Utilization of Airway Stabilizing Rod

Utilization of Airway Stabilizing Rod to Assist With LMA Guided Fiberoptic Intubation in Children

The pediatric airway is known to be more challenging than the adult airway when performing endotracheal intubation. When a patient cannot be ventilated and/or intubated, the guidelines for airway management dictate that a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) be used as a rescue device to oxygenate and ventilate the patient. While an excellent device the LMA is seen as temporary and ultimately needs to be replaced by an endotracheal tube (ETT).

The objective is to study this device in patients with difficult airway to assess the success rate and time to intubation for placing an endotracheal tube using this device.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 5-18 years
• Requiring intubation
• Known difficult airway
• LMA placement possible

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known normal airway
• Procedure not requiring endotracheal intubation
• Parental refusal
• Patient dissent