In patients with cervical spine immobilization Airtraq outperforms DL and other VL

Alternative intubation techniques vs Macintosh laryngoscopy in patients with cervical spine immobilization: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2015, 1–10, L. Suppan1Geneva University Hospitals,

Results: Twenty-four trials (1866 patients) met inclusion criteria.

Meta analyses could be performed for Airtraq, Airwayscope, C-Mac, Glidescope, and McGrath.

The Airtraq was associated with a statistically significant:

• a reduction of the risk of intubation failure at the first attempt,
• a higher rate of Cormack–Lehane grade 1,
• a reduction of time until successful intubation,
• a reduction of oropharyngeal complications.

Other devices were associated with improved glottis visualization but no statistically significant differences in intubation failure or time to intubation compared with conventional laryngoscopy.

Conclusions: In situations where the spine is immobilized, the Airtraq device reduces the risk of intubation failure. There is a lack of evidence for the usefulness of other intubation devices.

T. Russell, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada