• Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and may be influenced by oral health. • Objective To describe the relationship between ventilator-associated pneumonia and oral health status, changes in oral health status during the first 7 days after intubation, and microbial colonization of the oropharynx and trachea. • Methods A total of 66 patients were enrolled within 24 hours of intubation and were followed up for up to 7 days. Data on oral health measures and the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) were collected at baseline, day 4 (n = 37), and day 7 (n = 21). A regression model was used to predict risk of pneumonia at day 4. • ResultsDental plaque and oral organisms increased over time. Correlations were significant for baseline and day 4 dental plaque (P < .001), baseline salivary lactoferrin and day 4 plaque (P = .01), and lower salivary volume and higher day 4 CPIS (P = .02). Potential pathogens were identified in oral cultures for 6 patients before or at the same time as the appearance of the organisms in tracheal aspirates. Correlations were significant with day 4 CPIS for score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II (P = .007), day 4 salivary volume (P = .02), interaction of APACHE II score and day 1 CPIS (P<.001), and interaction of day 1 CPIS and plaque (P=.01). • Conclusions Higher dental plaque scores confer greater risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia, particularly for patients with greater severity of illness. Salivary volume and lactoferrin may affect the risk.

• Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. Backrest position and time spent supine are critical risk factors for aspiration, increasing the risk for pneumonia. Empirical evidence of the effect of backrest positions on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, especially during mechanical ventilation over time, is limited. • Objective To describe the relationship between backrest elevation and development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. • Methods A nonexperimental, longitudinal, descriptive design was used. The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score was used to determine ventilator-associated pneumonia. Backrest elevation was measured continuously with a transducer system. Data were obtained from laboratory results and medical records from the start of mechanical ventilation up to 7 days. • Results Sixty-six subjects were monitored (276 patient days). Mean backrest elevation for the entire study period was 21.7°. Backrest elevations were less than 30° 72% of the time and less than 10° 39% of the time. The mean Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score increased but not significantly, and backrest elevation had no direct effect on mean scores. A model for predicting the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score at day 4 included baseline score, percentage of time spent at less than 30° on study day 1, and score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, explaining 81% of the variability (F=7.31, P=.003). • Conclusions Subjects spent the majority of the time at backrest elevations less than 30°. Only the combination of early, low backrest elevation and severity of illness affected the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Remote collaboration for anesthesia requires considerable sharing of physiologic data, audio, and images on a consistent data platform. A low-bandwidth connection between Ecuador and the United States supported effective joint management of operative plan, airway, intraoperative decisions, and recovery. Transmission with a 64-Kbps InMarSat satellite telephone (Thrane & Thrane, Denmark) connection from hospitals in Macas and Sucúa, Ecuador, to Richmond, Virginia, included preoperative patient evaluations, video of endotracheal intubations, electrocardiogram waveforms, pulse oximetry measurements, arterial blood pressure readings, capnography readings, and auscultation of breath sounds.

This study validates the use of telecommunications technology from a remote location to monitor an anesthetic event. This type of work makes expert advice available during surgical procedures.