Abstract
Direct laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation is a reliable and familiar method of securing the airway. However, as this procedure encounters difficult tracheal intubation in some cases or may entail risk in patients with cervical spine disorders, alternative methods for securing the airway are advocated.
The author investigated 614 patients retrospectively in whom tracheal intubations were performed with TrachlightTM, to estimate the usefulness as an alternative to the conventional laryngoscope in elective surgical patients.
Intubation was successful on the first attempt in 558 (90.9%) cases and on the second attempt in 44 (7.2%) cases, and failed in 9 (1.5%) cases. The mean time for successful tracheal intubation in 67 cases was 23±9 sec. Major complications did not occur during the procedure.
TrachlightTM may be applicable for orotracheal intubation as a first-choice piece of equipment in anesthesia practice with respect to the reliability, safety, rapidity, simplicity and the cost. Anesthesia providers responsible for securing the airway should consider routinely using the TrachlightTM as an alternative technique to the conventional laryngoscopy.
