[Fiberoptic intubation]

Airway management is the most important duty of an anesthetist, so more attention should be paid on different educational approaches in tackling difficult airway. Having problems in airway control leads to terrible consequences such as hypoxia and aspiration. Intubation with fiberoptic is a useful method for a safe airway management. When neck movement is not possible due to cervical spine injury or when direct laryngoscopy and vocal cord vision is not possible, awake oral or nasal fiberoptic intubation or under general anesthesia is very useful. This study's aim is to introduce a useful scopic device for intubation

LMA CTrach, a new approach for endotracheal intubation: a pilot study in 100 patients undergoing elective surgery

The LMA CTrach system is a new device for airway management and endotracheal intubation under direct vision in both anticipated and unexpected difficult intubation situations. We used this system in 100 patients undergoing general anesthesia for different types of elective surgeries. After randomly selecting the patients for intubation with this new device, the airway characteristics, height, weight, dental overbite and thyromental distance were all evaluated before induction. Our goal was to explore primarily the success rate of intubation with LMA CTrach. We were able to insert LMA CTrach and provide optimal ventilation in all 100 patients. Nonetheless, successful tracheal intubation was performed in 95 patients. Among our patients, 2 had Mallampati grade IV airways with short necks, body mass index [BMI] > 30, and without the capability to bite their upper lips. Amazingly both patients were intubated with this method, proving a device as an assuring approach in cases of difficulty with ventilation and intubation. Of all patients, 44 were females and 56 males. The mean age was 34 +/- 2 years. BMI measured for all patients was 20-25 except for two cases who had BMI > 30. Since the LMA CTrach provided us with direct view of the larynx and vocal cords during intubation even in difficult cases, it can be assumed that this device is a precious aid as equal as fiberoptic bronchoscopy for the anesthesiologists