Contact force exerted on the maxillary incisors by direct laryngoscopy with Macintosh and McGrath video laryngoscopy

Abstract

During laryngoscopy the laryngoscope blade occasionally comes in contact with the teeth. In this case series, we described the measured force exerted on the maxillary incisors on ten patients undergoing general anesthesia requiring tracheal intubation, divided into two groups: direct laryngoscopy with Macintosh and video (McGrath) laryngoscopy. The contact force applied during laryngoscopy was measured using a pressure meter tool. This report shows that despite the prediction of uncomplicated laryngoscopy during tracheal intubation, the contact force exerted on the maxillary incisors was multifarious.

Keywords

• contact force
• direct laryngoscope
• maxillary incisors
• mcgrath laryngoscope
• tracheal intubation
• video laryngoscope