Haemodynamic response and effectiveness of tracheal intubation with Airtraq (R) versus Macintosh laryngoscope in paediatric patient undergoing elective surgery: Prospective, randomised and blind clinical trial

Objective: To compare the haemodynamic response and effectiveness of tracheal intubation with Airtraq (R) device and Macintosh laryngoscope, for airway management of patients between 2 and 8 years undergoing elective surgery. Methods: A prospective, comparative, randomised and blind clinical trial where the effectiveness of tracheal intubation in 80 paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery was determined. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 40 subjects each: group A, intubated with Airtraq (R) optical laryngoscope; and group M, intubated with Macintosh laryngoscope. Haemodynamic changes, time and number of attempts at intubation and its complications were evaluated in both. Results: Heart rate was higher in group M from minute 1 to 5 with statistically significant difference (p: .001). The mean, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and EtCO2 values were higher in group M. There were no statistically significant differences in SO2. There was a statistically significant difference in time (group A: 18 +/- 4 seconds, group M: 27 +/- 7 seconds) and the number of attempts for intubation were lower for group A (p:.001). Seven patients in group M had post-intubation complications while only one subject had in group A. Conclusion: Intubation with Airtraq (R) device is more effective than Macintosh laryngoscope in terms of reduction of haemodynamic changes, SO2, EtCO2, time and number of attempts for intubation and complications in paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery. (C) 2017 Sociedad Espanola de Anestesiologia, Reanimacion y Terapeutica del Dolor. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.