ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In some categories of patients, a rapid sequence induction using a fibre-optic method may be indicated. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of cricoid pressure (CP) on the duration of fibre-optic intubation. The hypothesis was that CP would prolong the intubation time. METHODS: The study was a randomised, double-blind, cross-over study. The patients were intubated twice, in a randomised way, using a flexible fibrescope once with and once without CP. The intubation time and the visualisation of the glottis were registered. If the intubation was not completed within 180 s, it was registered as failed. CP was standardised to a pressure of 30 N. The data are given as the mean (standard deviation) or median [interquartile] (range). RESULTS: Fifty patients were included, with a mean age of 53 years (14.6) and mean body mass index of 26.4 (4.3). Three intubations without and 13 intubations with CP failed. The durations of intubation without and with CP were 59 s [53-79 s] (34-144 s) and 75 s [67-104 s] (43-179 s), respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study showed that CP prolongs the duration of fibre-optic intubation in patients with Mallampati grades 1-2.