rocuronium and Airway-Obstruction

Airway stenting is a procedure in which a stent is inserted into a stenotic site of the airway. The safest method of ventilation for airway stenting is controversial. A prospective randomized interventional study was conducted on airway stenting. We conducted this study to investigate whether controlled ventilation with muscle relaxants (MR) during airway stenting reduces the incidence of desaturation events (percutaneous oxygen saturation [SpO2] <95%) in comparison with spontaneous respiration (SP).. Sixty-four patients were enrolled at our hospital between April 2016 and August 2018, and were randomly assigned to the controlled ventilation with MR group or SP group. For anesthesia, total intravenous anesthesia with propofol target-controlled infusion and remifentanil was performed. In the SP group, SP was maintained. In the MR group, a rigid bronchoscope was inserted after the administration of MR to perform controlled ventilation. The incidence of desaturation events was analyzed by logistic regression adjusted by the preoperative respiratory state and stenotic site of the airway.. The incidence of desaturation events in the SP and MR groups was 75.0% (24/32) and 9.7% (3/31), respectively, with an odds ratio of 0.04 (95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.16, reference = SP group; P < .001). In the SP group, the mean intraoperative pH was lower than that in the MR group (7.2 ± 0.1 vs 7.4 ± 0.1, respectively; P < .001). In this group, the mean partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) was higher (70.2 ± 17.0 mm Hg vs 40.5 ± 8.0 mm Hg, respectively; P < .001) and the mean partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood/fraction of the inspiratory oxygen ratio was lower (263.1 ± 64.2 mm Hg vs 396.4 ± 69.4 mm Hg, respectively; P < .001).. Controlled ventilation with MR during airway stenting reduced the incidence of desaturation events, maintaining a favorable respiratory status.

Topics: Aged; Airway Obstruction; Bronchoscopy; Female; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; Prospective Studies; Respiration; Respiration, Artificial; Rocuronium; Stents; Treatment Outcome

A 53-year-old man with hypopharyngeal stenosis following curative chemoradiotherapy for a tongue base tumour presented three years later for an attempt at pharyngeal dilatation. The first attempt 6 months previously was abandoned when awake fibreoptic intubation failed due to partial airway obstruction and desaturation when the fibrescope was advanced. As mask ventilation was anticipated to be possible, a further attempt at intubation after induction of anaesthesia was judged appropriate. The backup plan was jet ventilation via a cricothyroid cannula sited pre-induction. However, neither mask nor jet ventilation proved possible after the induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium. Swift administration of sugammadex on a background of thorough pre-oxygenation allowed return of spontaneous breathing before the development of hypoxia and so avoided the need for surgical airway rescue. This case demonstrates the utility of sugammadex in restoring spontaneous respiration in a 'can't ventilate' scenario, provided that the airway has not been traumatised by instrumentation.

Topics: Airway Management; Airway Obstruction; Androstanols; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Constriction, Pathologic; Cricoid Cartilage; Dilatation; gamma-Cyclodextrins; Humans; Hypopharynx; Intubation, Intratracheal; Male; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; Rocuronium; Sugammadex; Tongue Neoplasms

A 78-yr-old woman presented for a panendoscopy to investigate dysphonia and dysphagia. Intubation was anticipated to be difficult but possible, and mask ventilation was anticipated to be possible. After induction of anaesthesia and after three attempts at intubation, a 'can't intubate, can ventilate' situation deteriorated to a 'can't intubate, can't ventilate' (CICV) situation. Rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block was successfully reversed with sugammadex, as evidenced by the restoration of diaphragmatic movement, the ability of the patient to move her limbs, and the presence of a train-of-four nerve stimulation with no fade; however, ventilation was still not possible. A cricothyroid puncture using a Ravussin needle was performed successfully to provide emergency oxygenation. A tracheostomy was performed to allow the panendoscopy. CICV situations are rare anaesthetic emergencies. While sugammadex can be relied upon to reverse rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block, it should not be relied upon to rescue all CICV events, especially where airway instrumentation has led to airway swelling. The availability of sugammadex does not obviate the need for emergency tracheal access in the event of failed oxygenation. The presence of head and neck pathology should lead to the consideration of securing the airway awake.

Topics: Aged; Airway Obstruction; Androstanols; Cricoid Cartilage; Female; gamma-Cyclodextrins; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Neuromuscular Blockade; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; Rocuronium; Sugammadex; Tracheostomy

A 'can't intubate, can't oxygenate' airway crisis is a rare event which most anaesthetists will never experience during their career(1,2). This report highlights the outcome of time-critical decisions in a potential airway catastrophe. Rocuronium was used as an alternative muscle relaxant for rapid sequence induction. The use of sugammadex in 'can't intubate, can't oxygenate' crises is discussed and highlights how, despite adequate reversal of neuromuscular blockade, the 'can't intubate, can't oxygenate' situation failed to resolve. An asymptomatic vallecular cyst was the causal factor in this scenario. Anaesthetic issues surrounding this pathology are discussed.

Topics: Adult; Airway Management; Airway Obstruction; Androstanols; Anesthesia, General; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; Cysts; Female; gamma-Cyclodextrins; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Laryngeal Diseases; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; Oxygen; Rocuronium; Sugammadex