Comparison of Airtraq DL™ and Macintosh laryngoscope for double-lumen tube placement in simulated difficult airway: A randomised study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Airtraq DL ™ is a prototype channeled video laryngoscope, designed specifically for endobronchial intubation with a double-lumen tube (DLT). Evidence on its superiority over Macintosh laryngoscope for DLT placement in the difficult airway is limited. This study compared the efficacy of both these laryngoscopes in the simulated difficult airway. METHODS: A prospective randomised controlled study was conducted on 52 patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery with lung isolation using a left-sided DLT. The patients were randomised into Airtraq DL ™ group (group A) and Macintosh group (group M). The primary objective was to compare the time required for intubation, and the secondary objectives were to evaluate time to best glottic view, Cormack–Lehane (CL) grading, intubation difficulty score (IDS), manoeuvres, attempts at intubation, haemodynamic response and complications. Operating anaesthesiologists were also asked to grade the ease of laryngoscopy and intubation for both devices on a 4-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The mean time to intubation was found to be lesser in group A than in group M (18 ± 6.91 s vs 25.48 ± 9.47 s, P = 0.003). Group A showed better CL grading (P ≤ 0.001), lesser requirement of manoeuvres (P = 0.02) and lower IDS (P = 0.003). Also, group A had significantly better Likert scale results as compared to group M. CONCLUSION: The Airtraq DL ™ is superior to Macintosh laryngoscope as it requires lesser time for intubation and provides favourable intubating conditions (better CL grading, lesser manoeuvres, lower IDS and improved Likert scales) for double-lumen placement in the simulated difficult airway.