Application of Shikani optical stylet to orotracheal intubation in critically conscious patients

Abstract

：Objective To investigatethe practical value of Shikani optical stylet used for orotracheal intubation incritically conscious patients and to evaluate the successful rate. Method A total of 48conscious patients with severe respiratory failure were selected from January 2008 to June2009. Of them, there were 31 males and 17 females,aging 21-86 years old with an average of57 years old. All enrolled patients needed endotracheal intubation for mechanicalventilation support, and they were assigned to Shikani group (group S, n = 25) andMacintosh group (group M, n = 23) according to the odd and even number of date ofadmission to this study. The time consumed for intubation, the number of failure inintubation, the adverse effects or complications such as hemodynam-ic changes, injury tothe pharyngo-oral cavity, choking and breath-hold were observed and recorded. The ranktest and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results The ratio of thesuccessful intubation at first attempt was much higher in group S (96.0%) than that ingroup M (60.9%) (P <0.01). Compared with group M, the time consumed for intubation wassignificantly shortened, the cardiovascular reactions were much mild, and the incidence ofinjury to pharyngo-oral cavity, choking and breath-hold were less in the group S ( P <0.01 all). Conclusions For the acute and critical patients, especially the conscious ones,orotracheal intubation with the Shikani optical stylet is rapid, successful, safe and lessinjurious, resulting in mild cardiovascular reactions.