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D Østergaard

Publications and source records attributed to D Østergaard.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Qualitative analysis of unanticipated difficult airway management.

BACKGROUND: Unanticipated difficult airway management (DAM) is a major challenge for the anaesthesiologist and is associated with a risk of severe patient damage. We analysed 24 cases of unanticipated DAM for actual case management and anaesthesiologists knowledge, technical and non-technical skills. Anaesthesiologists' opinions, as well as environmental factors of importance for DAM proficiency, were also assessed. METHODS: Departments of Anaesthesiology in three Copenhagen University Hospitals participated in a prospective study of unanticipated DAM. Anaesthesiologists recorded the details of the cases on a data sheet. Qualitative data were collected in a semi-structured interview if the value of the Intubation Difficulty Score (IDS) was more than five, if the value of the visual analogue scale score for mask ventilation was more than five or in the case of a registered complication. Transcripts were theme analysed independently by two analysts. Data sheets and interviews were used in the final evaluation. RESULTS: All 24 cases concerned difficult tracheal intubation, and this was associated with difficult mask ventilation on four occasions. Management in three cases demonstrated strict adherence to a DAM practice guideline. Anaesthesiologists lacked standards for DAM. Inadequate knowledge, training and training facilities were documented. Sudden re-allocation of personnel and change of anaesthetic technique were potential risk factors for DAM. Insufficient airway assessment, insufficient patient information and registration of difficulties were demonstrated. Ethical issues were raised concerning the use of patients for skills practice. CONCLUSIONS: Both personal and system failures resulted in unanticipated DAM. There was insufficient knowledge of DAM and anaesthesiologists lacked DAM training. Standards for DAM and curricula for continuing education in DAM are needed.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2004

Residents lack knowledge and practical skills in handling the difficult airway.

BACKGROUND: Full-scale simulators have been developed in anaesthesia. We aimed at assessing Danish anaesthesia residents' knowledge and management of a standardized difficult airway situation in an advanced airway simulator. The reliability of the assessment was also determined. METHODS: Thirty-six residents answered a questionnaire testing their knowledge on difficult airway management and practice patterns. Secondly, all residents attempted management of a standardized 'cannot ventilate, cannot intubate' airway scenario. Three observers independently assessed a video recording of the performance. RESULTS: Only 17% of the residents passed the written test. Ninety-seven per cent stated that they had difficulties recalling the American Society of Anesthesiologists'(ASA) difficult airway algorithm and 53% did not know how to oxygenate through the cricothyroid membrane. Seventeen per cent had previously been involved in emergency situations with severe complications due to insufficient airway management. In the scenario 75% of the residents established ventilation using a laryngeal mask airway. After establishing ventilation, 26% would continue with surgery without a definitive airway, despite the risk of aspiration. Analysis of the interobserver agreement showed good (Kappa = 0.63) to excellent (Kappa = 0.78) consistency for objective parameters in the scoring scheme. Inter-observer reliability was satisfactory (R = 0.43) for trained Crisis Resource Management evaluators. CONCLUSIONS: Theoretical and practical education in difficult airway management needs to be improved among Danish anaesthesia residents. Simulator assessment should only be performed using well-defined objective parameters and trained assessors.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed2004

Implementation of team training in medical education in Denmark.

In the field of medicine, team training aiming at improving team skills such as leadership, communication, co-operation, and followership at the individual and the team level seems to reduce risk of serious events and therefore increase patient safety. The preferred educational method for this type of training is simulation. Team training is not, however, used routinely in the hospital. In this paper, we describe a framework for the development of a team training course based on need assessment, learning objectives, educational methods including full-scale simulation and evaluations strategies. The use of this framework is illustrated by the present multiprofessional team training in advanced cardiac life support, trauma team training and neonatal resuscitation in Denmark. The challenges of addressing all aspects of team skills, the education of the facilitators, and establishment of evaluation strategies to document the effect of the different types of training on patient safety are discussed.

Curriculum↗
PubMed2003

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of mivacurium in patients phenotypically heterozygous for the usual and atypical plasma cholinesterase variants (UA).

