Anaesthesia
-
Case Reports
Non-conventional uses of the Aintree Intubating Catheter in management of the difficult airway.
We present 14 cases, of which three have been previously reported, in which non-conventional use was made of the Aintree Intubating Catheter (AIC). In seven cases the AIC was used via a ProSeal Laryngeal mask airway (PLMA). Two patients had anticipated difficult intubation, two unexpected difficult intubation and two required rescue of an obstructed airway prior to AIC-assisted intubation. ⋯ In eight cases the anaesthetist had no experience of the technique outside workshops. These cases demonstrate general utility of the technique and successful use of the AIC via the PLMA, in awake patients, as an adjunct to fibre-optic intubation and in patients with an oedematous larynx. Finally, cases where the combination of the PLMA and AIC was unsuccessful demonstrate the technique, like many, is not always successful.
-
Illumination provided by laryngoscope blades varies widely. It is not known what the optimum level of illumination should be during laryngoscopy. So far, no published standards exist for light intensity provided by laryngoscopes. ⋯ The vacuum bulb laryngoscopes provides a significant lower light output than halogen and xenon laryngoscopes. There is a large variation in illumination requirements amongst anaesthetists which may make setting standards difficult. A brighter laryngoscope, as suggested by some manufacturers, may not necessarily be a better one.