Alternative techniques for tracheal intubation

Alternative rigid blade intubation devices available in recent years include the Glidescope, Airtraq and Bonfils laryngoscopes. The Macintosh blade works by displacing the tongue to one side and into the submandibular space while the tip of the device sits in the vallecula lifting the hyoid and so the epiglottis forward to reveal the laryngeal inlet. Under less favourable intubating conditions, the tongue is not accommodated in the submandibular space and tends to be compressed downwards. As a result the vallecula is not accessible and the blade tip is less able to be drawn forward. The retro-molar Bonfils avoids this problem by starting from a posterior position in the mouth and approaching the larynx below and alongside the tongue. The Bonfils also serves as a rigid stylet inside the tracheal tube again producing minimal tongue displacement. Airtraq also compresses the tongue less and usually sits on the posterior pharyngeal wall where it maintains the laryngeal view with a minimum of effort. It houses the tracheal tube in a channel that delivers it into the device's field of view. While better optical systems have tended to improve visualization of the laryngeal inlet, this has not necessarily resulted in easier intubation conditions, shorter intubation times or improved overall success rates. Part of the problem has been that they have limited fields of view compared with the stereoscopic view of tube advancement down to the larynx as afforded by Macintosh.     

Bonfils纤维硬镜在困难气道插管的应用

目的:评价Bonfils纤维硬镜用于困难气道插管的临床价值。方法:择期行全麻气管插管手术病人40例,随机分为两组:B组(Bonfils纤维硬镜插管组,n=20)和N组(普通Macintosh喉镜插管组,n=20)。术前对病人行气道评估,只要符合以下1项者纳入本研究:Mallampati评级≥Ⅲ级;甲颏距离<6 cm或不足3横指;张口度<3.5 cm;颈部活动受限或颈椎不稳定等。常规麻醉诱导后B组和N组分别用Bonfils纤维硬镜和普通Macintosh喉镜插管。记录诱导前、插管前、插管后的血流动力学变化。依照硬镜或喉镜显露声门的难易程度评价插管情况,记录插管时间和成功率,随访插管后的不良反应。结果:与N组相比,B组插管后的血压和心率波动较小,成功率高,不良反应少。结论:Bonfils纤维硬镜在困难气道插管中操作简单,安全有效。     

Bonfils纤维气管镜用于难以预料的困难气管插管的研究

目的　难以预料和失败的困难气管插管是引起麻醉并发症和麻醉病死率的重要因素。本研究探讨Bon fils纤维气管镜用于处理难以预料的困难气管插管的价值。方法　 2 1例行体外循环下冠状动脉搭桥术的患者 ,经一名高年资的麻醉医生使用普通咽喉镜两次插管失败后作为研究对象。测定Bonfils纤维气管镜插管的成功率和插管时间 ,同时测定判断困难气管插管的临床指标 :甲颏距离、Mal lampti分类、张口度、寰枕关节的活动度等。结果　除外一个患者第二次插管成功外 ,第一次插管的成功率是 95 %。平均插管时间 (5 0± 2 5 )秒。结论　应用Bonfils纤维气管镜插管是处理难以预料困难气管插管的简单而有效的方法     

Macintosh laryngoscope versus Bonfils Intubation Endoscopes in endotracheal intubation: Hemodynamic,intra-ocular pressure and serum catecholamine responses

ObjectiveOne of the alternative methods in managing patients for endo-tracheal intubation is the Bonfils fiberscope. We studied the efficacy of Bonfils fiberscope in comparison to the classical laryngoscope with Macintosh blade inhemodynamic, serum catecholamine and intra-ocular pressure responses.MethodsIn a prospective, randomized trial 40 patients ASA I or II aged ?18 years scheduled for gynecological, urinary and lower abdominal procedures in supine position were randomly allocated to one of two groups; 20 patients each; according to intubating device by using either Macintosh laryngoscope (L) group or Bonfils Intubation Endoscopes (B) group. Pre-induction (baseline) and pre-insertion values of HR, MAP, IOP and blood samples for catecholamine level were recorded and repeated at 1, 3, and 5 min after intubation.ResultsThere was significant increase in HR, MAP, IOP and catecholamine level in L group at 1, 3, and 5 min after intubation.ConclusionBonfils laryngoscope had superiority over Macintosh as a method of intubation in situations where minimal changes in hemodynamic, catecholamine level and intraocular pressure are desirable.     

