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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Head-elevated laryngoscopy position: improving laryngeal exposure during laryngoscopy by increasing head elevation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing head elevation and neck flexion on the quality of laryngeal view during laryngoscopy. METHODS: Laryngoscopy with a straight blade was performed on 7 fresh human cadavers. Laryngeal views were recorded with the direct laryngoscopy video system, and the laryngoscopy angle was measured throughout the procedure with an angle finder attached to the handle of the laryngoscope. Each cadaver had laryngoscopy initiated with the head lying flat on the table and with atlanto-occipital extension. The head was then progressively elevated as much as possible (the head-elevated laryngoscopy position), increasing neck flexion and the laryngoscopy angle. Three physicians blinded to the laryngoscopy angle graded the quality of laryngeal view using the percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score. RESULTS: The laryngoscopy angle ranged from a mean of 32 degrees +/-8 degrees (1 SD) with the head flat on the table to a mean of 67 degrees +/-8 degrees with the head-elevated laryngoscopy position. The mean midposition laryngoscopy angle was 49 degrees +/-6 degrees. Comparing the 3 positions, mean POGO scores+/-1 SD significantly increased from 31%+/-10% (flat position) to 64%+/-12% (midposition) to 87%+/-13% (head-elevated laryngoscopy position). Both the midposition and the head-elevated laryngoscopy position compared with the flat position were statistically significant at a P value of less than.0001. The midposition also differed significantly from the head-elevated laryngoscopy position (P <.0007). Additionally, there was a significant linear relationship among the 3 positions (P <.0001). CONCLUSION: Increasing head elevation and laryngoscopy angle (neck flexion) significantly improves POGO scores during laryngoscopy on fresh human cadavers.

Cadaver↗
PubMed2006

Laryngeal view during laryngoscopy: a randomized trial comparing cricoid pressure, backward-upward-rightward pressure, and bimanual laryngoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: External cricoid and thyroid cartilage manipulations are commonly taught to facilitate laryngeal view during intubation. We compare the laryngeal views during laryngoscopy with 4 manipulations (no manipulation, cricoid pressure, backward-upward-rightward pressure [BURP], and bimanual laryngoscopy) to determine the method that optimizes laryngeal view. METHODS: This was a randomized intervention study involving emergency physicians participating in airway training courses from December 2003 to November 2004. Direct laryngoscopies were performed with curved blades on fresh, non-fixed cadavers by using each of the 4 methods. The percentage of glottic opening (POGO), a validated scoring scale, was recorded for each laryngoscopy. Scores for bimanual laryngoscopy were recorded before the assistant applied external pressure. RESULTS: A total of 1,530 sets of comparative laryngoscopies were performed by 104 participants. One thousand one hundred eighteen of 1,530 sets (73%) had POGO scores less than 100 with no manipulation. Compared to no manipulation, mean POGO scores with bimanual laryngoscopy improved by 25 (95% confidence interval [CI] 23 to 27); mean POGO score improvement with cricoid pressure and BURP were 5 (95% CI 3 to 8) and 4 (95% CI 1 to 7), respectively. POGO scores with bimanual laryngoscopy were higher compared to cricoid pressure (mean difference 20, 95% CI 17 to 22) and BURP (mean difference 21, 95% CI 19 to 24). Among laryngoscopies with no manipulation in which the POGO score greater than 0 (n=1,434), laryngeal view worsened in 60 cases (4%, 95% CI 3% to 5%) with bimanual laryngoscopy, in 409 cases (29%, 95% CI 26% to 31%) with cricoid pressure, and in 504 cases (35%, 95% CI 33% to 38%) with BURP. CONCLUSION: Using a cadaver model, we found pressing on the neck during curved blade laryngoscopy greatly affects laryngeal view. Overall, bimanual laryngoscopy improved the view compared to cricoid pressure, BURP, and no manipulation. Cricoid pressure and BURP frequently worsen laryngoscopy. These data suggest bimanual laryngoscopy should be considered when teaching emergency airway management.

