A comparative study of tracheal intubation using an intubating laryngeal mask (Fastrach) alone or together with a lightwand (Trachlight)

Study Objective: To determine if the Trachlight^TM lightwand can facilitate Fastrach^TM intubation by guiding the tip of the endotracheal tube into the trachea. Design: Open-label, prospective, randomized, comparative study. Setting: General operating suites of a tertiary teaching hospital. Patients: 172 elective surgical patients requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Interventions: With general anesthesia, the Fastrach™, which is a new intubating laryngeal mask airway, was inserted into the oropharynx. Ventilation was ensured before the insertion of an endotracheal tube via the Fastrach™. Tracheal intubation was then performed randomly (coin toss) using either the endotracheal tube alone (Fastrach™ group), or endotracheal tube with the Trachlight, a lightwand (Fastrach/Trachlight™ group). The time to place the Fastrach™ and endotracheal tube, to remove the Fastrach™, and the total time to intubate were recorded. The number of attempts, failures, trauma, sore throats, and hemodynamic changes were also recorded. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, ANOVA with repeated measures, or Chi-squares contingency table where appropriate. Measurements and Main Results: Although there were no differences in the times to place the Fastrach™, and endotracheal tube, the hemodynamic changes, and postoperative complications, there were significantly more attempts and failures in the Fastrach™ group compared to the Fastrach™/Trachlight™ group. There were no differences in the incidence of sore throat and trauma in between the groups. Conclusions: Although tracheal intubation is effective using a Fastrach™ alone (76% success rate), it is more effective when the Fastrach™ is used in conjunction with the Trachlight™ (95%). These results suggest that the lightwand is a useful adjunct for Fastrach™ intubation. However, the role of Fastrach™ intubation together with the Trachlight™ in the management of patients with a potential difficult airway remains to be determined.