title: Comparison of the ease of tracheal intubation by postgraduate residents of anesthesiology using Airtraq™ and Macintosh laryngoscopes: An observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Airtraq™ (Prodol Meditec, Vizcaya, Spain) is a recently developed laryngoscope, which facilitates easy visualization of glottis through a matrix of sequentially arranged lenses and mirrors. In this observatory study, we sought to compare the ease of tracheal intubation with Airtraq™ and Macintosh laryngoscope when performed by 2(nd) year postgraduate residents of Anesthesiology in NRI Medical College, Mangalagiri.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the ease of tracheal intubation by Airtraq™ laryngoscope with that by Macintosh laryngoscope among the 2(nd) year postgraduate residents of anesthesiology in terms of time taken for intubation and the rise of rate-pressure product (RPP) with intubation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty adult and healthy patients with an easy airway, scheduled for general anesthesia were allocated into two groups A, and M. Patients in Group A were intubated with Airtraq™ laryngoscope and those in Group M were intubated with Macintosh laryngoscope by the 2(nd) year postgraduate residents of anesthesiology. The time taken for intubation, the RPPs at baseline, after induction of general anesthesia, postintubation, at 3 and 5 min after intubation, the rise of RPP to intubation and the occurrence of a sore throat were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean time for intubation in Macintosh group was 28.18 s and was 40.98 s in Airtraq group. The mean rise of RPP to intubation was 4644.83 in Airtraq group and 2829.27 in Macintosh group. The incidence of a sore throat was equal in both the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The time for intubation and the sympathetic response to airway instrumentation were more with Airtraq™ laryngoscope than with Macintosh laryngoscope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Srivishnu Vardhan
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Yallapragada
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Mrunalini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nagendra Nath
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Vemuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, NRI Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Mastan Saheb
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shaik
keywords: Airtraq; airway; direct laryngoscopy; postgraduate residents; sympathetic response