Allied Health Personnel↗
PubMed2002

Endotracheal intubation with a gum-elastic bougie in unanticipated difficult direct laryngoscopy: comparison of a blind technique versus indirect laryngoscopy with a laryngeal mirror.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the efficacy of intubation over a gum-elastic bougie by using either a blind technique or indirect laryngoscopy with a laryngeal mirror in patients with unexpected difficult direct laryngoscopy. In a prospective study, 60 consecutive patients with an unexpected Grade III or IV direct laryngoscopy were randomly allocated for intubation with a gum-elastic bougie either blindly (Group 1) or by indirect laryngoscopy with a laryngeal mirror (Group 2). We evaluated the failure rate of each method of intubation, complications related to either method, and the time required for intubation. Out of 725 patients evaluated over a 2-mo period, 60 patients (8.3%) had a Grade III laryngoscopy, and 30 of these were randomized into each group. There were 8 failed intubations in Group 1 compared with 1 failed intubation in Group 2 (P < 0.05). All eight failures in the blind intubation group ended with esophageal intubation. No additional complications were noted in either group. The time required for endotracheal intubation with each group was not significantly different (45 +/- 10 s versus 44 +/- 11 s). We conclude that intubation with a gum-elastic bougie had a lower failure rate using indirect laryngoscopy with a laryngeal mirror than a traditional blind technique. IMPLICATIONS: We evaluated the efficacy of intubation over a gum-elastic bougie by using either a blind technique or a laryngeal mirror. Intubation with a gum-elastic bougie had a lower failure rate using indirect laryngoscopy with a laryngeal mirror (P < 0.05) than a traditional blind technique.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Diagnostic correlation between indirect laryngoscopy, fibro-laryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy with the anatomopathological results].

We have studied 265 patients with an organical lesion of the larynx, using three different laryngoscopical methods: Indirect laryngoscopy, fibrolaryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy. We have compared the correlation between each one and the anatomopatological diagnosis, concluding that microlaryngoscopy has the best correlation, better than the fibrolaryngoscopy and this one better than indirect laryngoscopy.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2002

Remifentanil vs. alfentanil for direct laryngoscopy: a randomized study comparing two total intravenous anaesthesia techniques. TIVA for direct laryngoscopy.

The ideal anaesthesia for direct laryngoscopy is profound and yet brief. The present study sought to determine whether a new anaesthetic technique based on infusion of the ultra short-acting opioid remifentanil was superior to our routine alfentanil multiple-dose technique in terms of haemodynamic stability, stress responses and recovery. A total of 58 patients were randomized to receive propofol and either remifentanil or alfentanil as part of a total intravenous anaesthesia. In the remifentanil group, systolic blood pressure during anaesthesia remained significantly lower than baseline values, while it increased significantly in the alfentanil group. None of the patients receiving remifentanil showed stress responses (hypertension, tachycardia, somatic or autonomic responses), compared to 22 patients (79%) in the alfentanil group (P < 0.0001). In the remifentanil group, hypotension or bradycardia requiring intervention arose in 5 (18%) and 3 patients (11%); neither response was seen in the alfentanil group. The period from the end of propofol infusion until extubation was 5 min longer in the remifentanil group (P < 0.0001), whereas the time from extubation until discharge was similar in the two groups. Thus, neither technique showed sufficient haemodynamic stability, and further studies are needed to determine optimal dosages of propofol and opioid.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A comparison of direct, indirect, and fiberoptic laryngoscopy to evaluate vocal cord paralysis after thyroid surgery.

After thyroidectomy, the anesthesiologist usually performs a laryngoscopy to detect laryngeal edema and nerve palsies. The goal of this study was to compare three different methods of laryngeal examination after tracheal extubation of the patients. For that purpose, between 1990 and 1995, a prospective series of 1608 patients operated for thyroidectomy has been studied. The series was divided into 4 groups. In group I (n = 200), four anesthesiologists have evaluated the efficiency of the immediate postextubation direct laryngoscopy. In group II (n = 100), one anesthesiologist has compared the direct, indirect, and flexible laryngoscopies in every patient in a fixed and timed fashion. In group III (n = 100), the four examiners have evaluated the flexible laryngoscopy at a different timing so as to eliminate the possible temporal relationship of the ease of visualization in group II. In group IV (n = 1208), the four examiners have evaluated flexible laryngoscopy, on a large scale, at any time during the 1-h stay in the recovery room. Special attention was directed to the patients with known cardiovascular diseases. Direct and indirect laryngoscopies were only effective in 76 and 73%, respectively, of the patients, whereas flexible laryngoscopy was effective in 99.6% of them. Flexible laryngoscopy was easy to perform in 96.5% of the patients versus 65 and 55% with direct and indirect laryngoscopies. Finally, variations in monitored cardiovascular parameters were significantly lower with flexible and indirect laryngoscopies than with direct laryngoscopy. These mild variations induced by flexible laryngoscopy were well tolerated by patients with known cardiovascular diseases. Flexible laryngoscopy is the best method for an immediate laryngoscopic examination after thyroidectomy.

