Airtraq® is the preferred device for difficultintubation by residents?

Gjorchevska, Elena and Gavrilovska-Brzanov, Aleksandra and Ilieva, E. and Mojsova, Maja (2019) Airtraq® is the preferred device for difficultintubation by residents? Macedonian Journal of Anaesthesia, 8. pp. 28-32. ISSN 2545-4366

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Abstract

Background: The Airtraq® optical laryngoscope is an intubation device designed to provide
a view of the glottis without alignment of the oro-pharyngeal and laryngeal axes. Recent literature shows that, given its two significant features: time effectiveness and short learning curve,
Airtraq® is the most favorable option when it comes to difficult intubation.
Objectives: The goal was to analyze Airtraq® effectiveness when used by inexperienced
physicians in anticipated difficult intubation in adult patients.
Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective evaluation in ten medical residents
using the Airtraq® device for the first time. All of them were experienced in using Macintosh.
Each resident conducted laryngoscopy and intubation with the Airtraq® device after short didactic
guidance. Eighteen patients were included, over a period of seven months. The patients showed
four difficult intubation predictors: history of difficult intubation, thyromental distance less than
60 mm, mouth opening less than 35 mm and Mallampati class 3 or 4. All of them were clinically
examined for difficult airway by an ENT specialist.
Results: Before induction of anaesthesia all residents received a short demonstration on the
use of the Airtraq®. Every participant was supervised by an Airtraq® handling specialist for each
intubation maneuver. In sixteen patients, Airtraq® insertion, glottis visualization and subsequent
intubation were easy and rapid, without arterial oxygen desaturation. In two patients the trachea
was intubated from the second and third attempt. There were two tracheal intubation failures,
associated with extended tracheal intubation and an Airtraq® specialist had to continue with intubation. The Airtraq® reduced the duration of intubation attempts in all cases, reduced the number
of optimization maneuvers required, and reduced the potential for dental trauma. However, the
two intubation failures emphasize the fact that Airtraq® laryngoscopy requires a clinical training
process, especially in the event of anticipated difficult airway management situations.
Conclusion: The residents participating the study, found the Airtraq® easier to use in all
scenarios compared to the Macintosh laryngoscope. The Airtraq® may be the preferred device,
required by inexperienced physicians in cases of difficult airway

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Medical and Health Sciences > Clinical medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medical Science
Depositing User:	Maja Mojsova Mijovska
Date Deposited:	31 Mar 2023 10:52
Last Modified:	31 Mar 2023 10:52
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/31575

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