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The LMA CTrach is an intubating form of the Laryngeal Mask Airway that has an integrated fiber-optic channel and a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. The view afforded by the LCD screen is meant to increase intubation success by permitting direct vision of the glottis. However, application of manual in-line cervical spine immobilization can make LMA insertion more difficult. In a randomized crossover trial, researchers compared times to glottic visualization and ventilation during insertion of the LMA CTrach with and without C-spine immobilization in 50 healthy adult patients without C-spine pathology. Each patient was intubated only once.
Median times to ventilation were 22 seconds with immobilization and 19 seconds without. Median times …