Comparison Between a Standard Tube and the Ultra-thin Tritube for Intubation of the Trachea and for Maintaining Access to the Trachea After Anaesthesia, in Patients With an Expected Difficult Direct Laryngoscopy

Sammenligning Mellem Standard Tube og Den Ultra-tynde Tritube® Til Intubation, og Til Opretholdelse af Adgang Til Trachea Efter anæstesi, Hos Patienter Med Forventet Vanskelig Direkte Laryngoskopi

The investigators compare the ease of intubation between a new ultra-thin endotracheal tube, "Tritube", and a standard endotracheal tube in patients with predictors of difficult laryngoscopy. Furthermore the investigators compare the acceptance of leaving the Tritube in trachea after end of anaesthesia, with the use of a tube exchange catheter.

In patients scheduled for surgery and anaesthesia in the Head-/neck/ear/nose/throat -region the investigators compare the ease of tracheal intubation between a new ultra-thin endotracheal tube, "Tritube", and a standard endotracheal tube in patients with predictors of difficult laryngoscopy. The intubation is performed with an angulated video laryngoscope.

Furthermore the investigators compare the acceptance of leaving the Tritube in trachea after end of anaesthesia, with the use of a tube exchange catheter. The latter continues into the post-operative recovery-ward.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients for anaesthesia for surgery in the Head-/neck/ear/nose/throat
• planned for oral intubation with video-laryngoscopy
• with risk factors for difficult direct laryngoscopy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient with increased secretions in the airway (Pneumonia, bronchitis, productive cough)
• Patients planned for awake intubation
• Patients where mask-ventilation is judged to could become impossible
• Patients where access to the cricothyroid membrane is judged to be difficult or impossible
• Patients in ASA (american Society of Anaesthesiologists) physical classification status >3
• Patients who are scheduled for rapid sequence induction (RSI) due to risk of aspiration
• Patients with stridor
• Patients with hypoxemia (Saturation < 90 % in room air)
• Operation duration planned to > 2.5 hours
• Patients with the need for a nerve-stimulation-tube during surgery