CS#08 The Airtraq Experiences with a New Disposable Device for Orotracheal Intubation

Anaesthesia, 2008, 63, pages 1387–1391
K. Krasser, Empress Elisabeth Hospital of the City of Vienna

Seven staff anaesthetists and two residents were novice users of the AOL. They first received formal hands-on training, and performed AOL-assisted laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation attempts on 100 patients. Grades 1 to 5 at CLV were obtained in 36, 26, 16, 10, and 2 patients, respectively.

The success rate of AOL-assisted tracheal intubation at the first attempt was 98% with laryngeal views of grade 1 in all of these patients. Two patients required a second attempt, the causes were failed identification of anatomical structures and failed TT advancement during laryngeal passage. The laryngeal views obtained with the AOL during the second attempt were grade 1 in both patients. In all patients, AOL-assisted tracheal intubation was successful (after a maximum of two attempts).

Following formal instruction, success of tracheal intubation with the AOL performed by novice users was not affected by CLV. The AOL proved to be uniquely useful for routine and difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.

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