Evaluation of Fastrach Laryngeal Mask Airway as an Alternative to Fiberoptic Bronchoscope to Manage Difficult Airway: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Awake intubation via Fiberoptic Bronchoscope (FB) is the gold standard for management of difficult airway but patients had to face problems like oxygen desaturation, tachycardia, hypertension and anxiety due to awake state. This study was conducted to assess feasibility of Fastrach Laryngeal Mask Airway (FLMA) to manage difficult airway as a conduit for intubation as well as for ventilation. Materials and Methods: After ethical approval and informed consent, 60 patients with difficult airway were randomly enrolled in FB group and FLMA group. In FB group, patients were sedated with midazolam/fentanyl. Airway anaesthetization of oropharynx was done with xylocaine spray and viscous and larynx and trachea by superior laryngeal nerve block and transtracheal block respectively. In FLMA group, initially patients were induced with propofol for FLMA insertion then succinylcholine was given for Tracheal Intubation (TI). The first TI attempt was done blindly via the FLMA and all subsequent attempts were performed with fiberoptic guidance. Haemodynamic monitoring was done during induction, intubation, immediately post insertion and there after at five minutes interval for 30 minutes. Results: All patients in the FLMA group were successfully ventilated (100%). In both the groups 28 (93.33%) patients were successfully intubated. However, first/second/third attempt intubation rate in FLMA vs FB group was 15 (50%) vs 13 (43.3%), 8 (26.66%) vs 10 (33.33%) and 5 (16.66%) in both groups respectively. Patients in the FLMA group were more satisfied with their method of TI and had lesser complications (p<0.05). Conclusion: So the FLMA may be a better technique for management of patients with difficult airways.

Keywords

• haemodynamic
• intubation
• ventilation