Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2011
The use of the Foley Airway Stylet Tool® to guide tracheal intubations through an intubating laryngeal mask airway.
Blind insertion of endotracheal tubes through the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) is unsuccessful in almost 50% of cases on the first attempt, with an overall success rate of approximately 90%. We used a portable fiber optic device (Foley Airway Stylet Tool® FAST) to detect the reasons for failed intubations and tested its use in facilitating endotracheal tube placement. ⋯ A grade II view or worse indicated misalignment of the ILMA with the glottis. An endotracheal tube inserted blindly through the misaligned ILMA will impinge on and potentially damage laryngeal structures. The use of a portable fiber optic device can help reduce the failure rate of endotracheal intubations by utilizing ILMA in emergent situations.