BACKGROUND: Mivacurium is hydrolyzed by plasma cholinesterase (pChe). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacodynamics and the pharmacokinetics of the three isomers of mivacurium in patients phenotypically heterozygous for the usual and the atypical pChe variant (UA). METHODS: Thirty-two patients were included in a dose-response study, in which the patients received one of four doses of mivacurium. An additional bolus dose of mivacurium, to a total of 0.1 mg kg-1, was given followed by a continuous infusion adjusted to maintain 91-99% neuromuscular block. The times to different levels of recovery following the infusion were measured using mechanomyography and train-of-four (TOF) nerve stimulation. Twelve of the patients with an estimated duration of anaesthesia of more than 90 min were (randomly) selected for the pharmacokinetic part of the study. Venous samples were taken for determination of the three isomers of mivacurium. These results were compared with results from a previous study in phenotypically normal patients (UU). RESULTS: The estimated ED50 and ED95 were 24 and 69 microg kg-1, respectively. The median (range) infusion rate was 3.7 microg kg-1 min-1 (1.2-2.9) and the time to a TOF ratio of 0.7 was 29.8 min (16.1-44.8). The median clearances of the cis-cis, cis-trans and trans-trans isomers were 3.7, 29 and 28 ml kg-1 min-1, respectively. The elimination half-lives of the isomers were 45, 6.7 and 6.3 min, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients heterozygous for the usual and the atypical variant (UA), the potency of mivacurium is higher, the infusion requirements lower and the rate of spontaneous recovery prolonged, compared with phenotypically normal patients. The clearances of the active isomers are significantly lower and the elimination half-lives longer in heterozygous patients than in phenotypically normal patients (UU). The pharmacokinetics of the inactive cis-cis isomer was not affected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Implementation of a formal in-training assessment programme in anaesthesiology and preliminary results of acceptability.

BACKGROUND: A new reform on postgraduate education in Denmark requires a formal in-training assessment in all specialties. The aim of this study was to survey the implementation and acceptability of the first example of a nation-wide in-training assessment programme for first-year trainees in anaesthesiology developed by a working group under the Danish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. METHODS: A questionnaire about the implementation of the programme in practice and the characteristics of the trainees was sent to the educational responsible consultant (ERC) in each of the 26 anaesthetic departments in the country with first-year trainees in anaesthesiology. Standard evaluations of the assessment programme were regularly collected from trainees. RESULTS: Twenty-five (96%) departments returned the questionnaire. In total the departments reported on 100 trainees and 83 of these had been enrolled in the programme. Thirteen departments reported in total on 27 trainees who had completed their first year of training and these departments had applied a median 21 (range 17-21) of the 21 tests included in the entire programme. Time constraints and resistance among senior clinicians were the most frequently cited barriers to implementation. Evaluations from trainees showed a generally positive attitude towards most of the programme. They especially praised the programme's effect on structuring training and having a positive effect on learning. CONCLUSION: The in-training assessment programme has been widely implemented across the country. The majority of the programme was acceptable to trainees and had a positive effect on structuring training and on fostering learning.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2003

Embracing the new paradigm of assessment in residency training: an assessment programme for first-year residency training in anaesthesiology.

Assessment of clinical competence is facing a paradigm shift in more than one sense. The shift relates to test content, which increasingly covers a broader spectrum of competences than mere medical expertise, and to test methods, with an increasing focus on testing performance in realistic settings. Also there is a shift in the concept of assessment in that instruction and assessment are no longer seen as being separate in time and purpose, but as integral parts of the learning process. The nature of the new paradigm for assessment is well described but the challenge to programme directors is to specify the evaluation situations and develop appropriate methods. This paper describes the intrinsic rational validation process in outlining an assessment programme for first-year anaesthesiology residency training according to the new paradigm. The applicability to other residency programmes and higher-level training in anaesthesiology is discussed.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2003

A feasibility study comparing checklists and global rating forms to assess resident performance in clinical skills.

This study evaluated the feasibility of two different scoring forms for assessing the clinical performance of residents in anaesthesiology. One of the forms had a checklist format including task-specific items and the other was a global rating form with general dimensions of competence including 'clinical skills', 'communication skills' and 'knowledge'. Thirty-two clinicians representing 25 (83%) of the 30 training hospitals in the country participated in the study. The clinicians were randomized into two groups, each of which used one of the scoring formats to assess a resident's performance in four simulated clinical scenarios on videotape. Clinicians' opinions about the appropriateness of the scoring forms were rated on a scale of 1-5. The checklist format was rated significantly higher compared with the global rating form (mean 4.6, 0.5 vs. mean 3.5, 1.4, p < 0.001). The inter-rater agreement regarding pass/fail decisions was poor irrespective of the scoring form used. This was explained by clinicians' leniency as assessors rather than by lack of vigilance in the observations or disagreements on standards for good performance.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2002

Remifentanil vs. alfentanil for direct laryngoscopy: a randomized study comparing two total intravenous anaesthesia techniques. TIVA for direct laryngoscopy.

