title: Comparison of the C-MAC(®) and GlideScope(®) videolaryngoscopes in patients with cervical spine disorders and immobilisation.
abstract: In-line stabilisation of the neck can increase the difficulty of tracheal intubation with direct laryngoscopy. We randomly assigned 56 patients with cervical spine pathology scheduled for elective surgery to tracheal intubation using either the C-MAC(®) (n = 26) or GlideScope(®) (n = 30), when the head and neck were stabilised in-line. There was no significant difference in the median (IQR [range]) intubation times between the C-MAC (19 (14-35 [9-90]) s and the GlideScope (23, (15-32 [8-65]) s. The first-attempt failure rate for the C-MAC was 42% (95% CI 23-63%) compared with 7% (95% CI 1-22%) for the GlideScope, p = 0.002. The laryngeal view was excellent and comparable with both devices, with the C-MAC requiring significantly more attempts and optimising manoeuvers (11 vs 5, respectively, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in postoperative complaints e.g. sore throat, hoarseness and dysphagia. Both devices provided an excellent glottic view in patients with cervical spine immobilisation, but tracheal intubation was more often successful on the first attempt with the GlideScope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Cardioanaesthesia, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brück
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trautner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hain
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mols
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pakos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roewer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020704:Laryngoscopes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*