Clinical Data
CS#12_ Tracheal intubation of morbidly obese patients: a randomized trial comparing performance of Macintosh and Airtraq
British Journal of Anaesthesia 100 (2): 263–8 (2008)
S. K. Ndoko et Al. Jean Verdier Public University Hospital of Paris
One hundred and six consecutive ASA I–III morbidly obese patients undergoing
surgery were randomized to intubation with the Macintosh laryngoscope or the AirtraqTM laryngoscope.
In the AirtraqTM group, tracheal intubation was successfully carried out in all patients within 120 s. In the Macintosh laryngoscope group, six patients required intubation with the AirtraqTM laryngoscope.
The mean (SD) time taken for tracheal intubation was 24 (16) and 56 (23) s, respectively, with the AirtraqTM and Macintosh laryngoscopes, (P,0.001). SpO2 was better maintained in the AirtraqTM group than in the Macintosh laryngoscope group with one and nine patients, respectively, demonstrating drops of SpO2 to 92% or less (P,0.05).
Conclusions. In this study, the AirtraqTM laryngoscope shortened the duration of tracheal intubation and prevented reductions in arterial oxygen saturation in morbidly obese patients.
