title: [Light-guided intubation using Trachlight].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A new intubating transilluminated device (Trachlight) has been recently proposed as an alternative to tracheal intubation with direct laryngoscopy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  1) To evaluate Trachlight device in orotracheal intubation and to assess its operation and complications. 2) To compare the time consumption of transillumination intubation in respect to direct laryngoscopy on the same patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first study was performed on 50 patients undergoing elective surgery and submitted to Trachlight intubation alone; speed of intubation, number of attempts and all complications were recorded and related to Mallampati classes. In the second study 16 patients undergoing to elective surgery were enrolled. Each patient was classified according to both the Mallampati classes and the Cormack classes. Each patient was submitted to two tracheal intubations: the first with the Trachlight and the second with conventional direct laryngoscopy performed by the same anesthesiologist. The time to intubation and the number of attempts were recorded and related to the Mallampati and Cormack classes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first study time of intubation with Trachlight was 20.93 +/- 13.02s (mean +/- SD) without statistical differences in respect to the Mallampati classes. In the second study the times to intubation were without any statistical difference independently of the technique of intubation and of the Mallampati or Cormack classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orotracheal intubation using Trachlight appears to be an effective and easy to learn technique, being also easy, safe and fast to carry out. The comparison with direct laryngoscopy showed the same speed and effectiveness even on patients with difficult intubation.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Anestesia e Rianimazione, Università degli Studi-Firenze.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falsini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cimminiello
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gandini
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Melani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manfredini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Signorini
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Novelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008029:Lighting / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Intubazione luce-guidata mediante Trachlight.