[A comparison of the optical AirTraq and the standard Macintosh laryngoscope for endotracheal intubation in obese patients].
BACKGROUND
Endotracheal intubation in morbidly obese patients is usually difficult and may lead to traumatic complications.


METHODS
We compared the median time needed for endotracheal intubation, between a newly introduced device, the AirTraq optical laryngoscope, and a standard device, the Macintosh blade. The study group comprised adult patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery, with a BMI >39.


RESULTS
Sixty-eight patients were enrolled in the study. The time to successful insertion of an endotracheal tube was 29 and 49 sec in the AirTraq and the Macintosh groups, respectively. In the AirTraq group, additional manoeuvres were required to improve the laryngeal view in 7 cases. In the Macintosh group, an elastic guidewire was used to facilitate endotracheal intubation. No traumatic complications were observed in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
The optical AirTraq laryngoscope proved to be more useful than the Macintosh blade for faster and easier intubation in morbidly obese patients.
Gaszyński
Tomasz
T
Katedra Anestezjologii i Intensywnej Terapii UM w Łodzi. tomaszyn@poczta.onet.pl
Gaszyński
Wojciech
W
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors