RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coughing and sore throat postoperatively are common clinical problems during general anesthesia which can be avoided by various methods including topicalization of airway with local anesthetics, endotracheal tube cuff (ETT) inflation with local anesthetics, use of intravenous drugs such as dexamethasone, maintaining ETT cuff pressure, intubation by an experienced anethesiologist, etc. The aims of the study were to compare postextubation coughing response, mean number of cuff deflations required intraoperatively, and postoperative airway morbidity in terms of sore throat (2 h and 18-24 h), hoarseness of voice, and dysphagia following inflation of ETT cuff with air, anesthetic gas mixture, saline, and 2% lignocaine during general anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and four patients were randomized into 1 of 4 groups depending on whether air, anesthetic gas mixture, saline, or 2% lignocaine was used to inflate the cuff of ETT using computer-generated randomization table. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the postextubation cough response among the four groups. The mean number of times the ETT cuff was deflated was significantly in favor of liquid media comapred to gaseous media (P < 0.001). The incidence of sore throat at 2 h and at 18-24 h, hoarseness of voice, and dysphagia were comparable in all groups. CONCLUSION: ETT cuff inflation with air, anesthetic gas mixture, 2% lignocaine, and saline are comparable in terms of incidence of postextubation cough and postoperative airway morbidity symptoms such as sore throat, hoarseness of voice, and dysphagia.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Airtraq™ video laryngoscope facilitates tracheal intubations in patients with difficult airway or cervical spine immobilization. However, curved reinforced tracheal tube and straight reinforced tracheal tubes are useful where neck of the patient is likely to be moved or flexed or if patient is in prone position, wherein nonreinforced endotracheal tube (ETT) might get kinked and/or compressed. We compared intubation success rate of curved and straight reinforced tracheal tubes with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tracheal tube using Airtaq™ laryngoscope in paralyzed and anesthetized patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Totally, 120 patients underwent random allocation to one of the three groups using computer-generated randomization table. Patients were intubated with appropriate size and type of ETT using Airtraq™ after obtaining optimal glottis view. Experienced anesthesiologist performed endotracheal intubation and unblinded observer noted down success and ease of intubation. RESULTS: Patients intubated with PVC tube (100%) had higher rates of successful intubation and shorter intubation time (4 s), in comparison to intubation with curved reinforced (92.5%) and straight reinforced tubes (SRTs) (85%) using Airtraq™ laryngoscope (AL). However, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of airway trauma among all the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: PVC tracheal tube is significantly superior to both curved and SRTs for intubation using AL.