61） is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and its relation to airway inflammation, the effect of dexamethasone （Dxm） on the expression of cyr61 in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice was investigated. Forty BALB/c mice were divided into asthma group （n=15）, control group （n=10） and Dxm group （n=15）. The asthma group was sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin （OVA）. The mice in Dxm group were intraperitoneally administered with Dxm after OVA challenge. The expression of cyr61 in the lung tissues was detected by using immuno- histochemistry, and that of eotaxin protein in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） by using en- zyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The number of inflammatory cells in BALF was also ana- lyzed. The results showed that the cyr61 expression was highest in asthma group （P〈0.05）, followed by Dxm group （P〈0.05） and control group. The cyr61 had a positive correlation with the total nucleated cells （r=0.867, P〈0.05）, especially eosinophils （r=0.856, P〈0.05）, and eotaxin level （r=0.983, P〈0.05） in the BALF. Our findings suggested that cyr61 is expressed in airway epithelial cells and has a positive correlation with eotaxin and number of airway infiltrating eosinophils.

Cone beam computed tomographic evaluation of pharyngeal airway in North Indian children with different skeletal patterns

BACKGROUND In growing patients with skeletal discrepancies,early assessment of functional factors can be vital for the restoration of normal craniofacial growth.AIM To compare airway volumes in patients with mandibular retrognathism with the normal anteroposterior skeletal relationship,thereby assessing the association between cephalometric variables and airway morphology.METHODS Cone-beam computed tomography volume scans,and lateral cephalograms,3-dimensional airway volume and cross-sectional areas of 120 healthy children(54 boys and 66 girls mean age 15.19±1.28)which were done for orthodontic assessment were evaluated.The subjects were divided into 2 groups based on the angle formed between point A,Nasion and point B(ANB)values and cephalometric variables(such as anterior and posterior facial height,gonial angle etc.)airway volumes,and cross-sectional measurements were compared using independent t tests.Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to detect any relationship of different parts of the airway and between airway volume and 2-dimensional cephalometric variables.RESULTS Means and standard deviations for cephalometric,cross-sectional,and volumetric variables were compared.ANB,mandibular body length and facial convexity were statistically highly significant(P<0.01)whereas condylion to point A,nasal airway and total airway volume(P<0.05)were statistically significant.The nasal airway volume and the superior pharyngeal airway volume had a positive correlation(P<0.01),nasal airway was correlated to middle(P<0.05)and total airway superior had a relation with middle(P<0.05),inferior and total airway(P<0.05),middle was related to all other airways;inferior was also related to all the airways except nasal.Lateral cephalometric values were positively correlated with the airway volume with Frankfurt Mandibular Plane Angle and facial convexity showed significant correlations with total airway volume(P<0.05).Additionally,ANB angle was significantly correlated with total airway volume and superior airway(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The mean total airway volume in patients with retrognathic mandible was significantly smaller than that of patients with a normal mandible.