A randomised crossover trial comparing the Airtraq(®) NT, McGrath(®) MAC and Macintosh laryngoscopes for nasotracheal intubation of simulated easy and difficult airways in a manikin

Which nostril should be used for nasotracheal intubation with Airtraq NT®: the right or left? A randomized clinical trial

Background/aim

Nasotracheal Airtraq is specifically designed to improve the glottis view and ease the nasotracheal intubation process in normal and difficult cases.

Materials and methods

After Ethics committee approval, we decided to enroll 40 patients with an ASA physical status of I or II, between 18 and 70 years of age undergoing elective maxillofascial, oral, and double chin surgery to determine which nostril is more suitable for nasotracheal intubation with nasotracheal Airtraq. Patients were randomized into the right and left nostril groups.

Results

Demographic and airway characteristics were similar among the groups. Nasotracheal intubation through the right nostril was shorter than that of the left nostril during nasotracheal intubation with the Airtraq NT (P < 0.001). 90° counterclockwise rotation of the tip of the tube was needed for directing the tube into the vocal cords in both right and left nostril groups (72% vs 88%). External laryngeal pressure and head flexion maneuvers can ease the intubation from the left nostril (P < 0.001 vs P = 0.03). Cuff inflation maneuver also can be helpful in some cases. We did not need any operator change or Magill forceps for any of the patients.

Conclusion

Nasotracheal intubation via the right nostril can be safely and quickly performed with the Airtraq NT without the need of Magill forceps. We recommend the use of the 90° counterclockwise rotation, external laryngeal pressure, and head flexion maneuvers to direct the tube into the vocal cords first. On the other hand, cuff inflation maneuver must also be kept in mind.

An observational study of feasibility of tracheal intubation using Airtraq in pediatric population

BACKGROUND AND AIM

There is a paucity of observational studies for the use of Airtraq (AT) in children, especially infants. We undertook a prospective observational study to compare ease of use of infant (size 0), pediatric (size 1), and small (size 2) AT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

AT was used for endotracheal intubation in healthy pediatric patients of 3 months to 18 years age. The primary outcome was success of intubation which was noted as number (%) and analyzed using Fisher's exact test. The secondary outcomes were percentage of glottis opening (POGO) score, visual analog scale (VAS) for field of view, time to best view (TTBV), time to intubation (TTI), and VAS for ease of use and were presented as median (interquartile range) in each subgroup of sizes and analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

Overall POGO score was 100 (100, 100 [50-100]) %, VAS field of view was 10 (10, 10 [5-10]), and TTBV was 6 (4, 10 [1.5-24]) s. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the subgroups. The success rate of intubation with AT was 100% with AT size 1 and 2, whereas 45% with AT 0, P < 0.001. VAS for ease of use was 5 (4, 10 [3-10]) with AT 0 compared to 10 (10, 10 [9-10]) with AT 1 and 10 (10, 10 [6-10]) with AT 2 (P < 0.001). TTI was 28 (20, 36 [11.8-59]) s in those who could be successfully intubated.

CONCLUSIONS

All sizes of AT provide quick, easy, and excellent glottic visualization. However, failure rate for intubation with infant (size 0) is high compared to nil with pediatric (size 1) and small (size 2).