title: Complications following the use of the Combitube, tracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway.
abstract: In a prospective, randomised trial, 75 patients scheduled for routine surgery were randomly allocated to one of three groups to evaluate trauma and postoperative complications after insertion of the Combitube, tracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway. Insertion of the Combitube was associated with a higher incidence of sore throat (48% vs. 16% vs. 12% [p < 0.01]) and dysphagia (68% vs. 12% vs. 8% [p < 0.01]) compared with tracheal intubation or insertion of the laryngeal mask airway, respectively. Hoarseness was significantly less common in both the Combitube and the laryngeal mask groups (both 12%) than in the tracheal tube group (44%; p < 0.01). Haematoma occurred in 36% of the Combitube group compared with 4% in both the laryngeal mask and the tracheal tube groups (p < 0.01). The higher incidence of complications should be considered when using the Combitube.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, City of Vienna Hospital Lainz, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oczenski
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krenn
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dahaba
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: El-Schahawi-Kienzl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohout
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology