title: Comparison of combitube, easy tube and tracheal tube for general anesthesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Combitube(®) and EasyTube™ enable effective ventilation whether placed in the trachea or esophagus and can be used in prehospital settings, as well as in "Cannot Ventilate Cannot Intubate" situations in the operating room. Whether they can be continued to provide general anesthesia, if required, is not established. Thus the efficacy of Combitube and EasyTube was evaluated and compared with the tracheal tube for general anesthesia using controlled ventilation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Combitube, EasyTube and tracheal tubes were used in 30 patients each to secure the airway in a randomized controlled manner. Ventilatory parameters were measured along with hemodynamic variables, and characteristics related to device placement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the various ventilatory parameters including minute ventilation requirement to maintain eucapnia amongst the three groups at any time point. There was no hypoxia or hypercarbia in any patient at any time. Placement of EasyTube was more difficult (P = 0.01) as compared with both Combitube and tracheal tube. EasyTube and Combitube resulted in higher incidence of minor trauma than with a tracheal tube (P = 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combitube and EasyTube may be continued for general anesthesia in patients undergoing elective nonlaparoscopic surgeries of moderate duration, if placed for airway maintenance. Given the secondary observations regarding placement characteristics of the airway devices, it, however cannot be concluded that the devices are a substitute for endotracheal tube for airway maintenance per se, unless specifically indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Shahadra, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Shahadra, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Shahadra, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Shahadra, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Surendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Combitube; EasyTube; general anesthesia