A novel set-up to allow suctioning during direct endotracheal and fiberoptic intubation

From EmCrit:

When intubating the tracheas of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, vomiting, or copious secretions, standard suction often is inadequate to provide good intubating conditions. As soon as the suction catheter is removed and the endotracheal tube (ETT) is picked up, the liquid reaccumulates, preventing visualization of the airway structures. In these situations, we attach a neonatal meconium aspirator (Neotech Products, Inc., Valencia, CA, USA) to the end of the ETT, then connect the ETT to suction (Fig. 1). By occluding the suction-activation hole with a finger tip, the ETT becomes a large-bore suction catheter. This action allows for continuous removal of the blood/secretions throughout ETT placement and provides a clear view of the glottic structures; the patient’s trachea then is intubated with the same ETT. The trachea then may be suctioned before the meconium aspirator is disconnected.

Pot brownies send elderly to ER

From the Chicago Sun Times:

Pot-laced brownies served at a Southern California funeral sent three people to the emergency room, police said.

Two 71-year-old women and an 82-year-old man were taken to a hospital emergency room after attending a friend’s memorial service, where a tray of pot brownies was offered. They complained of nausea, dizziness and an inability to stand without assistance.

They didn’t know the marijuana-laced sweets were being offered in memory of their friend, who ate marijuana brownies. Police say the baked goods were put out without any announcement about what was in them.