COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LMA CTRACH VERSUS LMA FASTRACH FOR TRACHEAL INTUBATION

TM The intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) or LMA Fastrach was invented as a ventilatory device,andTMas a conduit for blind tracheal intubation. However, intubation through LMA Fastrach requires multiple attempts. LMATM TM CTrach is a modification of LMA Fastrach and allows intubation under direct vision via an integrated fibreoptic bundleand a detachable liquid crystal display viewer.This study was undertaken to compare the first attempt success rate ofTM tracheal intubation through the CTrach laryngeal mask and LMA Fastrach .Methods and Materials:This prospective randomized study was conducted on 100 adults,ASA physical status I and IIpatients of either sex, scheduled to undergo general anaesthesia requiring tracheal intubation for elective surgery.Thepatients were randomly allocated to two groups of 50 patients each, to be intubated via CTrach (GROUP CT, n=50) orILMA (GROUP FT,n=50).The first-attempt and overall success rates of tracheal intubation,the times taken and incidenceof pharyngo-laryngeal morbidity,were recorded.Results: Tracheal intubation was successful on the first attempt in 96% of patients with the LMA CTrach™ and 84% ofpatients with the LMA Fastrach™ (p= 0.045). The success rates within three attempts were 100% in both groups(p=0.124).The mean time taken for the complete tracheal intubation process was 109.6 ± 38.679 seconds with the LMACTrach™ and 118.68 ±22.342 seconds with the LMA Fastrach™ (p= 0.154).Conclusion: To conclude, both airway devices are comparable and efficacious and the overall success of trachealintubation was 100% in both groups.