Fiber Optic Technology↗
PubMed1998

Diabetes mellitus and difficult laryngoscopy in renal and pancreatic transplant patients.

UNLABELLED: Limited mobility of the cervical spine or temperomandibular joint may contribute to increased difficulty of laryngoscopy in patients who have severe diabetes mellitus. The frequency of difficult laryngoscopy in diabetics undergoing renal and/or pancreatic transplants has been reported to be as high as 32%. We retrospectively reviewed the anesthetic records of all adult patients who underwent renal and/or pancreatic transplant and endotracheal intubation from January 1, 1985 to October 31, 1995. Characteristics specifically reviewed included the presence of diabetes mellitus, type of organ donor, age, gender, body mass index, previous difficult laryngoscopy, known characteristics potentially related to difficult laryngoscopy, and degree of difficulty with laryngoscopy. Laryngoscopy was graded as easy, minimally to moderately difficult, and moderately to extremely difficult to perform. Factors associated with any degree of difficult intubation were univariately assessed by using Fisher's exact test. Of 725 patients, 15 (2.1%) were identified as having difficult laryngoscopies, although all underwent successful endotracheal intubations. Factors associated with difficult laryngoscopy were diabetes mellitus (P = 0.002) and characteristics known to be related to difficult laryngoscopy (P = 0.02). These findings confirm an increase in the frequency of difficult laryngoscopy in diabetic patients undergoing renal and/or pancreatic transplant, although no laryngoscopies were rated as moderately to extremely difficult. We conclude that the frequency of difficult laryngoscopy in these diabetic patients is much lower than previous reports have suggested. IMPLICATIONS: Previous studies have suggested that airway management of many diabetic patients may be difficult. Our medical record review of patients with severe diabetes undergoing organ transplants showed that extraordinary techniques were not required to successfully manage their airways.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Virtual laryngoscopy and multiplanar reformats with multirow detector CT for detection and grading of upper airway stenosis].

PURPOSE: A controlled trial was performed to compare non-invasive multislice CT (virtual laryngoscopy, axial CT slices, coronal and sagittal reformats) in the detection and grading of upper airway stenosis with fiberoptic laryngoscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multislice CT and fiberoptic laryngoscopy were used to examine 111 upper airway sections (supraglottis, glottis, subglottis, trachea) in 29 patients. CT data were acquired on a multirow detector CT (collimation 4 x 1 mm, reconstruction interval 1 mm, IV contrast) and postprocessing was performed using multiplanar reformatted images (MPR) and virtual laryngoscopy. RESULTS: All CT methods accurately detected upper airway stenosis (accuracy was 96 % for virtual laryngoscopy and MPR and 94 % for axial CT-slices). Correlation of fiberoptic and virtual laryngoscopy (r = 0.94) for grading of stenosis was closer than with sagittal reformats (r = 0.80), coronal reformats (r = 0.72), and axial CT slices (r = 0.57). Even high grade stenosis could be passed with virtual laryngoscopy that was impassable for fiberoptic laryngoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual laryngoscopy enabled better assessment of stenosis as compared to reading of axial CT slices or MPR. Virtual laryngoscopy is complementary to fiberoptic laryngoscopy and should be combined with axial CT slices and MPR readings for evaluation of the surrounding structures.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral clonidine blunts the hemodynamic responses to brief but not prolonged laryngoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a 300 micrograms dose of oral clonidine given 90 minutes prior to laryngoscopy and intubation provides hemodynamic protection from the stress of a brief (15-second) and/or a prolonged (45-second) laryngoscopy. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Inpatients and outpatients scheduled for general anesthesia with intubation at a university-affiliated medical center. PATIENTS: Forty patients who gave informed, written consent to receive either an oral placebo or clonidine 5 micrograms/kg (up to a maximum dose of 300 micrograms) 90 minutes prior to induction of anesthesia and to undergo either brief or prolonged laryngoscopy prior to intubation. INTERVENTIONS: The patients underwent a standardized induction sequence that included d-tubocurarine 3 mg, thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg, and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg. The four treatment groups (each n = 10) included (1) placebo with 15-second laryngoscopy, (2) placebo with 45-second laryngoscopy, (3) clonidine with 15-second laryngoscopy, and (4) clonidine with 45-second laryngoscopy. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were mechanically obtained and recorded at 1-minute intervals for 12 minutes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were no differences between groups in the premedication hemodynamic measurements. Within each group, maximal hemodynamic variables increased significantly over the corresponding baseline values for that group. In the 15-second, but not the 45-second, laryngoscopy, clonidine successfully blunted the maximum SBP and DBP obtained when compared with the corresponding control group. In both the 15- and 45-second clonidine groups, maximum HR was significantly lower than in the corresponding placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oral clonidine, when used as a preoperative medication, affords hemodynamic protection to patients undergoing a 15-second laryngoscopy. However, the stress of a 45-second laryngoscopy may be too great or the 300 micrograms dose of clonidine too low to provide hemodynamic protection for patients in this group.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

