Tracheal intubation in morbidly obese patients: a comparison of the Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway™ and Laryngeal Mask Airway CTrach

• Published in: Anaesthesia Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 261 - 265
• Main Authors: Arslan, Z. I., Özdamar, D., Yildiz, T. S., Solak, Z. M., Toker, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-2012; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Comparative studies; Female; Humans; Intubation; Intubation, Intratracheal; Laryngeal Masks - adverse effects; Male; Medical equipment; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity, Morbid - physiopathology; Pharyngitis - etiology; Throat; Human; Obesity; Nutrition disorder; Mask; Anesthesia; Intubation; Nutritional status; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0003-2409; 1365-2044
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2011.06991.x

Summary
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway™ (ILMA) and Laryngeal Mask Airway CTrach™ (LMA CTrach) in facilitating tracheal intubation in morbidly obese patients. Eighty patients (body mass index > 40kg.m−2) were randomly allocated to the ILMA or the LMA CTrach. The median (IQR [range]) total time taken for tracheal intubation was shorter with the ILMA than with the LMA CTrach (78 (63–105 [40–265]) s vs 128 (98–221 [60–423]) s, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more manoeuvres were applied for the satisfactory ventilation and viewing of the glottis with the LMA CTrach (25% vs 55% with the ILMA; p = 0.006). During the postoperative period, there was more sore throat with the LMA CTrach (p < 0.02). We conclude that the ILMA results in shorter intubation times with fewer manoeuvres and sore throat compared with the LMA CTrach in the morbidly obese.