Title: A Prospective Randomized Study to Compare the Ease of Tracheal Intubation using Truview, Airtraq and Macintosh Laryngoscopic Blades

Authors: Kaushik Prajwala S. MD, DNB, Oak Shrikanta P. DA, DNB, Yashod Shamala Dinkar MD

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i10.32

Abstract

Introduction: Anaesthesiologists face several complications during tracheal intubation, inability to intubate being the most devastating. Macintosh has been the gold standard since times immemorial. Newer indirect laryngoscope blades have come into vogue which improve visualization of glottis. In our study we compare the ease of tracheal intubation between direct and indirect laryngoscopes.

Methods: Ninety consenting patients were included in this prospective randomized controlled trial to compare the ease of tracheal intubation using Truview(Group 1), Airtraq (Group 2) and MacIntosh (Group 3) laryngoscope blades. The time taken for intubation, intubation difficulty score, hemodynamic changes with intubation and complications were observed and compared.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the three blades with respect to duration of intubation (p =0.3), intubation difficulty score or complications. Statistically significant difference in pulse, mean arterial pressure at 1,3 and 5 minutes post intubation was found between the groups. Therise in pulse was found to be significantly lesser in Group 1(p value-0.001) 

and Group 2(p value- 0.040) when compared to Group 3 at 3 minutes and significantly lesser in Group 1 when compared to Group 3(p value-0.041) at 5 minutes . Rise in mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly lesser in Group 2 when compared to Group 3 at 1 minute (p value- 0.038) and 3 minutes (p value- 0.026) after intubation.

Conclusion: Airtraq provides certain advantages over Truview and Macintosh in terms of ease of intubation and hemodynamic stability when used by experienced anesthesiologists in a normal airway.

Keywords: Truview; Macintosh; Airtraq; Intubation.

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Corresponding Author

Oak Shrikanta P. DA, DNB

Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, Seth GSMC, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India