Alternating day emergency medicine and anesthesia resident responsibility for management of the trauma airway: a study of laryngoscopy performance and intubation success.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We compare laryngoscopy performance and overall intubation success in trauma airways when primary airway management alternated between emergency medicine and anesthesia residents on an every-other-day basis. METHODS: Data on all trauma intubations during approximately 3 years were prospectively collected. Primary airway management was assigned to emergency department (ED) residents on even days and anesthesia residents on odd days. Emergency medicine residents intubated patients who arrived without notification or who needed immediate intubation before anesthesia arrived. The study was conducted in an inner-city, Level I trauma center with approximately 50,000 ED patients and 1,800 major trauma cases a year. Main outcomes were success or failure at laryngoscopy and the number of laryngoscopy attempts needed for intubation. RESULTS: Six hundred fifty-eight trauma patients were intubated during the study period. Laryngoscopy was successful in 654 of 656 cases. Two (0.3%) patients underwent cricothyrotomy after failed laryngoscopy, and 2 (0.3%) patients had awake nasal intubation without laryngoscopy. The specific number of laryngoscopy attempts was unknown in 6 cases (3 from each service), resulting in 650 cases for laryngoscopy performance analysis. Overall, 87% of patients were intubated on first attempt, and 3 or more attempts occurred in 2.9% of patients. Laryngoscopy performance by service (broken down by 1, 2, and >or=3 attempts) was as follows: emergency medicine 86.4%, 11%, and 2.6% versus anesthesia 89.7%, 6.7%, and 3.6%. Analysis by service was done by using Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney testing (P=.225). CONCLUSION: There were no differences in laryngoscopy performance and intubation success in trauma airways managed on an every-other-day basis by emergency medicine versus anesthesia residents.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

An evaluation of McCoy balloon laryngoscopy in patients with moderate-to-major endotracheal intubation difficulty.

