Tongue traction is as effective as jaw lift maneuver for Trachlight-guided orotracheal intubation.
OBJECTIVE
The jaw lift maneuver has been traditionally used to facilitate Trachlight-guided orotracheal intubation. The aim of this study was to compare the jaw lift maneuver with another potentially useful maneuver, tongue traction, for facilitating Trachlight-guided orotracheal intubation.


METHODS
This study was prospective and randomized in design. A single experienced investigator performed Trachlight-guided orotracheal intubations in 100 adult patients with clinically normal airways undergoing elective surgeries under general anesthesia with paralysis. Patients were divided into two groups: Group J (jaw lift); and Group T (tongue traction using a padded artery forceps). Three parameters were recorded: search time (device insertion to midline glow); time to intubate (device insertion to glow at suprasternal notch); and time to confirm (device insertion to confirmation of placement by capnography).


RESULTS
All patients were intubated successfully using the Trachlight. Only one patient in Group J required more than two attempts for successful intubation. First and second attempt success rates were, respectively, 86% and 98% in Group J, and 92% and 100% in Group T. Mean search time, time to intubate and time to confirm were comparable: 6.36 ± 4.20 seconds, 11.23 ± 6.69 seconds and 21.59 ± 7.69 seconds, respectively, in Group J, and 6.81 ± 4.53 seconds, 10.79 ± 6.02 seconds and 22.80 ± 7.85 seconds, respectively, in Group T.


CONCLUSIONS
The tongue traction maneuver is as good as the jaw lift maneuver with regard to the success rate and time taken for Trachlight-guided orotracheal intubation.
Umesh
Goneppanavar
G
Department of Anaesthesiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka State, India. drumeshg@yahoo.co.in
George
Mathew
M
Venkateswaran
Ramkumar
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007568:Jaw; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014059:Tongue; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods*