This study assessed two disposable devices, the LMA Fastrach™ and the newly developed supraglottic airway device, the Air-Q™, as a conduit for tracheal intubation in 154 healthy adults undergoing elective surgery. Using a non-inferiority approach, the primary outcome measure was successful tracheal intubation within two blind insertion attempts. Successful blind intubation after two attempts wa...

BACKGROUND Tracheal intubation with Macintosh laryngoscope is taught to medical students as it is a lifesaving procedure. However, it is a difficult technique to learn and the consequences of intubation failure are potentially serious. The Airtraq optical laryngoscope is a relatively novel intubation device, which allows visualization of the glottic plane without alignment of the oral, pharynge...

Introduction: Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) Fastrach was specially designed as a conduit for blind tracheal intubation in anticipated difficult airway and where we do not require neck extension. i-gel is a disposable, cheap supraglottic device with wide bore stem which facilitates direct passage of a conventional polyvinylchloride (PVC) endotracheal tube. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 adul...

Conventional laryngoscopy with the Macintosh Laryngoscope has been the gold standard for tracheal intubation since 1940s.1 Failed attempts to intubate the trachea and secure airway, both in the operating room and outside, still remains a cause of anesthesia-related mortality and morbidity.2-5 Investigation is, therefore, in progress to find the best methods and/or equipment to augment the succe...

Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation often cause hypertension, tachycardia and arrhythmias, which may be exaggerated during rapid-sequence induction of anaesthesia. We have studied the efficacy of pindolol in attenuating the cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in patients receiving pindolol 2 micrograms kg-1 or 4 micrograms kg-1 3 min before induction of anaesthesia in a dou...

BACKGROUND Tracheal rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication that most commonly occurrs after blunt trauma to the chest, but which may also complicate tracheal intubation. We report a case of post-intubation tracheal rupture after cataract surgery under general anesthesia treated conservatively. CASE PRESENTATION Four hours after extubation, a 67 year-old woman developed subcutaneo...