title: Flexible optical intubation via the Ambu Aura-i vs blind intubation via the single-use LMA Fastrach: a prospective randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to compare the Ambu Aura-i to the single-use LMA Fastrach regarding time to intubation, success rate, and airway morbidity in patients undergoing elective surgery requiring general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five adult patients scheduled for elective surgery requiring general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Group A (n=33) were intubated using Ambu Aura-i and the Ambu aScope 2, a disposable flexible intubating scope, whereas those in group B (n=33) were blindly intubated using the Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway (ILMA).
  
  
  METHODS
  First-attempt intubation success rate, overall intubation success rate, time to intubation, incidence of airway morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data demonstrated that time for endotracheal intubation in the ILMA group was significantly shorter than in the Ambu Aura-i group (P<.05). There was no difference in the first-attempt intubation success rate (Aura-i=26/33, 78.8%; ILMA=27/33, 81.8%; P=.757) or the overall intubation success rate (Aura-i=29/33, 87.9%; ILMA=31/33, 93.9%; P=.392) between the groups. Four patients (12%) in the Ambu Aura-i group had a failed intubation; 1 was due to a failure of the aScope monitor, whereas 3 were due to inability to visualize the glottis. Two patients (7%) in the ILMA group had a failed intubation due to esophageal intubation. There was no statistically significant difference in airway morbidity between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that intubation with the ILMA is faster but that first-attempt and overall intubation success rates were comparable in both groups. The results suggest that although the flexible intubating scope-guided Aura-i does not outperform blind intubation via the ILMA, the technique is comparable in terms of first-attempt and overall intubation success rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Artime
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altamirano
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Normand
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aijazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cattano
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, UTHealth, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: Carin.A.Hagberg@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Carin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hagberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ambu Aura-I; Flexible scope intubation; LMA Fastrach