Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 23, 534-544, Copyright © 1976 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

The Inflation-Catheter Technique of Ventilation during Laryngoscopy

¹ Anesthesia and Operative Services, Letterman Army Medical Center, The Presidio of San Francisco, California 94129, U.S.A.

Over the past three years the inflation-catheter technique (ICT) of controlled ventilation during general anaesthesia has proved a sale and useful method for use with laryngoscopy and other trans-oral endoscopies (most notably flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy). The ICT allows full control of the patient's airway for the anaesthetist and exceptionally good exposure for the surgeon.

In this technique ventilation of the patient is accomplished by intermittent high flow (10 ml/kg/sec) inflation of the lungs through a small (2 to 6 mm diameter) plastic orotracheal catheter. The inflation-catheter is stiffened by fixation of an intralumenal wire. Exhalation is passive around the catheter through the open airway.

The Inflation Catheter Technique is readily adaptable for patients ranging from large adults to small babies by variation of catheter sizes. It can be used safely with nitrous oxide-oxygen as the ventilating gas (i.e., Bird N₂O/O₂ Blender) since air entrainment is not a feature. It is also readily adaptable for use with mechanical ventilation (i.e., Wolf Injectomat).