Tracheal Intubation With the Rigid Tube for Laryngoscopy- a New Method

A Comparative Study Between the Rigid Tube for Laryngoscopy, as a New Tool for Tracheal Intubation, and McIntosh Laryngoscope in Difficult Airway Patients

This study evaluates the efficiency of the rigid tube for laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation in patients with presumed difficult airway and compare the classical laryngoscopy and this method in matter of glottis visualisation and tracheal intubation.

The rigid tube for laryngoscopy is a 15 to 30 cm long metallic tube with a bevel end and a diameter of 0.5-2.0 cm , an instrument used to inspect the larynx and surrounding areas. It resembles a rigid bronchoscope but it is shorter. When in use, it has to be attached to a light source.

The hypothesis of the study stands that the rigid tube for laryngoscopy could be more efficient in tracheal intubation for difficult airway patients when the classical intubation with a curved blade laryngoscope is unsatisfactory.

The retromolar approach in both sides together with bougie(intubating tube introducer) intubation is the technique of intubation used in this study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with criteria of anatomically difficult airway from SARI (The Simplified Airway Risk Index Scale) parameters analysis
• patients with airway pathology which predicted difficult intubation: tumors or cervical masses, previous radiotherapy or surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• stridor or marked laryngeal or tracheal stenosis, vocal cords polyps
• emergency surgery, decompensated cardiac or pulmonary disease
• grade 1 and 2a at classical laryngoscopy after Cormack- Lehane Classification