title: Stylet- or forceps-guided tube exchanger to facilitate GlideScope intubation in simulated difficult intubations--a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: The GlideScope videolaryngoscope is widely used in the management of the difficult airway. However, passing the tracheal tube through the vocal cords can be awkward, and the use of a stylet to guide insertion is recommended. This randomised controlled trial evaluated a forceps-guided tube exchanger as an alternative to the stylet to aid intubation with the GlideScope in patients undergoing anaesthesia, with a simulated difficult airway created by the application of a semi-rigid cervical collar. Data were analysed from 178 patients randomly assigned to undergo intubation using either the stylet (n = 88) or a forceps-guided tube exchanger (n = 90). All intubations were completed successfully, with first attempt rates of 93.2% using the stylet and 94.4% using the exchanger (p = 0.597). The mean (SD) intubation time was 67.8 (28.7) s in the stylet group and 66.1 (15.5) s in the forceps-guided tube exchanger group (p = 0.11). The frequency of sore throat 1 h after extubation was 34.1% in the stylet group and 2.2% in the tube exchanger group (p < 0.001); 24 h after extubation the corresponding figures were 40.0% and 11.1% (p < 0.001). Using a forceps-guided tube exchanger may offer an advantage over a stylet in guiding tracheal intubation when the GlideScope is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Baek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult