A simple maneuver to facilitate tracheal intubation using the Airtraq laryngoscope with a reinforced endotracheal tube.

摘要

We read with interest the recently published letter by Minonishi et al. regarding tracheal intubation with the AirwayScope™ videolaryngoscope (AWS) using straight vs curved reinforced endotracheal tubes (ETTs). It was shown that tracheal intubation is more difficult with straight reinforced ETTs than with curved reinforced ETTs. Regardless of using a straight or a curved reinforced ETT, our own clinical experience suggests that a posterior ETT tip location is a common problem during tracheal intubation with the Airtraq~R laryngoscope, a device similar to the AWS. Due to this device's wide tube conduit, the ample space between the ETT and the tip of the Airtraq~R laryngoscope is a contributing factor to the problem (Figure 1, Panel A).This problem may be exacerbated whenever a thin reinforced ETT is used)'To address this issue, we often apply a simple maneuver to facilitate tracheal intubation when using the Airtraq~R laryngoscope with a reinforced ETT.