International Journal of Medical and Dental Sciences

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A Comparative Study of Tracheal Intubation Characteristics Using Macintosh and Airtraq Laryngoscope


Affiliations
1 Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research Kolkata, West Bengal, India
 

Background: Direct laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation with the Macintosh blade is most commonly used for establishing a patent airway. AirtraqTm Optical Laryngoscope, does not require the alignment of the 3 airway axes for glottic visualization.

Objective: We aim to compare these two laryngoscopes in view of laryngoscopic grading, ease of tracheal intubation and hemodynamic changes associated with laryngoscopy and intubation.

Materials and Methods: 50 ASA I and II patients were randomly divided into Macintosh (M) group and Airtraq (A) group. Cormack Lehane grading, ease of intubation, laryngeal intubation time in secs and incidence of sore throat was noted. HR&BP was recorded at 0, 1, 3, 5&10 minutes following intubation. Unpaired 't' test compared inter-group data, while paired 't' test compared within group cardiovascular data. (p<0.05 statistically significant).

Results: The demographic data of both groups were comparable. Cormack-Lehane grading was better in group A than in group M [grade I group A(84%) and group M(60%)]. The mean time for laryngeal intubation (Mean ± SD) for group A (8.3 ± 4.6 secs) and group M (20.46 ± 6.6 secs) (t = 7.6, p< 0.01). Ease of intubation was better in group A than group M. The rise in blood pressure and heart rate was significantly less in Group A as compared to Group M.

Conclusion: Airtraq laryngoscope was superior to Macintosh laryngoscope as it provided better laryngoscopic views, shorter laryngoscopy and intubation time, easier intubation and the rise in heart rate and systolic blood pressure was significantly less.


Keywords

Tracheal Intubation, Anaesthesia, Macintosh Laryngoscope, Airtraq Laryngoscope.
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  • A Comparative Study of Tracheal Intubation Characteristics Using Macintosh and Airtraq Laryngoscope

Abstract Views: 350  |  PDF Views: 170

Authors

Rajiv Kumar Samal
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Ratul Kundu
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Moupali Ghosh
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Sabyasachi Singha
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Abstract


Background: Direct laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation with the Macintosh blade is most commonly used for establishing a patent airway. AirtraqTm Optical Laryngoscope, does not require the alignment of the 3 airway axes for glottic visualization.

Objective: We aim to compare these two laryngoscopes in view of laryngoscopic grading, ease of tracheal intubation and hemodynamic changes associated with laryngoscopy and intubation.

Materials and Methods: 50 ASA I and II patients were randomly divided into Macintosh (M) group and Airtraq (A) group. Cormack Lehane grading, ease of intubation, laryngeal intubation time in secs and incidence of sore throat was noted. HR&BP was recorded at 0, 1, 3, 5&10 minutes following intubation. Unpaired 't' test compared inter-group data, while paired 't' test compared within group cardiovascular data. (p<0.05 statistically significant).

Results: The demographic data of both groups were comparable. Cormack-Lehane grading was better in group A than in group M [grade I group A(84%) and group M(60%)]. The mean time for laryngeal intubation (Mean ± SD) for group A (8.3 ± 4.6 secs) and group M (20.46 ± 6.6 secs) (t = 7.6, p< 0.01). Ease of intubation was better in group A than group M. The rise in blood pressure and heart rate was significantly less in Group A as compared to Group M.

Conclusion: Airtraq laryngoscope was superior to Macintosh laryngoscope as it provided better laryngoscopic views, shorter laryngoscopy and intubation time, easier intubation and the rise in heart rate and systolic blood pressure was significantly less.


Keywords


Tracheal Intubation, Anaesthesia, Macintosh Laryngoscope, Airtraq Laryngoscope.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/ijmds%2F2014%2F81292