Endotracheal intubation with intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA), C-Trach, and Cobra PLA in simulated cervical spine injury patients: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the success rate of fiberoptic-guided endotracheal intubation through an Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway (ILMA), a Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway (Cobra PLA), and a C-Trach Laryngeal Mask Airway (C-Trach) in patients whose necks are stabilized in a hard cervical collar.

METHODS

One hundred and eighty ASA I-II patients were randomized to undergo endotracheal intubation after general anesthesia via an ILMA (group ILMA), a C-Trach (group C-Trach) or a Cobra PLA (group CPLA) with the application of an appropriately-sized hard cervical collar. A fiberoptic bronchoscope was used for intubation via the ILMA and Cobra PLA. Rate of successful insertion of an endotracheal tube through the three devices was the primary aim. Other parameters compared were time taken for device insertion, endotracheal intubation, hemodynamic changes, incidence of hypoxia, and mucosal injury during the procedure. The incidence of postoperative sore throat was also compared between the three groups.

RESULTS

The success rates of intubation in the ILMA, C-Trach, and CPLA groups were 100, 100, and 98% respectively. The first-attempt success rate was significantly better with the C-Trach compared to Cobra PLA (100 vs. 85%, p < 0.05). The time taken for device insertion was significantly more with the Cobra PLA as compared to that taken with an ILMA or a C-Trach (35.7 vs. 30.3 and 27.5 s, respectively). Intubation through a C-Trach took the least amount of time (84.4 s) as compared to an ILMA (117.9 s) or a Cobra PLA (139.2 s). The incidence of hypoxia and airway morbidity was similar between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The success rates of fiberoptic-guided endotracheal intubation through an ILMA and a Cobra PLA are similar to the success rate of intubation using a C-Trach in patients whose cervical spines are immobilized with a hard cervical collar.