Oxygen flush is an effective means to eliminate obscured vision by fogging during intubation using the Airtraq((R)) optical laryngoscope.

摘要

The Airtraq~R optical laryngoscope (Airtraq) (Prodol Meditec S.A., Vizcaya, Spain) is a new disposable tracheal intubation device with an anatomically-shaped blade that contains two parallel channels, the optical channel and the guiding channel, which accommodates the endotracheal tube (ETT). The image is transmitted to a proximal view-finder, and the distal viewing lens allows visualization of the larynx and advancement of the ETT. In addition, the Airtraq has a warming element at the blade tip. According to the manufacturer's manual, the Airtraq light should be turned on at least 30 sec before use to allow heating of the viewing lens and to prevent fogging. Despite the Airtraq's anti-fog mechanism, we have observed that visualization of the laryngeal inlet can be obscured by fogging on the viewing lens, especially when tracheal intubation time is prolonged in patients with difficult airways. To resolve this issue, and in view of previous experience with another optical laryngoscope (Truview~R laryngoscope, Truphatek International Ltd, Netanya, Israel) and the fibreoptic laryngoscopes, we tested the effectiveness of using high-flow oxygen to eliminate fogging during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation using the Airtraq.