自研发多功能面罩辅助Bonfils纤维光导硬镜行难以预料困难气管插管临床研究

目的观察自研发多功能面罩辅助Bonfils纤维光导硬镜行难以预料困难气管插管的临床效果。方法 37例行气管插管全身麻醉患者,经一名高年资的麻醉医生使用普通咽喉镜两次插管失败后作为研究对象。测定自研发多功能面罩辅助硬镜行气管插管的成功率和插管时间,气管插管过程中监测病人的心电图(ECG)、心率(HR)、血氧饱和度(SpO2),插管前2min和插管后即刻及各时点患者的收缩压(SP)、舒张压(DP),心率(HR)及血氧饱和度(SpO2)。同时测定判断困难气管插管的临床指标。结果 35例病人气管插管成功(成功率为95%),困难气管用时最短时间2min,最长时间12min,平均时间(5±4)min,气管插管过程中血流动力学有一定波动,SpO2维持在99%以上,术后随访所有病人均无声嘶、喉水肿等并发症。结论自研发多功能面罩辅助Bonfils纤维光导硬镜行难以预料困难气管插管的成功率高且通气效果满意。     

不同辅助手法对Bonfils纤维光导硬镜引导气管插管的影响

  目的  比较不同辅助手法下Bonfils纤维光导硬镜气管插管的效果。  方法  选择本院经口气管插管全身麻醉下实施择期整形外科手术成年患者90例, 美国麻醉医师协会(American Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA)分级Ⅰ~Ⅱ级, 按不同辅助手法随机分为A组(常规操作, 即头颈伸展位)、B组(单人提下颌)和C组(助手托下颌)。常规麻醉诱导后, 采用Bonfils纤维光导硬镜实施气管插管, 记录气管插管的操作次数、操作时间、血流动力学变化、插管所致气道损伤和术后咽痛等不良反应。  结果  90例患者均一次气管插管成功, A、B和C组的操作时间分别平均为(44.6±38.9)、(33.7±29.4)和(18.9±10.3)s, C组与A、B组比较差异均有统计学意义(P < 0.05);三组患者血流动力学变化相近。A、B和C组术后咽痛或不适分别为12、11和7例; A组上唇损伤1例, 其余2组未发生口咽部组织损伤。  结论  Bonfils纤维光导硬镜在不同辅助手法下行气管插管时, 采用助手托下颌的操作时间最短, 插管损伤最小。     

A clinical evaluation of the Bonfils Intubation Fibrescope

The Bonfils Intubation Fibrescope is a rigid optical instrument for performing orotracheal intubation. We describe its introduction into our clinical practice in 60 patients with normal airways who required orotracheal intubation for elective surgery. Two anaesthetists each performed 30 attempts to intubate, in turn, in patients who received a standard general anaesthetic with neuromuscular blockade. Intubation was successful in 59 out of 60 cases. The median (IQR [range]) time to intubation was 33 s (24-50 [13-180] s). Median (IQR [range]) verbal rating score for difficulty was 2 (1-3 [0-10]). There was a significant correlation between the intubation times and the verbal rating score (p < 0.01). There was evidence of airway trauma in the single patient in whom intubation failed. The Bonfils Intubation Fibrescope is an effective instrument for orotracheal intubation in normal subjects.     

Infraglottic airway devices and techniques

Infraglottic airway management techniques, such as intubation of the trachea with a cuff-sealed endotracheal tube, offer significant advantages for the anaesthetized patient, especially for patients in critical condition.There are numerous ways of intubation of the trachea; the most common and popular is direct laryngoscopy. The variety of laryngoscope blades offers choices to solve difficult intubations, but all different techniques and devices need experience in routine clinical use.In case of failure, unsuccessful attempts to intubate the trachea should be limited to three, in order to use different—e.g. supraglottic or fibreoptic—techniques.Nasotracheal intubation causes an inherent risk of severe epistaxis, which may severely compromise airway management options and endangers the patient's life. Prior to passing the tube through the nose, direct laryngoscopy should be performed to estimate the Cormack–Lehane score.Rigid intubation fibrescopes—as flexible ones—do improve the view of the larynx and permit tracheal intubation with less head and cervical spine movement than direct laryngoscopy. Success with these devices requires considerable experience and clinical practice.The use of retrograde intubation has reduced during recent years, mainly due to the availability of flexible and rigid intubation fibrescopes.The EasyTube—a relatively new device—combines the advantages of both an endotracheal tube with a supraglottic airway device.The Combitube is a well-established emergency airway used widely for solving unanticipated and anticipated difficult airways. International guidelines recommend the use of Combitube following the number of studies and reports associated with its use.     

Alternative techniques for tracheal intubation

Conventional direct laryngoscopy with the curved Macintosh blade is a fundamental skill for all anaesthetists and has been the cornerstone of airway management for many years. This technique relies upon the operator aligning the oro-pharyngo-laryngeal structures and inserting a tracheal tube into the trachea under direct vision. However, there is a recognized failure rate with this technique, thus alternative techniques for tracheal intubation are available and should be considered. Awake fibreoptic intubation remains the ‘gold standard’ method for securing the airway in an anticipated difficult airway. Advances in optical technology over recent years have led to the development of several rigid indirect devices, which improve glottic visualization by enabling the operator to ‘see around the corner’. With improved views at laryngoscopy these devices have emerged as important tools in airway management and are useful teaching and training aids.