How should the findings from NAP4 on SADs be considered in the pre-hospital environment?

Source

, Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province,610041, P.R.China – xwtao.zhu@gmail.com.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:To assess whether the Mallampati class can affect the success rate of intubation through an intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) with a reverse conventional tracheal tube direction.

METHODS:

Two-hundred ASA I-II adults, 100 patients with Mallampati class 1 or 2 (MP12) and 100 with Mallampati class 3 or 4 (MP34)., undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled. All the patients were intubated through the ILMA with a reverse conventional tracheal tube direction. Tracheal intubation was considered successful if proper tracheal positioning was attained within three attempts. Chi- Square analysis was used to compare categorical variables between the two groups.

RESULTS:

Tracheal intubation was successful in 186 of 200 patients (93.0%): 169 (84.5%) at the first attempt. Fourteen (7.0%) had to be intubated using direct laryngoscope. Both the first attempt success rate and overall success rate were similar between the MP12 and MP34 groups (84.0 vs. 85.0%, p=0.845 and 93.0 vs. 93.0%, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

Tracheal intubation was successful in 93.0% of patients through an ILMA with a reverse conventional tracheal tube. Mallampati class did not affect the success rate of intubation.