The use of the Airtraq® optical laryngoscope for routine tracheal intubation in high-risk cardio-surgical patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Airtraq^®optical laryngoscope (Prodol Ltd., Vizcaya, Spain) is a novel disposable device facilitating tracheal intubation in routine and difficult airway patients. No data investigating routine tracheal intubation using the Airtaq^®in patients at a high cardiac risk are available at present. Purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and hemodynamic implications of tracheal intubation with the Aitraq^®optical laryngoscope, in high-risk cardio-surgical patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>123 consecutive ASA III patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting were routinely intubated with the Airtraq^®laryngoscope. Induction of anesthesia was standardized according to our institutional protocol. All tracheal intubations were performed by six anesthetists trained in the use of the Airtraq^®prior.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall success rate was 100% (n = 123). All but five patients trachea could be intubated in the first attempt (95,9%). 5 patients were intubated in a 2nd (n = 4) or 3rd (n = 1) attempt. Mean intubation time was 24.3 s (range 16-128 s). Heart rate, arterial blood pressure and SpO₂were not significantly altered. Minor complications were observed in 6 patients (4,8%), i.e. two lesions of the lips and four minor superficial mucosal bleedings. Intubation duration (p = 0.62) and number of attempts (p = 0.26) were independent from BMI and Mallampati score.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Tracheal intubation with the Airtraq^®optical laryngoscope was feasible, save and easy to perform in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In all patients, a sufficient view on the vocal cords could be obtained, independent from BMI and preoperative Mallampati score.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>DRKS 00003230</p

The use of the C-MAC videolaryngoscope for awake intubation in patients with a predicted extremely difficult airway: case series

Tomasz Gaszyński Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Ł&oacute;dź, Ł&oacute;dź, Poland Abstract: The C-MAC videolaryngoscope was evaluated for intubation in patients with predicted extremely difficult airway. The presented cases are patients with neoplasm tumors in larynx. In all cases, awake intubation using C-MAC videolaryngoscope was performed in patients breathing spontaneously, under local anaesthesia, with oxygen administered via nasal catheter. All intubations were successful and uneventful. The pre-surgery examination (CT scans and fiberscope laryngeal examination) was compared with view of larynx obtained during laryngoscopy. Based on my experience, I assume that C-MAC videolaryngoscope is a very useful tool for anaesthesiologists and can be applied not only for unexpected difficult intubation but also for predicted difficult airway. Moreover, it could be used as an additional diagnosis tool before larynx surgery. The view obtained with the C-MAC videlaryngoscope corresponds with larynx examination performed before surgery, and could potentially reveal more details. Keywords: videolaryngoscope, airway management, predicted difficult airways, C-MA

Comparison of the glottic view during video-intubation in super obese patients: a series of cases

Tomasz Gaszyński Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Ł&oacute;dź, Ł&oacute;dź, Poland Abstract: Videolaryngoscopes improve the view of the entry to the larynx in morbidly obese patients. Super obesity is one of the risk factors for difficult mask ventilation as well as difficult intubation. Super obese patients should be intubated awake either with a fiber-optic scope or with a videolaryngoscope. The glottic view during video-intubation in super obese patients using different devices was compared. The McGrath MAC (MGM) was used in all patients and then compared to the King Vision (KV) in three patients, the APA videolaryngoscope in two patients and the Airtraq Avant with a video camera in four patients. The pictures were of the same patient for two used devices. All obtained images were analyzed using the Percentage of Glottic Opening (POGO) scale. The POGO score for the MGM was better than for the KV and the APA but comparable to the Airtraq device. The images were processed electronically, and the best view of the laryngeal inlet that was obtained by the evaluated devices in the same patient was superimposed onto the other one and then compared. Keywords: super obese, videolaryngoscopes, intubation, glottic visualization&nbsp