Use of light-stylet in the management of difficult airway with active oral bleeding

Abstract

Objective To compare the rates of successful intubation between light-stylet and adjustable McCoy laryngoscope for the management of difficult airway with active oral bleeding. Method Thirty casualties traumatized with active oral bleeding were enrolled after failure of endotracheal intubation tried twice by an attending doctor with Macintosh laryngoscope. The patients were randomly( random number) divided into light-stylet (LS)group and McCoy laryngoscope(MC) group ( n = 15 in each group). The rate of successful intubation and the time consumed for intubation were recorded. Results The rate of successful intubation at the first attempt and the total rate of successful intubation in LS group were higher than those in MC group (14/15 vs. 6/15, P =0.005, 15/15 vs. 9/15, P =0.017, respectively). The time consumed for intubation was less in LS group than that in MC group (24 seconds in average,ranged from 23 ～ 34 seconds vs 48 seconds in average, ranged from 31 ～ 119 seconds, P =0.011). Conclusions The light-stylet is a novel tool for intubation in casualties with difficult airway and active oral bleeding with high success rate. Key words: Lightwand; Laryngoscope; Difficult airway; Mouth; Bleeding