BACKGROUND Acoustic reflectometry allows the construction of a one-dimensional image of a cavity, such as the airway or the esophagus. The reflectometric area-distance profile consists of a constant cross-sectional area segment (length of endotracheal tube), followed either by a rapid increase in the area beyond the carina (tracheal intubation) or by an immediate decrease in the area (esophagea...

Background: Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation are known to have profound cardiovascular effects. The Callander modification of Macintosh blade is associated with greater field of laryngoscopic view and decreased risk of dental contact. The purpose of this study was to compare the hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation according to the degree of difficult airway, and to...

Ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL), also called Forestier's disease or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, is characterized by anterior bridging osteophytes of unknown etiology. OALL may cause dysphagia, dyspnea, dysphonia, and acute airway obstruction. We report difficulty in tracheal intubation during anesthesia induction in two OALL patients. In an 82-year-old ma...

BACKGROUND Establishing a definitive airway, defined as a tube placed in the trachea with cuff inflated below the vocal cords, is standard of care in pre-hospital airway management of the trauma patient. However, in this setting, and using manual in-line stabilisation of the neck, success rate of intubation by inexperience providers is suboptimal. The use of supraglottic airway devices that all...

PURPOSE To compare the performance of the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) in assisting blind tracheal intubation with conventional tracheal tubes of different curvatures and the frequency of possible associated complications. METHODS After informed consent, 240 ASA I-II adults undergoing elective surgery participated in a randomized, single blind clinical trial to receive blind trache...

The effects of alfentanil (given during induction of anaesthesia) on the haemodynamic and catecholamine responses to tracheal intubation were studied in 44 adult patients who received alfentanil 10 micrograms kg-1 or 40 micrograms kg-1, or saline placebo. Alfentanil 10 micrograms kg-1 and 40 micrograms kg-1 prevented any increase in heart rate and arterial pressure after tracheal intubation. Al...

This case report involves tracheal intubation using i-gel® in combination with a lightwand in a patient with a difficult airway, classified as Cormack-Lehane grade 3. I-gel® was used during anesthesia induction to properly maintain ventilation. The authors have previously reported successful tracheal intubation on a patient with a difficult airway through the use of i-gel® and a fiberoptic bron...

Successful tracheal intubation with the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope requires a certain amount of skill which is acquired by practice. It has been suggested that the new Bullard laryngoscope may be mastered more easily. To determine if learning was superior with a flexible fibreoptic or the Bullard device, the ease of tracheal intubation with both devices was compared by first-year anaesthe...

Received: February 11, 2016 Revised: June 24, 2016 Accepted: June 24, 2016 Abstract: Background: Supraglottic airway devices (SADs) are very useful airway adjunct in managing anticipated and unanticipated difficult airway and can be used as a ventilating aid and as a conduit for tracheal intubation. The new versions of SADs like i-gel and intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA), have advantage ...

BACKGROUND To assess the adequacy of the position of the tracheal tube cuff and tracheal tube tip in the recently introduced preformed oral Microcuff paediatric endotracheal tube (PET) using the manufacturers recommendations for Microcuff tracheal tube size selection. METHODS With Hospital Ethics Committee approval and informed parental consent, the tracheas of children from birth to adolesce...