European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background & Aims: Video laryngoscopes have become components of difficult airway cart. However, there is a problem with availability at all centres, expertise with the equipment and the price. We compared Airtraq video laryngoscope with conventional Macintosh laryngoscope in ease of intubation based on Intubation difficulty scale, Percent of Glottic Opening (POGO) score.
Materials & Methods: A prospective Single blinded, Randomised study with 60 Adult patients, aged 18-60 years, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II, scheduled for various elective surgeries requiring endotracheal intubation.
We assessed ease of tracheal intubation based on Intubation Difficulty Scale (IDS), Visualisation of glottic opening as per Percent of Glottic Opening (POGO) score and hemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation with Macintosh laryngoscope and Airtraq optical laryngoscope.
Results: The mean Intubation Difficulty Scale (IDS) score in Airtraq group is 0.2as compared to Macintosh group with mean IDS score of 1.93, with p-value <0. 0001. There is a difference in POGO grading among the groups with higher scores in Airtraq group, p-value-0. 000003.There is a difference in hemodynamic response to intubation among the groups, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure were high in Macintosh group when compared to Airtraq group with p<0.05.
Conclusion: The optical Airtraq laryngoscope provides a better intubation condition with lower Intubation Difficulty Scale (IDS) score, better glottic view and no marked hemodynamic alterations to laryngoscopy as compared to Macintosh laryngoscope.