Airtraq vs. Macintosh Laryngoscope in Patients at Risk for Difficult Intubation

The Airtraq is an inexpensive (<US$100), single-use optical laryngoscope that recently was shown to be an effective device for intubation in patients who were at low risk for difficult intubation (Journal Watch Emergency Medicine Nov 3 2006). In a randomized trial, the same researchers assessed the utility of this new device in 40 elective surgical patients who were at high risk for difficult intubation.

Patients were included if they met at least three of four predetermined anatomic criteria associated with difficult intubation: thyromental distance <6 cm, Mallampati classification 3 or 4, interincisor distance <4 cm, and previously documented difficult intubation. All intubations were performed by one of three anesthetists who were experie…