Traumatizing effects of blind oral intubation using the Augustine Guide.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated whether the Augustine Guide, a device enabling blind oral intubation, carries a high risk for laryngopharyngeal trauma in routine airway management.


METHODS
Telescopic laryngoscopic or microlaryngoscopic examinations were performed in 20 patients before and immediately after blind oral intubation, as well as 24 hours postoperatively.


RESULTS
Intubation using the Augustine Guide was successful in all but one patient. However, 18 of 20 patients showed evidence of considerable trauma to the laryngopharyngeal region. Vallecular edema, epiglottic swelling, mucosal lacerations, and vocal cord hematomas, causing a high percentage of postoperative discomfort, occurred in a very uniform pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that blind oral intubation using the Augustine Guide should not be used in routine airway management but should only be used in special indications.
Kautzky
M
M
University of Vienna Medical School, Department of Otolaryngolgy-Head and Neck Surgery, Austria.
Franz
P
P
Krafft
P
P
Fitzgerald
R D
RD
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000293:injuries*; D011184:Postoperative Period