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ABSTRACT: Background
During induction of general anaesthesia a 'cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate' (CICO) situation can arise, leading to severe hypoxaemia. Evidence is scarce to guide ventilation strategies for small-bore emergency front of neck airways that ensure effective oxygenation without risking lung damage and cardiovascular depression.Methods
Fifty virtual subjects were configured using a high-fidelity computational model of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Each subject breathed 100% oxygen for 3 min and then became apnoeic, with an obstructed upper airway. When arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation reached 40%, front of neck airway access was simulated with various configurations. We examined the effect of several ventilation strategies on re-oxygenation, pulmonary pressures, cardiovascular function, and oxygen delivery.Results
Re-oxygenation was achieved in all ventilation strategies. Smaller airway configurations led to dynamic hyperinflation for a wide range of ventilation strategies. This effect was absent in airways with larger internal diameter (≥3 mm). Intrapulmonary pressures increased quickly to supra-physiological values with the smallest airways, resulting in pronounced cardio-circulatory depression (cardiac output <3 L min-1 and mean arterial pressure <60 mm Hg), impeding oxygen delivery (<600 ml min-1). Limiting tidal volume (≤200 ml) and ventilatory frequency (≤8 bpm) for smaller diameter cannulas reduced dynamic hyperinflation and gas trapping, preventing cardiovascular depression.Conclusions
Dynamic hyperinflation can be demonstrated for a wide range of front of neck airway cannulae when the upper airway is obstructed. When using small-bore cannulae in a CICO situation, ventilation strategies should be chosen that prevent gas trapping to prevent severe adverse events including cardio-circulatory depression.
SUBMITTER: Laviola M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8216300 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Laviola Marianna M Niklas Christian C Das Anup A Bates Declan G DG Hardman Jonathan G JG
British journal of anaesthesia 20210303 6
<h4>Background</h4>During induction of general anaesthesia a 'cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate' (CICO) situation can arise, leading to severe hypoxaemia. Evidence is scarce to guide ventilation strategies for small-bore emergency front of neck airways that ensure effective oxygenation without risking lung damage and cardiovascular depression.<h4>Methods</h4>Fifty virtual subjects were configured using a high-fidelity computational model of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Each subject ...[more]