Hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation with a video laryngoscope

Abstract

<strong>Background</strong>: Differences in airway anatomy make the potential for technical airway difficulties greater in infants than in<br /> teenagers or adults. Endotracheal intubation by direct vision using a laryngoscope is frequently associated with an increase<br /> in arterial blood pressure and heart rate. In different studies, the time to intubation with a video laryngoscope was<br /> longer than with direct laryngoscopy using Macintosh, and this longer duration may be accompanied by more hemodynamic<br /> responses.<br /> <strong>METHODS</strong>: Sixty-four infants who were scheduled for elective surgery requiring general anesthesia with orotracheal<br /> intubation were randomly assigned to intubation by direct laryngoscopy using a Macintosh size 1 blade or to intubation<br /> using a video laryngoscope. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate and oxygen saturation were recorded at the<br /> following time points: (1) before induction, (2) after induction and before intubation, and (3) 1 minute and (4) 5 minutes<br /> after intubation.<br /> <strong>RESULTS</strong>: No significant differences were found either between the two groups or among the different study periods.<br /> The duration for laryngoscopy and intubation with a video laryngoscope was 20.87 &plusmn; 7.95 seconds (mean &plusmn; standard<br /> deviation) and that with Macintosh was 15.41 &plusmn; 4.1 seconds (P &lt; 0.01).<br /> <strong>CONCLUSIONS</strong>: Similar hemodynamic responses in both groups suggest that laryngoscopy and intubation with a video<br /> laryngoscope, although with longer duration and therefore resulting in more stimulation, has no significant effect on<br /> hemodynamic status and oxygen saturation in infants.<br /> <strong>KEY WORDS</strong>: Video laryngoscope, laryngoscopy, blood pressure, heart rate<br />

Keywords

• Video laryngoscope, laryngoscopy, blood pressure, heart rate