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Comparison of blind tracheal intubation through the intubating laryngeal mask airway (LMA Fastrach TM ) and the Air‐Q TM
Author(s) -
Karim Y. M.,
Swanson D. E.
Publication year - 2011
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.1365-2044.2011.06625.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intubation , tracheal intubation , laryngeal masks , anesthesia , laryngeal mask airway , airway , mascara , surgery
Summary This study assessed two disposable devices, the LMA Fastrach TM and the newly developed supraglottic airway device, the Air‐Q TM , as a conduit for tracheal intubation in 154 healthy adults undergoing elective surgery. Using a non‐inferiority approach, the primary outcome measure was successful tracheal intubation within two blind insertion attempts. Successful blind intubation after two attempts was achieved in 75/76 (99%) of the patients in the LMA Fastrach group vs 60/78 (77%) in the Air‐Q group (95% CI for the difference 12–32%, p < 0.0001). Fibreoptic intubation was used to assist the third attempt. The rate of successful intubation after three attempts was 100% in the LMA Fastrach group and 95% in Air‐Q group. The single‐use LMA Fastrach appears superior compared with the Air‐Q, as a conduit to facilitate blind tracheal intubation.