Haemodynamic response and effectiveness of tracheal intubation with Airtraq® versus Macintosh laryngoscope in paediatric patient undergoing elective surgery: Prospective, randomised and blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the haemodynamic response and effectiveness of tracheal intubation with Airtraq® device and Macintosh laryngoscope, for airway management of patients between 2 and 8 years undergoing elective surgery.

METHODS: A prospective, comparative, randomised and blind clinical trial where the effectiveness of tracheal intubation in 80 paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery was determined. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 40 subjects each: group A, intubated with Airtraq® optical laryngoscope; and group M, intubated with Macintosh laryngoscope. Haemodynamic changes, time and number of attempts at intubation and its complications were evaluated in both.

RESULTS: Heart rate was higher in group M from minute 1 to 5 with statistically significant difference (p: .001). The mean, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and EtCO2 values were higher in group M. There were no statistically significant differences in SO2 . There was a statistically significant difference in time (group A: 18 ± 4seconds, group M: 27 ± 7seconds) and the number of attempts for intubation were lower for group A (p: .001). Seven patients in group M had post-intubation complications while only one subject had in group A.

CONCLUSION: Intubation with Airtraq® device is more effective than Macintosh laryngoscope in terms of reduction of haemodynamic changes, SO2 , EtCO2 , time and number of attempts for intubation and complications in paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery.