Comparison of the Airtraq video laryngoscope versus Macintosh laryngoscope for tracheal intubation in the pediatric patients

Abstract

Securing a patent airway in patients undergoing general anesthesia is routinely done using gold standard methods of direct laryngoscopy with a Macintosh or Miller laryngoscope blade in children. However, this technique has several limitations. Video laryngoscopes provide the user with a better view of the larynx. We undertook this prospective, randomized, controlled trial to determine the intubation time of Airtraq compared with Macintosh laryngoscope in pediatric patients, number of intubation attempts, quality of visualization, optimization maneuvers, easiness of intubation, and cardiovascular changes during intubation. A total of 80 pediatric patients of either sex, between ages three to twelve years, belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status I and II, who were divided equally into two groups using the sealed envelope technique. Patients were randomly assigned to be intubated with either Airtraq (Group A) or Macintosh laryngoscope (Group M). The difference between the time required for intubation within the two groups was significant (p < 0.05), optimization maneuvers were more required for Group M than Group A (p < 0.01). Quality of visualization was better in Group A compared with patients in Group M (p < 0.05).