title: Effect of orientation of a standard polyvinyl chloride tracheal tube on success rates during awake flexible fibreoptic intubation.
abstract: We conducted a randomised study in 70 patients to assess the effect of orientation of a standard polyvinyl chloride tracheal tube on the ease of railroading the tube during awake fiberoptic orotracheal intubation. Conventional orientation of the tube (with the bevel of the tube directed to the patient's left) was compared with orientation of the tube with the bevel facing posteriorly. The success rate of intubation at the first attempt was higher with the bevel oriented posteriorly (35/35; 100%) than with the conventional orientation (21/35; 60%; p = 0.0001), and the intubating time was shorter (median (range) 7 (5-11) s and 11 (5-60) s, respectively; p = 0.0001). We recommend that the tracheal tube should be aligned in this manner when railroading it over the fibrescope during awake fibreoptic orotracheal intubation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, Neurosciences Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Bithal
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pandia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride