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Simulated difficult intubation
Author(s) -
GATAURE P. S.,
VAUGHAN R. S.,
LATTO I. P.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1996.tb14961.x
Subject(s) - stylet , medicine , glottis , intubation , tracheal intubation , tracheal tube , tube (container) , surgery , anesthesia , larynx , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary A randomised study was carried out to compare the efficacy of the gum elastic bougie and the stylet in a simulated difficult intubation. A laryngoscopy assessment, as described by Cormack and Lehane, was made in 100 patients. A Grade 3 view was then simulated. In the Bougie First Group (50 patients) two attempts were made to pass a gum elastic bougie and a tracheal tube into the trachea. If these first two attempts were not successful, two further attempts at intubation were allowed with a stylet placed in the tracheal tube. In the Stylet First Group (50 patients) the order was reversed. After two attempts the tube was correctly placed in the trachea in 96% of cases in the Bougie First Group compared to only 66% of cases in the Stylet First Group (p < 0.001). We recommend that a gum elastic bougie should be readily available and that anaesthetists should use it in preference to a stylet whenever a good view of the glottis is not immediately available.