Tracheal intubation and cervical spine excursion: direct laryngoscopy vs. intubating laryngeal mask

Until recently, the most appropriate technique of intubating a patient with a cervical spine injury has been the subject of debate. Tracheal intubation by means of the intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach), a modified conventional laryngeal mask airway, seems to require less neck manipulation. The aim of this study was to compare the excursion of the upper cervical spine during tracheal intubation using direct laryngoscopy with that during intubation via the laryngeal mask (Fastrach), by examination of lateral cervical spine radiographs in healthy young patients. The intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach) caused less extension (at C1-2 and C2-3) than intubation by direct laryngoscopy. Direct laryngoscopy is still the fastest method to secure an airway provided no intubating difficulties are present. However, in trauma patients requiring rapid sequence induction and in whom cervical spine movement is limited or undesirable, the intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach) is a safe and fast method by which to secure the airway.     

Use of the intubating laryngeal mask airway in a case of ankylosing spondylitis for coronary artery bypass grafting

The intubating laryngeal mask airway is a modification of the conventional laryngeal mask and is used as a tool for difficult intubation. It can be inserted without placing the head and neck in the Magill position and has been used successfully in cervical spine injuries. Reported is a case of successful insertion of the intubating laryngeal mask and subsequent intubation through it in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis with cervical involvement resulting in a fixed flexion deformity who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

一种新型的声门外通气设备——喉导管

喉导管是一种新型的声门外通气设备.在气道的建立和维持上和喉罩相比有相似的优缺点.喉导管和喉罩总的插管成功率相近,一次插管成功率喉导管要远远高于喉罩.喉导管的气道封闭性更好.喉导管可用于四肢、泌尿、妇科和躯干体表手术以及困难气道的插管.在喉部空间狭小患者和颈髓损伤患者气道的建立上比喉罩更有优势,亦可用于心肺复苏时紧急气道的建立.     

The Brain laryngeal mask airway An alternative to emergency tracheal intubation

The laryngeal mask airway was used to resuscitate a patient in whom direct and fibreoptic laryngoscopy were impossible because of cervical pathology and pulmonary oedema. The laryngeal mask airway may be an alternative to tracheal intubation in emergency resuscitation.     

Three-dimensional cervical spine movement during intubation using the Macintosh and Bullard laryngoscopes, the bonfils fibrescope and the intubating laryngeal mask airway

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cervical spine movement may be limited for morphological reasons or through injury. The major goal of the present study was to evaluate the three-dimensional cervical spine movement during intubation with a Macintosh or Bullard laryngoscope, a Bonfils fibrescope or an intubating laryngeal mask using an ultrasound-based motion system. METHODS: Forty-eight patients without any history of cervical spine problems who had to undergo elective surgery in general anaesthesia were intubated using a Macintosh or Bullard laryngoscope, a Bonfils fibrescope or an intubating laryngeal mask airway. During intubation, cervical motion as well as overall time to intubation, number of attempts, and postoperative complaints were noted. RESULTS: The range of cervical spine motion during intubation, especially concerning extension, using the Macintosh laryngoscope was much greater (22.5 degrees +/- 9.9 degrees) than using Bullard (3.4 degrees +/- 1.4 degrees), Bonfils (5.5 degrees +/- 5.0 degrees) or intubating laryngeal mask (4.9 degrees +/- 2.1 degrees). Time to intubate the trachea using Bonfils (52.1 +/- 22.0 s) and intubating laryngeal mask (49.8 +/- 18.7 s) were much longer than with Macintosh (18.9 + 7.1s) and Bullard laryngoscope (16.1 + 6.2 s) (significance level: 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the Bullard laryngoscope may be a useful adjunct to intubate patients with cervical spine injuries. In elective situations when time to intubation is not critical Bonfils as well as intubating laryngeal mask airway should also be considered as serious alternatives to direct laryngoscopy.     

New equipment and techniques for airway management in trauma

A patent, unobstructed airway is fundamental in the care of the trauma patient, and is most often obtained by placing a cuffed tube in the trachea. The presence of shock, respiratory distress, a full stomach, maxillofacial trauma, neck hematoma, laryngeal disruption, cervical spine instability, and head injury all combine to increase tracheal intubation difficulty in the trauma patient. Complications resulting from intubation difficulties include brain injury, aspiration, trauma to the airway, and death. The use of devices such as the gum-elastic bougie, McCoy laryngoscope, flexible and rigid fiberscopes, intubating laryngeal mask, light wand, and techniques such as rapid-sequence intubation, manual in-line axial stabilization, retrograde intubation, and cricothyroidotomy, enhance the ability to obtain a definitive airway safely. The management of the failed airway includes calling for assistance, optimal two-person bag-mask ventilation, and the use of the laryngeal mask airway, Combitube, or surgical airway. The simulation of airway management using realistic simulator tools (e.g. full-scale simulators, virtual reality airway simulators) is a promising modality for teaching physicians and advanced life support personnel emergency airway management skills.     