The ideal anaesthesia for direct laryngoscopy is profound and yet brief. The present study sought to determine whether a new anaesthetic technique based on infusion of the ultra short-acting opioid remifentanil was superior to our routine alfentanil multiple-dose technique in terms of haemodynamic stability, stress responses and recovery. A total of 58 patients were randomized to receive propofol and either remifentanil or alfentanil as part of a total intravenous anaesthesia. In the remifentanil group, systolic blood pressure during anaesthesia remained significantly lower than baseline values, while it increased significantly in the alfentanil group. None of the patients receiving remifentanil showed stress responses (hypertension, tachycardia, somatic or autonomic responses), compared to 22 patients (79%) in the alfentanil group (P < 0.0001). In the remifentanil group, hypotension or bradycardia requiring intervention arose in 5 (18%) and 3 patients (11%); neither response was seen in the alfentanil group. The period from the end of propofol infusion until extubation was 5 min longer in the remifentanil group (P < 0.0001), whereas the time from extubation until discharge was similar in the two groups. Thus, neither technique showed sufficient haemodynamic stability, and further studies are needed to determine optimal dosages of propofol and opioid.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Onset and duration of action of rocuronium--from tracheal intubation, through intense block to complete recovery.

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this study was to establish the relation between the post tetanic count (PTC) and the time to reappearance of the first response (T1) in train-of-four (TOF) nerve stimulation following rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg, 0.9 mg/kg, and 1.2 mg/kg. The secondary objective was to evaluate the intubation conditions after 1 min. METHODS: One hundred and eight patients were randomised to one of three doses of rocuronium: 0.6, 0.9 or 1.2 mg/kg. Tracheal intubation was performed at 60 s by a blinded investigator. During propofol, fentanyl, midazolam anaesthesia the neuromuscular block was monitored by mechanography using TOF stimulation every 12 s. At 6 min intervals, a tetanic stimulation (50 Hz) was applied for 5 s preceded and followed by a 30 s period of 1 Hz stimulation until the reappearance of T1. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in recovery following the high dose and the two lower doses. The relation between time (min) to reappearance of T1 (t) and PTC can be expressed as follows: t(0.6 and 0.9 mg/kg)(min)=18.8-6.46 PTC and t(1.2 mg/kg)(min)=26.1-9.12 PCT. T1 was seen at a mean PTC level of 8 or 9 in all three groups. The intubation conditions were graded as excellent or good in all patients except in two patients following the 0.6 mg/kg dose of rocuronium. CONCLUSION: The PTC method can be used to predict the time to first response to TOF nerve stimulation during intense rocuronium induced neuromuscular blockade. The relation between PTC and the time to T1 was prolonged after 1.2 mg/kg compared with 0.6 mg/kg and 0.9 mg/kg. No further improvement in intubation conditions at 60 s was evident by increasing the rocuronium dose from 0.9 mg/kg to 1.2 mg/kg.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Infusion of mivacurium and atracurium guided by manual tactile evaluation].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this investigation was to compare the use of a continuous infusion of mivacurium or atracurium guided by tactile evaluation of the neuromuscular block. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients were randomly allocated to three groups of patients. Group M and MN received a bolus dose of mivacurium 0.15 mg/kg followed by a continuous infusion and group AN a bolus dose of atracurium 0.4 mg/kg followed by an infusion. RESULTS: The neuromuscular blockade recovered spontaneously in group M and was antagonised in group MN and AN. The level of block was quantified by tactile evaluation. The time to full recovery was significantly shorter in patients receiving mivacurium compared to patients given atracurium, 14.5, 12.0 and 18.0 min, respectively. Further, reversal with neostigmine significantly enhanced recovery following mivacurium. CONCLUSION: A continuous infusion of mivacurium and atracurium can easily be performed, guided by tactile evaluation of the neuromuscular block and the effect can be reversed by neostigmine.

Adolescent↗