UNLABELLED: We hypothesized that combined McCoy-balloon laryngoscopy may facilitate airway management relative to McCoy or balloon laryngoscopy. In 10 anesthetized/paralyzed patients with prior intubation difficulty scale scores of >5, McCoy-balloon laryngoscopy versus conventional/balloon/McCoy laryngoscopies resulted in greater laryngeal aperture exposure (2.3 +/- 0.6 versus 0.6 +/- 0.2/1.4 +/- 0.4/1.5 +/- 0.6 cm2, respectively), lower intubation difficulty scale score (0.00 (0.00-0.00) versus 6.00 (6.00-8.25)/1.50(0.00-4.00)/2.00(0.75-5.00), respectively, median [interquartile range]), and 9%-74% shorter time to intubation confirmation (P < 0.05-0.001 for all). Balloon and McCoy laryngoscopies improved laryngoscopic/intubating conditions relative to conventional laryngoscopy. In patients with moderate-to-major conventional airway management difficulty, McCoy-balloon laryngoscopy further improves laryngoscopic/intubating conditions. IMPLICATIONS: This study shows that, in patients with moderate-to-major conventional airway management difficulty, combined McCoy-balloon laryngoscopy results in improved laryngoscopic/intubating conditions when compared with the conventional, McCoy, and balloon laryngoscopic techniques. McCoy-balloon laryngoscopy combines the merits of McCoy and balloon laryngoscopy and can be recommended for patients with moderate-to-major intubation difficulty.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The use of an anaesthetic simulator to assess single-use laryngoscopy equipment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the view at simulated direct laryngoscopy obtained with a standard laryngoscope, with and without a disposable cover and a disposable laryngoscope blade. DESIGN: Randomized non-blinded comparison. SETTING: The high-fidelity human patient simulator at the Scottish Clinical Simulation Centre. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two anaesthetists with between 11 months and 25 years of experience. INTERVENTIONS: A randomized comparison of ease of laryngoscopy with each laryngoscope option for simulated easy and difficult laryngoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The best grade achievable at laryngoscopy (Cormack and Lehane grade) for each laryngoscope, for both easy and difficult laryngoscopy. RESULTS: For the easy setting, 34% (P = 0.001) of anaesthetists graded laryngoscopy more difficult with the covered laryngoscope, and 22% (P = 0.008) with the disposable laryngoscope considered laryngoscopy more difficult than with the standard laryngoscope. For the difficult simulator setting, 69% (P < 0.001) found laryngoscopy more difficult with the covered laryngoscope and 69% (P < 0.001) with the disposable laryngoscope, when compared with the standard laryngoscope. There was no difference between the laryngoscopy grades for the covered and disposable laryngoscope for either easy (P = 0.21) or difficult (P = 0.87) simulation. CONCLUSIONS: Single-use equipment, as presently recommended for tonsillectomy surgery by the UK Department of Health, makes laryngoscopy more difficult for anaesthetists.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2003

Difficult laryngoscopy: incidence and predictors in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery versus general surgery patients.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac surgery patients might have a higher incidence of difficult laryngoscopy than the general population because of older age, dental problems, and obesity. The authors estimated the incidence and predictors of difficult laryngoscopy in coronary artery bypass surgery patients. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled study. SETTING: University setting. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass or general surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft and 444 general surgery patients, all aged >40 years, were compared for the incidence and predictors of difficult laryngoscopy, defined as a grade III or IV view. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Predictors of difficult laryngoscopy were considered mouth opening <4 cm, limited cervical mobility, thyromental distance <6 cm, protruding or partially missing upper teeth, and Mallampati classes 3 and 4. More cases of difficult laryngoscopy were recorded in cardiac patients (10% v 5.2%, p <0.023). The cardiac patients were older, mostly men, and belonged to ASA III-IV risk classes. Mallampati classes 3 and 4 were more frequent in the control group. With univariate analysis, difficult laryngoscopy correlated with 7 variables: older age, ASA-IV risk class, protruding or partially missing upper teeth, limited mouth opening, limited neck movement, thyromental distance <6 cm, and diabetes mellitus. Multivariate analysis adjusted for propensity score identified older age (odds ratio = 1.05/yr, 95% confidence interval = 1.005-1.09, p < 0.03) and limited neck movement (odds ratio = 9.5, 95% confidence interval = 2.2-41, p < 0.003), but not cardiac surgery per se, as independent predictors of difficult laryngoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Difficult laryngoscopy was more frequent in cardiac surgery patients (10% v 5.2%). Older age and limited neck movement, but not cardiac surgery per se, were independent predictors of difficult laryngoscopy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Upper cervical vertebrae movement during intubating laryngeal mask, fibreoptic and direct laryngoscopy: a video-fluoroscopic study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Minimizing cervical vertebrae motion during endotracheal intubation is important in patients with cervical instability. The aim of this study was to compare upper cervical spine extension during endotracheal intubation using three different techniques. METHODS: Duration of intubation and movement of upper cervical vertebrae during endotracheal intubation were compared in 33 patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy. Patients requiring tracheal intubation under general anaesthesia and neuromuscular blockade were randomly allocated into three groups - direct laryngoscopy, intubating laryngeal mask (LM) airway and fibreoptic laryngoscopy. The procedure was recorded by video-fluoroscopy and analysed with computer-assisted measurements. The maximum movement of the C1/C2 and C2/C3 vertebrae during intubation were obtained. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: We found statistically significant movement between the first and second, but not between the second and third cervical vertebrae. The mean (+/-SD) movement at C1/C2 was 10.2 +/- 7.3 degrees with direct laryngoscopy, 5.0 +/- 6.3 degrees with LM and 1.6 +/- 3.2 degrees with fibreoptic laryngoscopy. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01) between the direct and fibreoptic laryngoscopy groups. The maximum movement at C2/C3 was 2.2 +/- 10.1 degrees with direct laryngoscopy, 3.5 +/- 5.1 degrees with LM and 0.5 +/- 3.2 degrees with fibreoptic laryngoscopy. Duration of intubation was significantly longer in the intubating LM group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that fibreoptic laryngoscopy is the more suitable intubation technique when cervical spine movement is not desired.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Left-molar approach improves the laryngeal view in patients with difficult laryngoscopy.

