title: Pilot study of the air-Q intubating laryngeal airway in clinical use.
abstract: The air-Q Intubating Laryngeal Airway (ILA) is a newly introduced extraglottic airway device. In this pilot study, we evaluated its use as a routine airway device during positive pressure ventilation. Ease of endotracheal intubation through the device was also assessed. Fifty-nine ASA I and II patients undergoing elective surgery received an air-Q ILA and an endotracheal tube where indicated. Insertion, ventilation and intubation characteristics were noted, as well as throat morbidity and occurrence of adverse events. An air-Q ILA was successfully inserted in 100% of patients. Mean leak pressure was 19 +/- 5 cmH2O. Endotracheal intubation was indicated in 19 patients and successful in 58% on the first attempt and 74% in total. Ten percent of the study patients were noted to have dysphagia. One patient was diagnosed with bilateral lingual nerve injury but made a complete recovery in four weeks. The air-Q ILA is an adequate extraglottic airway device in terms of insertion and ventilation. However the proposed advantage of ease of endotracheal intubation requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department ofAnesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valkenburg
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Galvin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D061222:Lingual Nerve Injuries; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects