Whether high-flow vs. low-flow nasal oxygen reduces hypoxaemia for sedation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is currently unknown. In this multicentre trial, 132 patients ASA physical status 3 or higher, BMI > 30 kg.m -2 or with known or suspected obstructive sleep apnoea were randomly allocated to high-flow nasal oxygen up to 60 l.min -1 at 100% F I O 2 or low-flow nasal oxygen at 4 l.min -1 . The low-flow nasal oxygen group also received oxygen at 4 l.min -1 through an oxygenating mouthguard, totalling 8 l.min -1 . Primary outcome was hypoxaemia, defined as S p O 2 < 90% regardless of duration. Hypoxaemia occurred in 7.7% (5/65) of patients with high-flow and 9.1% (6/66) with low-flow nasal oxygen (percentage point difference À1.4%, 95%CI À10.9 to 8.0; p = 0.77). Between the groups, there were no significant differences in frequency of hypoxaemic episodes; lowest S p O 2 ; peak transcutaneous carbon dioxide; hypercarbia (transcutaneous carbon dioxide > 2.66 kPa from baseline); requirement of chin lift/jaw thrust; nasopharyngeal airway insertion; bag-mask ventilation; or tracheal intubation. Following adjustment for duration of the procedure, the primary outcome remained non-significant. In high-risk patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, oxygen therapy with high-flow nasal oxygen did not reduce the rate of hypoxaemia, hypercarbia or the need for airway interventions, compared with combined oral and nasal lowflow oxygen.

Background: Various airway techniques have been employed for endoscopic procedures, with an aim to optimise patient outcomes by improving airway control and preventing hypoxia whilst avoiding the need for intubation. The LMA® Gastro™ Airway, a novel dual channel supraglottic airway technique, has been described as such a device. Its utility alongside sedation with low flow nasal cannula and general anaesthesia (GA) with intubation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures was evaluated. Methods: Details of all the ERCPs performed in our institution from March 2017 to June 2018 were carefully recorded in the patients' electronic case records. Data on the successful completion of ERCP through LMA® Gastro™ Airway; any difficulty encountered by the gastroenterologists; and adverse events were recorded. Episodes of hypoxia (SpO 2 < 92%) and haemodynamic parameters were compared across the three groups: LMA® Gastro™ vs. sedation with low flow nasal cannula vs. GA with an endotracheal tube (ETT). Results: One hundred seventy-seven ERCP procedures were performed during the study period. The LMA® Gastro™ Airway was employed in 64 procedures (36%) on 59 patients. Of these 64 procedures, ERCP was successfully completed with LMA® Gastro™ Airway in 63 (98%) instances, with only one case requiring conversion to an endotracheal tube. This instance followed difficulty in negotiating the endoscope through LMA® Gastro™ Airway. No episodes of hypoxia or hypercapnia were documented in both LMA® Gastro™ and GA with ETT groups. One sedation case with nasal cannula was noted to have hypoxia. Adverse intraoperative events were recognised in 2 cases of LMA® Gastro™: one had minimal blood stained secretions from the oral cavity that resolved with suctioning; the other developed mild laryngospasm which resolved spontaneously within a few minutes.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an increasingly common intervention in the treatment of pancreaticobiliary disorders. Patients are often elderly with complex co-morbidities. While monitored anaesthesia care with sedation is commonly used for most cases, few would require general anaesthesia with an endotracheal tube. Both low-flow and high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC) are established ways of delivering supplemental oxygen, but it is unclear whether one technique is better than the other. HFNC seems a promising tool for advanced procedures but evidence to support its application in high-risk ERCP cases is limited. The rate of oxygen desaturation during endoscopy has been reported to be as high as 11%-50% and the method of oxygen delivery for ERCP merits further study. Methods/design: This is a prospective, randomised, multicentre trial comparing the efficacy of oxygen supplementation through HFNC versus low-flow nasal cannula during ERCP, in a cohort of patients at risk of adverse respiratory events. A total of 132 patients will be recruited across three sites and randomly assigned to either the low-flow or the HFNC group. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients experiencing hypoxia, defined by any event of SpO2 < 90%. The secondary outcomes include parameters centred on oxygenation, requirement of airway manoeuvres, successful completion of procedure, perioperative complications, patient satisfaction and cost analysis of the consumables. An intention-to-treat principle will be applied while analysing.

