Feasibility study of visual endotracheal intubation in elderly patients with a potentially difficult airway under general anesthesia / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of ETView visual endotracheal intubation in elderly patients with a potentially difficult airway under general anesthesia.Methods A total of 80 patients scheduled for elective surgery,with at least three characteristics indicative of an increased risk for difficult tracheal intubation and aged 65-86 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade [Ⅱ or Ⅲ,were selected and randomly assigned into 2 groups:the control group (Group C) and the ETView visual endotracheal intubation group (Group E) (n=40 for each).After induction with propofol 0.5-1.5 mg/kg,sufentanil 0.2 μg/kg,and rocuronium 0.6mg/kg,regular tracheal intubation and ETView visual endotracheal intubation were conducted in Group C and Group E respectively.Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before induction (T0),before initial intubation (T1),at successful intubation (T2),and 5min after successful intubation (T3).Duration of catheterization,number of intubation attempts,rate of successful intubation at first attempt and complications within 2 days of intubation were also recorded.Results The duration of catheterization and the number of intubation attempts were lower in Group E than in Group C[(34±6) s vs.(48± 22) s,(1.0±0.0) vs.(1.4±0.4),t=2.484 and 2.373,respectively,P=0.017 and 0.023,respectively].The rate of successful intubation at first attempt was higher in Group E than in GroupC (100％ or 40 cases vs.75％ or 30 cases),x2=5.714,P=0.017).There was no significant difference in hemodynamic changes and the rate of postoperative hoarseness between the two groups (P＞0.05 for both).Conclusions ETView visual endotracheal intubation shows excellent safety in elderly patients with a difficult airway under general anesthesia,with shorter catheterization duration and a higher rate of successful intubation at first attempt than regular intubation.