Visualization of the Larynx With the Airtraq Laryngoscope and Image Transmission

The Airtraq is a battery powered single use optical laryngoscope with a channel to hold and guide the tracheal tube into the trachea. It enables tracheal intubation in patients with normal and difficult airways, by enabling laryngoscopy without neck movement. As a single use device, it is cost effective to have these placed in emergency equipment kits, and for use by emergency and military personnel.

However, it does have several limitations. The Airtraq requires the user to place his/her eye to the eyepiece in order to see the advancement of the laryngoscope and the tracheal tube, which may be difficult if the patient is on the ground or in emergency scenarios. Only the user can see through the eyepiece and any assistants are unable to view the larynx, this makes it difficult for assistants to help the operator.

Many handphones now incorporate high quality cameras. In this study, we will evaluate the effectiveness of using the iPhone to aid laryngoscopy with the Airtraq optical laryngoscope during laryngoscopy and intubation in 30 patients presenting for elective surgery under general anaesthesia. We have manufactured an attachment that fits over the eyepiece of the Airtraq, to hold an iPhone to the eyepiece. This will enable to operator and assistants to simultaneously view the insertion of the Airtraq, view the larynx and view the passage of the tracheal tube into the trachea.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anaesthesia
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Airtraq visualization

Detailed Description

This study is a single-cohort study design. 30 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia will be recruited. They will have endotracheal intubation done with the Airtraq optical laryngoscope and handphone camera assisted visualization.

The Airtraq optical laryngoscope fitted with the attachment holding the camera handphone will be prepared and loaded with an appropriately sized endotracheal tube. A standard general anaesthesia technique will be used. This will include standard monitoring including pulse oximetry, non-invasive blood pressure, ECG and capnography, all started before induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia will be induced with proprofol and fentanyl, and muscle relaxation with atracurium.

The airway management procedure will start after induction of anaesthesia and muscle relaxation. The Airtraq optical laryngoscope will be used. The Airtraq is fit with an attachment to hold the camera handphone, and loaded with an endotracheal tube. The Airtraq will be inserted and manipulated until the best view of the patient's laryngeal opening can be seen on the camera handphone screen. The endotracheal tube will then be placed in the patient's trachea and the cuff inflated. Successful intubation will be confirmed by 3-point auscultation and presence of end-tidal carbon dioxide tracing.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Singapore
  • Singapore, Singapore, 119074
    • National University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Adult patients requiring general anaesthesia for elective surgery and who require tracheal intubation as part of the anaesthesia technique.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Class I to III physiological status.

Exclusion Criteria:

Children Pregnant patients Patients who have not fasted for at least 6 hours pre surgery Patients at risk of regurgitation and aspiration

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Airtraq visualization; Larynx visualization with Airtraq and attached handphone	Device: Airtraq visualization; Larynx visualization with Airtraq and attached handphone; Other Names: Airtraq Avant

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visualization of Larynx With the Airtraq Laryngoscope and Handphone	The efficacy of viewing the larynx via the handphone attached to the Airtraq laryngoscope will be assessed.	Intra operative

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Transmission of Airtraq View of Larynx	The view of the larynx will be captured by the handphone attached to the Airtraq layryngoscope, and then transmitted to a second investigator.	Intra operative measurement, time frame within 5 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National University Hospital, Singapore
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eugene H Liu, MD, National University Hospital, Singapore

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 9, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 9, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): June 10, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 22, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2016
• Last Verified: January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: tracheal intubation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2013/00376