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...

OBJECTIVE To study the indications, method, success rate and complications of intubation at the Emergency Department of a private, tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS The case series involved 278 patients above 14 years of age who underwent emergency intubation at the Emergency Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi between 1998 and 2003. Descriptive statistics w...

PURPOSE The WEI Jet Endotracheal Tube (WEI JET) is a new tracheal tube that facilitates both oxygenation and ventilation during the process of intubation and assists tracheal intubation in patients with difficult airway. We evaluated the effectiveness and usefulness of the WEI JET in combination with lightwand under direct laryngoscopy in difficult tracheal intubation due to unstable cervical s...

The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of propacetamol on attenuating hemodynamic responses subsequent laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation compared to lidocaine. In this randomized clinical trial, 62 patients with the American Anesthesiologists Society (ASA) class I/II who required laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation for elective surgery were assigned to receive propacetamol 2 g/I...

We aimed to study the feasibility of a comfortable and secure intubation achieved with the Disposcope endoscope or Macintosh laryngoscope when glottis viewing is difficult. Forty adults scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia, in whom glottis viewing was difficult with the Macintosh laryngoscope (classified as Cormack-Lehane Grade III or IV), were randomized into 2 groups (N = 2...

BACKGROUND For patients suspicious of cervical spine injury, a Philadelphia cervical collar is usually applied. Application of Philadelphia cervical collar may cause difficult airway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the laryngeal view and the success rate at first intubation attempt of the Airtraq and conventional laryngoscopy in patients with simulated cervical spine injury after applica...

OBJECTIVES Endotracheal intubation success rates in the prehospital setting are variable. Our objective was to describe the challenges encountered and corrective actions taken during the process of endotracheal intubation by paramedics. DESIGN Analysis of prehospital airway management using a prospective registry that was linked to an emergency medical services administrative database. SETT...

PURPOSE To investigate the characteristics of difficult intubation and identify novel efficient predictors in patients with acromegaly. METHODS Patients with either untreated acromegaly or non-functional pituitary adenomas were enrolled. Patients with acromegaly underwent hormone assays, upper airway computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations and preoperative overnight po...

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...