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The duration of fibre‐optic intubation is increased by cricoid pressure. A randomised double‐blind study
Author(s) -
ARENKIEL B.,
SMITT M.,
OLSEN K. S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2012.02789.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intubation , glottis , interquartile range , anesthesia , surgery , cricoid pressure , larynx
Background In some categories of patients, a rapid sequence induction using a fibre‐optic method may be indicated. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of cricoid pressure ( CP ) on the duration of fibre‐optic intubation. The hypothesis was that CP would prolong the intubation time. Methods The study was a randomised, double‐blind, cross‐over study. The patients were intubated twice, in a randomised way, using a flexible fibrescope once with and once without CP . The intubation time and the visualisation of the glottis were registered. If the intubation was not completed within 180 s, it was registered as failed. CP was standardised to a pressure of 30 N . The data are given as the mean (standard deviation) or median [interquartile] (range). Results Fifty patients were included, with a mean age of 53 years (14.6) and mean body mass index of 26.4 (4.3). Three intubations without and 13 intubations with CP failed. The durations of intubation without and with CP were 59 s [53–79 s] (34–144 s) and 75 s [67–104 s] (43–179 s), respectively ( P < 0.001). Conclusion The study showed that CP prolongs the duration of fibre‐optic intubation in patients with Mallampati grades 1–2.