BACKGROUND: The molar approach of laryngoscopy is reported to improve glottic view in sporadic cases of difficult laryngoscopy. The authors studied the effect of molar approaches and optimal external laryngeal manipulation (OELM) using the Macintosh blade. METHODS: A series of 1,015 adult patients who underwent general anesthesia and tracheal intubation was studied. Laryngoscopy was carried out using a Macintosh no. 3 or 4 standard blade. Three consecutive trials of direct laryngoscopy using the midline and left- and right-molar approaches were carried out under full muscle relaxation with optimal head and neck positioning. The best glottic views were recorded for each approach with and without OELM. RESULTS: Difficult laryngoscopy with a midline approach accounted for 6.5% (66 cases) before OELM and 1.97% (20 cases) after OELM. A left-molar approach with OELM further reduced difficult laryngoscopy to seven cases (P < 0.001 vs. midline approach with OELM); a right-molar approach with OELM reduced difficult laryngoscopy to 18 cases (P = 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: The left-molar approach with OELM improves the laryngeal view in patients with difficult laryngoscopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Mandibular advancement improves the laryngeal view during direct laryngoscopy performed by inexperienced physicians.

BACKGROUND: When oral or nasal fiberoptic laryngoscopy is attempted, mandibular advancement has been reported to improve the laryngeal view. The authors hypothesized that mandibular advancement may also improve the laryngeal view during direct laryngoscopy. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were included in this study. After establishment of an adequate level of anesthesia and muscle relaxation, direct laryngoscopy was performed by inexperienced physicians. Four different maneuvers--simple direct laryngoscopy without any assistance (C), simple direct laryngoscopy with mandibular advancement (M), simple direct laryngoscopy with the BURP maneuver (backward, upward, rightward pressure maneuver of the larynx; B), and simple direct laryngoscopy with both mandibular advancement and the BURP maneuver (BM)--were attempted in each subject, and the laryngeal aperture was videotaped with each procedure. An instructor in anesthesiology who was blinded to the procedure evaluated the visualization by reviewing videotape off-line, using the Cormack-Lehane classification system (grades I-IV) and a rating score within each subject (1 = best view; 4 = poorest view). The Friedman test followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test was performed for statistical comparison. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The laryngeal view was improved with M and B when compared with C (P < 0.05 by both rating and Cormack-Lehane evaluation). BM was the most effective method to visualize the laryngeal aperture (P < 0.05, vs. B and M by rating evaluation), whereas B and M were the second and the third most effective methods, respectively. No statistical difference was observed between B and M with the Cormack-Lehane classification. CONCLUSION: Mandibular advancement improves the laryngeal view during direct laryngoscopy performed by inexperienced physicians.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Reducing the risks of laryngoscopy in anaesthetised infants.

We have evaluated the use of oxygen insufflation during laryngoscopy with an Oxyscope laryngoscope blade compared to conventional laryngoscopy for maintenance of transcutaneous PO2 during intubation of anaesthetised, spontaneously breathing infants. Twenty healthy children aged between 1 and 24 months were anaesthetised with halothane in oxygen. Laryngoscopy and intubation were performed in a double-blind fashion using a Miller No. 1 Oxyscope blade either with or without oxygen insufflation. Transcutaneous oxygen tension, arterial pressure and heart rate were measured before and after laryngoscopy, and duration of laryngoscopy was recorded. Transcutaneous oxygen tension decreased by 7.1% (SD 6.1%) when oxygen insufflation was used, compared to 33.0% (SD 15.1%) without oxygen insufflation (p less than 0.0001). There were no significant differences in mean duration of laryngoscopy or patient age. We conclude that oxygen insufflation during laryngoscopy and intubation of spontaneously breathing, anaesthetised infants effectively minimises the decrease in transcutaneous oxygen tension from pre-laryngoscopy levels, and makes instrumentation of the airway safer.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