Comparison Of The Glottic View During Intubation Using Airtraq And Macintosh Laryngoscopes In Adult Patients Undergoing Surgeries Under General Anaesthesia With A Simulated Cervical Spine Immobilization - A One Year Hospital Based Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background and objectives The Airtraq is an intubation device that has been developed to aid laryngoscopy. This study was aimed to compare the glottic visualization between Macintosh laryngoscope and Airtraq video laryngoscope in patients with a simulated difficult airway posted for surgeries under general anesthesia. Methodology This one year randomized clinical study was conducted between January 2015 to December 2015 on 60, ASA grade I and II patients of either gender, aged between 18 - 60 years. The study population was randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n=30): intubation performed using Airtraq laryngoscope. Group L (n=30): intubation performed using Macintosh laryngoscope. Results In the present study 76.67% of patients in group A had a Cormack Lehane grade 1 view of glottis compared to 13.33% in group L. Most of the patients (56.67%) in group L had Cormack Lehane grade 2 view of glottis compared to 23.33% in group A. Thus Airtraq laryngoscope significantly reduced the Cormack-Lehane grade of glottic view with p value 0.001. It was observed in our study that the mean heart rate, mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure, and the mean of mean arterial pressure were higher in group L compared to group A at one minute, three minute, and five minute intervals after intubation. Conclusions In conclusion, laryngoscopy with Airtraq video laryngocope offers better view of glottis with minimal changes in hemodynamic parameters compared to Macintosh laryngoscope in patients with a simulated cervical spine immobilization.