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Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an increasingly common intervention in the treatment of pancreatico-biliary disorders. Patients are often elderly with complex co-morbidities. While monitored anaesthesia care with sedation is commonly used for most cases, few would require general anaesthesia with an endotracheal tube. Both low flow and high flow nasal cannulas (HFNC) are established ways of delivering supplemental oxygen, but it is unclear whether one technique is better than the other. HFNC seems a promising tool for advanced procedures but evidence to support its application in high-risk ERCP cases is limited. The rate of oxygen desaturation during endoscopy has been reported to be as high as 11-50%, and the method of oxygen delivery for ERCP merits further study.Methods/design This is a prospective, randomised, multi-centre trial comparing the efficacy of oxygen supplementation through high flow nasal cannula versus low flow nasal cannula during ERCP, in a cohort of patients at risk of adverse respiratory events. A total of 132 patients will be recruited across three sites and randomly assigned to either the low flow or the HFNC group. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients experiencing hypoxia, defined by any event of SpO2 <90%. The secondary outcomes include parameters centred on oxygenation, requirement of airway manoeuvres, successful completion of procedure, perioperative complications, patient satisfaction, and cost analysis of the consumables. An intention-to-treat principle will be applied while analysing.Discussion The demand for ERCPs is likely to increase in the future with the aging population. Our study results may lead to improved outcomes and reduce airway related complications in patients undergoing ERCPs. The results will be presented at national and international meetings and published in per-reviewed journals.Trial registration: www.ANZCTR.org.au CTRN12619000397112, Registered on on March 12, 2019.

Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an increasingly common intervention in the treatment of pancreatico-biliary disorders. Patients are often elderly with complex co-morbidities. While monitored anaesthesia care with sedation is commonly used for most cases, few would require general anaesthesia with an endotracheal tube. Both low flow and high flow nasal cannulas (HFNC) are established ways of delivering supplemental oxygen, but it is unclear whether one technique is better than the other. HFNC seems a promising tool for advanced procedures but evidence to support its application in high-risk ERCP cases is limited. The rate of oxygen desaturation during endoscopy has been reported to be as high as 11-50%, and the method of oxygen delivery for ERCP merits further study. Methods/design This is a prospective, randomised, multi-centre trial comparing the efficacy of oxygen supplementation through high flow nasal cannula versus low flow nasal cannula during ERCP, in a cohort of patients at risk of adverse respiratory events. A total of 132 patients will be recruited across three sites and randomly assigned to either the low flow or the HFNC group. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients experiencing hypoxia, defined by any event of SpO2 <90%. The secondary outcomes include parameters centred on oxygenation, requirement of airway manoeuvres, successful completion of procedure, perioperative complications, patient satisfaction, and cost analysis of the consumables. An intention-to-treat principle will be applied while analysing. Discussion The demand for ERCPs is likely to increase in the future with the aging population. Our study results may lead to improved outcomes and reduce airway related complications in patients undergoing ERCPs. The results will be presented at national and international meetings and published in per-reviewed journals.

No abstract

A 77-year-old lady with a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB), implanted 12 years earlier for obesity, developed an unusual but almost fatal complication, characterised by dysphonia and stridor within minutes and a tensely swollen anterior neck. The condition mimicked haemorrhage into the subcutaneous tissues of the neck, and the airway was secured with an awake fibreoptic intubation. Subsequent computed tomography imaging of the abdomen and chest revealed megaoesophagus with dilatation up to 7 cm, proximal to the gastric band. The band was then deflated percutaneously with immediate resolution of the neck swelling. In patients with LAGB in situ, fluid should be removed from the band for any suspected device-associated symptoms such as severe vomiting, severe gastro-oesophageal reflux or neck swelling and respiratory distress. When there is radiological evidence of gross oesophageal dilatation or a high likelihood of an obstructive pathology at the level of the band, a careful nasogastric tube decompression may also resolve reflux, neck swelling or respiratory distress. A complication associated with LAGB should be considered in a patient with unexplained neck swelling or other features of airway obstruction who has an LAGB in situ.