Awake intubation with Airtraq laryngoscope in a morbidly obese patient.

ABSTRACT

The Airtraq laryngoscope (AL) is a new disposable tracheal intubation device. The authors reported the case of a successful awake intubation with AL of the trachea in a morbidly obese patient. A 54-year-old female, morbidly obese (BMI 38 kg/m), patient was scheduled for a tumor removal of the right eye under general anesthesia. She had symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. The preoperative airway assessment showed difficult ventilation and intubation. An awake intubation under sedation and topical airway anesthesia were chosen. The first attempt of tracheal intubation with AL was unsuccessful because the tip of endotracheal tube (ET-tube) pointed to the arytenoid cartilage. The second attempt, with slight rotation of AL, glottic view showed grade I and the ET-tube passed through the vocal cords easily The authors 'experiences demonstrated that the AL could be used while awake and may be an alternative laryngoscope for airway management in morbidly obese patients.