Airtraq laryngoscope for the insertion of a transesophageal echocardiography probe.

The insertion of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe during general anesthesia is usually performed in a blind manner. However, blind manipulation occasionally encounters difficulties in directing the probe tip into the esophageal orifice. This could potentially cause injuries to the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.1-3 Here, we introduce a method in which the Airtraq laryngoscope (Prodol, Vizcaya, Spain) is used as an introducer. The device is designed for endotracheal intubation. The anatomically designed blade has both an optical system and a conduit for a tracheal tube. The TEE probe can be placed in the conduit instead of the tracheal tube (Fig 1). Similar to endotracheal intubation, the TEE probe can be inserted easily under optical control. The Airtraq is significantly rugged compared with the TEE probe, and, hence, it is less susceptible to damage and provides easy maneuverability of the TEE probe. Even when the esophageal orifice is not identified through the viewfinder of the scope, the thick blade could provide the potential space for advancing the probe tip into the pharynx. We attempted this method in a patient with difficult blind insertion of the TEE probe and were successful in inserting the probe quickly and without any assistance. Since that attempt, many operators at our institution have elected to use the Airtraq to insert the TEE probe, especially in patients with