LMA Fastrach Is Superior to Air-Q LMA for Blind Intubation

Blind intubation within two attempts was successful for 99% of patients with LMA-Fastrach versus only 77% with Air-Q LMA.

The Air-Q is a disposable laryngeal mask airway (LMA) that facilitates intubation. To compare intubation characteristics between the Air-Q LMA and the LMA Fastrach, researchers randomized 154 generally healthy elective surgery patients to intubation by one of two experienced operators using one of the two devices.

Blind intubation was successful within two attempts (the primary endpoint) significantly more often with the LMA Fastrach than with the Air-Q LMA (99% vs. 77%). Of 18 patients in the Air-Q group with failed intubation, 14 were successfully intubated by fiber-optic bronchoscope, and 4 required direct laryngoscopy because of oxyhemoglobin desaturation <90%. Median times to device insertion (30 and 27 seconds) and endotracheal tube in…

Reviewing Authors

Cheryl Lynn Horton, MD

Disclosures

Speaker’s bureauAirway Management Education Center

Cheryl Lynn Horton, MD

Disclosures

Speaker’s bureauAirway Management Education Center

Ron M. Walls, MD, FRCPC, FAAEM

Disclosures

Speaker's bureauAirway Management Education Center, LLC

EquityAirway Management Education Center, LLC

Grant / Research supportAgency for Health Care Research and Quality

Editorial boardsManual of Emergency Airway Management; Rosen's Emergency Medicine; UpToDate; Scientific American Medicine

Leadership positions in professional societiesAssociation of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine (President)

Ron M. Walls, MD, FRCPC, FAAEM

Disclosures

Speaker's bureauAirway Management Education Center, LLC

EquityAirway Management Education Center, LLC

Grant / Research supportAgency for Health Care Research and Quality

Editorial boardsManual of Emergency Airway Management; Rosen's Emergency Medicine; UpToDate; Scientific American Medicine

Leadership positions in professional societiesAssociation of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine (President)