The Flex-It stylet is less effective than a malleable stylet for orotracheal intubation using the GlideScope.
BACKGROUND
The GlideScope videolaryngoscope (Verathon Medical, Bothell, WA) usually provides excellent glottic visualization, but directing an endotracheal tube through the vocal cords can be challenging. The goal of the study was to compare the dedicated Flex-It stylet (FIS, Parker Medical, Highlands Ranch, CO) with a malleable stylet, as assessed by time to intubation (TTI).


METHODS
Eighty patients requiring orotracheal intubation for elective surgery were randomly allocated to either the FIS or a malleable stylet (control) to facilitate tracheal intubation using the GlideScope. TTI was recorded by blinded assessors; operators were blinded until after laryngoscopy. The operator assessed the ease of intubation using a 100-mm visual analog scale (0 = easy to 100 = difficult). The number of intubation attempts, number of failures, glottic grades, and use of external laryngeal manipulation were documented.


RESULTS
The median TTI was 41 s (interquartile range [IQR] 30-51) for the Flex-It group compared with 32 s (IQR 28-42) for the control group (P = 0.03). The median visual analog scale score for ease of intubation was 20 (IQR 11-39) for the Flex-It group compared with 15 (IQR 8-28) for the control group (P = 0.13). The overall incidence of a Cormack-Lehane Grade I or II glottic view was 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
In a group of experienced operators using the GlideScope, the FIS was less effective for orotracheal intubation than a malleable endotracheal tube stylet.
Turkstra
Timothy P
TP
Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, University Hospital, Room C3-104, 339 Windermere Rd., London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5A5. timothy.turkstra@londonhospitals.ca
Jones
Philip M
PM
Ower
Katherine M
KM
Gros
Michelle L
ML
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D018583:Pliability; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording