• Kavrut Ozturk Nilgun N Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. Electronic address: kavrut@yahoo.com. and Ali Sait Kavakli.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. Electronic address: kavrut@yahoo.com.
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2017 Feb 1; 31 (1): 191-196.

ObjectivesTransesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe insertion with the conventional blind insertion technique may be difficult in anesthetized and intubated patients. The use of a videolaryngoscope may facilitate the insertion of the TEE probe. The aim of this study was to compare the conventional technique with the use of the McGrath MAC videolaryngoscope for TEE probe insertion in terms of success rate, duration of insertion, and complications in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.DesignA prospective, randomized study.SettingTraining and research hospital.ParticipantsEighty-six adult patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were included.InterventionsEighty-six adult patients were randomized into 2 groups: conventional group (n = 43) and McGrath videolaryngoscope group (n = 43). Success rates, duration of insertion, complications, and hemodynamic changes during insertion were recorded.Measurements And Main ResultsThe success rate of TEE probe insertion at the first attempt was higher in the McGrath videolaryngoscope group (90.5%) than in the conventional group (43.9%) (p = 0.012). The mean duration for successful insertion of the TEE probe at the first attempt was longer in the McGrath videolaryngoscope group (24 s v 11 s) (p = 0.016). The total time for successful insertion of the TEE probe was similar in both groups. Pharyngeal injuries were observed more frequently in the conventional group (17.1% v 2.4%) (p = 0.037). The rate of blood presence on the probe tip in the conventional group was higher than in the McGrath group (21.9% v 4.8%). There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups in systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate before and after TEE insertion.ConclusionsThe use of the McGrath MAC videolaryngoscope for TEE insertion in cardiovascular surgery patients increases the success rate and reduces pharyngeal injuries compared to the conventional technique. The use of the McGrath MAC videolaryngoscope for TEE insertion causes similar hemodynamic changes as in the conventional blind insertion technique.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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