Esophageal dilator as a substitute for the custom stylet to remove the intubating laryngeal airway after tracheal intubation in children.

摘要

We read with interest the well written Letter to the Editor by Jagannathan et al. reporting use of an airway exchange catheter to facilitate removal of the intubating laryngeal airway (ILA~(TM)) after tracheal intubation in children. The technique prevents accidental extubation of the endotracheal tube (ETT) during the removal of the ILA, with provision for oxygen supplementation throughout the procedure. However, a properly sized pediatric air exchange catheter may not be readily available. We describe use of an esophageal dilator as a substitute for the manufacturer's stabilizing rod when the air-Q~(TM) ILA (Mercury Medical, Clearwater, FL, USA) is the conduit for tracheal intubation. An appropriately sized esophageal dilator is equally useful when the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Classic~(TM) (LMA North America, San Diego, CA, USA) is used to facilitate tracheal intubation in the pediatric population. The patient's father gave written consent for publication.