Use of the Airtraq optical laryngoscope for flexible bronchoscopy in the intensive care unit.

摘要

The use of broncfaoscopy for atelectasls and for clearing retained secretions is a routine procedure in the intensive care unit (ICU)1. We describe a case of the combined use of the Airtraq optical laryngoscope (AOL), Airtraq wireless monitor (AWM) and a fibreoptic bronchoscope (FOB) to perform bronchoscopy with a transoral approach on a critically ill patient. The patient was a 70-year-old, 80 kg female (body mass index 33 kg/m2) with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, admitted to ICU for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.