title: Randomized comparison of the Pentax AirWay Scope and Macintosh laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can often present difficulties in intubation. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of the Pentax AirWay Scope (AWS) with that of the Macintosh laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in patients with OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty were randomly allocated to tracheal intubation with either the Macintosh laryngoscope or the Pentax AWS. In all patients, intubation was performed by one of two anaesthetists experienced with both devices. The primary and secondary endpoints of this study were the intubation difficulty scale (IDS) score and success/failure and duration of the first successful intubation attempt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the Pentax AWS, tracheal intubation was successful on the first attempt in all patients whereas four patients required repeated attempts at intubation with the Macintosh laryngoscope. The IDS score was significantly lower using the Pentax AWS and glottic exposure was better (the Cormack and Lehane grade 1 in all patients vs grade 2 or higher in all patients, P<0.0001). Average duration of successful intubation was shorter (12.9 vs 29.9 s, P=0.0002), and fewer manoeuvres were needed to improve the glottic exposure (0 in all patients vs 1 or more in 16 patients, P<0.0001) with the Pentax AWS, compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study of patients with OSA, tracheal intubation by experienced anaesthetists was facilitated using the Pentax AWS compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 23 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-872, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: intubation, intratracheal; laryngoscopes; sleep apnoea, obstructive