Comparison of wire reinforced tubes with warmed standard tubes to facilitate fiberoptic intubation

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the ease of insertion of a warmed standard tracheal tube to that of a wire reinforced tracheal tube when placed over a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: 50 patients undergoing elective general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Patients' tracheas were intubated with a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope and had either a standard or wire-reinforced tracheal tube inserted. If resistance was met, the tube was withdrawn, rotated, and readvanced. This was repeated two times. If unsuccessful, the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope was removed, and intubation was attempted with the other type of tracheal tube. MEASUREMENTS: The ability to advance the tracheal tube was determined. MAIN RESULTS: There were no demographic differences between the two groups. There was a similar ease of advancement of the two tracheal tubes. CONCLUSIONS: When performing elective flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy for intubation, we recommend using the less expensive warmed standard tracheal tube.