Anesthetic management of a child with Klippel-Feil syndrome associated with severe scoliosis]

We experienced an anesthetic management of a female child with Klippel-Feil syndrome complicated with severe scoliosis. This patient showed airway problems in anesthetic management because of limited neck movement due to fused cervical supine and winding airway due to scoliosis. A laryngeal mask (LM) was useful for ventilation but we fitted LM carefully because of her orolaryngeal anomaly. Intubation was very difficult through LM because the axis of LM was not on the laryngeal axis and the tip of the tracheal tube caught the epiglottis and arytenoid cartilage.     

Distortion of anterior airway anatomy during laryngoscopy with the GlideScope videolaryngoscope

Purpose  

A non-line-of-sight view is expected to cause less movement of the anterior airway anatomy and cervical spine during laryngeal visualization. Reduced distortion of anterior airway anatomy during laryngoscopy with the GlideScope videolaryngoscope (GVL), compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope, could explain the relatively easier nasotracheal intubation with the GVL. The purpose of this radiographic study was to compare the degree of anterior airway distortion and cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy with the GVL and the conventional Macintosh laryngoscope.     

Awake tracheal intubation through the intubating laryngeal mask airway in a patient with halo traction

PURPOSE: To report a case of awake tracheal intubation through the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) in a patient with halo traction. Clinical features: A 16-yr-old, 40 kg, boy with atlanto-occipital instability and halo traction was scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia. The head of the patient was fixed in a position of flexion and extension was impossible. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed that pharyngeal and laryngeal axes were aligned, but that the oral axis was in an extreme divergent plane. The tongue and oropharynx were anesthetized with 10% lidocaine spray and bilateral superior laryngeal nerve blockade was performed. Under sedation, awake orotracheal intubation via ILMA was successful. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy has been recommended for awake tracheal intubation in such patients. Other techniques, such as use of the Bullard laryngoscope have been described also but awake tracheal intubation through the ILMA in patients with a halo device in situ has seldom been reported in the medical literature. CONCLUSION: Airway management of patients with cervical spine instability includes adequate preoperative evaluation of the airway and choosing the appropriate intubation technique. We suggest that the ILMA may be an adequate alternative for awake tracheal intubation in patients with an unstable cervical spine and cervical immobilization with a halo device.     

Vergleich von zwei Larynxmaskenmodellen zur Atemwegssicherung bei Patienten mit Immobilisation der Halswirbelsäule

BACKGROUND: Reduced cervical spine mobility can impair laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Supraglottic airway devices can be important alternatives for oxygenation under these circumstances. The Ambu laryngeal mask (ALM) and the LMA-Classic (LMA) are compared in patients with immobilization of the cervical spine.METHODS: In 60 patients scheduled for elective ambulatory interventions, ALM or LMA were inserted after cervical immobilization with an extrication collar and assessment of laryngoscopic view. Insertion time (removal of facemask until first tidal volume), number of insertion attempts, airway leak pressure (cuff pressure 60 cm H(2)O), intraoperative complications and postoperative complaints were assessed.RESULTS: Demographical data, insertion attempts, insertion time (ALM 15.6+/-4.4 s, LMA 15.5+/-4.9 s) and airway leak pressure (ALM 25.6+/-5.2 cm H(2)O, LMA 26.5+/-6.5 cm H(2)O) were comparable. Traces of blood were found in 6 LMAs and 3 ALMs after removal, mild trouble with swallowing (visual analogue scale, VAS 2-4) in the recovery room and after 24 h were complaints by 1 ALM and 2 LMA patients.CONCLUSIONS: LMA-Classic and Ambu laryngeal masks are suitable for rapid and reliable airway management in patients with cervical immobilization.     

Intubating laryngeal mask and rapid sequence induction in patients with cervical spine injury

The Intubating Laryngeal Mask (FastrachTM), a modified conventional laryngeal mask airway, and its prototype cuffed silicone tube, continue to be an appropriate intubating tool in combination with fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the emergency situation. This is an account of two patients with suspected cervical spine fracture admitted to our emergency room in a haemodynamically unstable condition and requiring a rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia, in whom we successfully applied this newly developed intubating device for the first time. Provided that there are no intubation difficulties, direct laryngoscopy is still the fastest method of securing an airway; however, this procedure leads to an extension of the cervical spine, which may be hazardous in the case of a cervical spine injury. Intubation by means of the Intubating Laryngeal Mask avoids dangerous hyperextension of the occipito-atlanto-axial complex, a fact that we were able to verify by lateral cervical spine fluoroscopy during intubation.