CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hung, O. R.
Right arrow Articles by al-Qatari, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hung, O. R.
Right arrow Articles by al-Qatari, M.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 44, 877-882, Copyright © 1997 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

ARTICLES

Light-guided retrograde intubation

OR Hung and M al-Qatari
Department of Anaesthesia, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. hungorla@is.dal.ca

PURPOSE: Transillumination of the soft tissues using a lightwand (Trachlight) can guide the endotracheal tube (ETT) into the glottis to facilitate the retrograde intubation. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of this intubating technique for patients with cervical spine instability. METHODS: After obtaining institutional approval and informed consent, 27 patients were studied. Light-guided retrograde intubation was performed either awake, or under general anaesthesia. Following cricothyroid membrane puncture using a # 18 i.v. catheter, an epidural catheter was advanced cephalad into the oropharynx. While pulling the epidural catheter taut, the ETT, with the Trachlight in place, was advanced into the glottis. When the tip of the ETT entered the glottis, a bright glow was seen in the anterior neck. The number of attempts, failures, complications, the times required to puncture the cricothyroid membrane, insert the epidural catheter, and insert the ETT into the trachea were recorded. RESULTS: In all patients, the tracheas were successfully intubated. The mean (+/-sd) time to perform cricothyroid puncture, insert the epidural catheter, and place the ETT into the trachea were 66.1 +/- 56.2, 74.0 +/- 25.2, and 72.8 +/- 42.5 sec respectively. The average total-time for this light-guided retrograde intubating technique was 205.8 +/- 78.3 sec. Apart from minor bleeding at the cricothyroid membrane puncture site, there were no major complications. CONCLUSION: In a small number of patients, we have shown that light-guided retrograde intubation is effective and sale for patients with cervical spine instability. This simple and inexpensive technique may prove to be a valuable adjunct in the management of difficult airways.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Canadian J. AnesthesiaHome page
K. B. Leissner
Retrograde intubation with epidural catheter and Cook airway exchange catheter
Can J Anesth, May 1, 2007; 54(5): 400 - 401.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Canadian J. AnesthesiaHome page
F. Agro, O. R. Hung, R. Cataldo, M. Carassiti, and S. Gherardi
Lightwand intubation using the TrachlightTM: a brief review of current knowledge : [Intubation avec le stylet lumineux TrachlightTM : un apercu des connaissances actuelles]
Can J Anesth, June 1, 2001; 48(6): 592 - 599.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
L. Davis, S. D. Cook-Sather, and M. S. Schreiner
Lighted Stylet Tracheal Intubation: A Review
Anesth. Analg., March 1, 2000; 90(3): 745 - 756.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.