Comparison of C-MAC vs. McGrath video laryngoscopes on glottic exposure and endotracheal intubation success with stylet usage in obese patients

S. Karadağ Erkoç, Ç. Yıldırım Güçlü, S. Büyük, O. Bermede, F.D. Erkent, A.A. Yılmaz

Department of Anesthesiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. drcigdemyldrm@yahoo.com.tr

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• Anesthesiology
• Obesity

OBJECTIVE: Cases of obesity are rising in parallel with the number of obese patients scheduled for anesthesia in which difficult airway is encountered. Video laryngoscopes (VL) have emerged as a popular device for the management of patients with difficult airway. The present study compares the success rate of intubation in obese patients using stylet in the ramped position using either a McGrath or C-MAC VLs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Class II/III obese patients who were intubated with either McGrath (Group M, n=50) or C-MAC (Group C, n=50) laryngoscopes were assessed for the presence of difficult airway using the Difficult Airway Assessment tool, the Airway Difficulty Score and the Total Airway Score. The intubation attempts were made after the best glottic view, direct and indirect Cormack-Lehane (CL) score, and intubation time were recorded. In the event of failure, a further intubation attempt was made using a styled, and the intubation time was again recorded. If the intubation failed again, a third attempt was made using a C-MAC D-Blade. The Intubation Difficulty Scale score was recorded after the intubation.

RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of demographic data, the number of patients with decreased CL score, the number of attempts required for intubation, or the first and second intubation time. The ADS Score, TAS Score, CL Score DL, and CL Score IN were found to be important risk factors for a second intubation requirement, and the cut-off value was found to be 8.50 for the ADS Score and 4.50 for the TAS Score in these patients. In the 38 patients who required a second intubation attempt, the procedure was successful in all, but one patient required a third attempt of intubation with C-MAC D-blade.

CONCLUSIONS: Both McGrath and C-MAC were effective and comparable for best glottic view with no failed intubation. It was concluded that regardless of the type of video laryngoscope used, the use of a stylet in the first intubation attempt increases the success of intubation.

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