Airtraq is a fibreoptic intubation device used for indirect (video or optic assisted)
tracheal intubation
Tracheal intubation, usually simply referred to as intubation, is the placement of a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway or to serve as a conduit through which to administer certain drugs. It is frequentl ...
in
difficult airway situations. It is designed to enable a view of the
glottic
The glottis is the opening between the vocal folds (the rima glottidis). The glottis is crucial in producing vowels and voiced consonants.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ''γλωττίς'' (glōttís), derived from ''γλῶττα'' (glôtta), va ...
opening without aligning the
oral
The word oral may refer to:
Relating to the mouth
* Relating to the mouth, the first portion of the alimentary canal that primarily receives food and liquid
**Oral administration of medicines
** Oral examination (also known as an oral exam or or ...
with the
pharyngeal, and
laryngeal axes as an advantage over direct endotracheal intubation and allows for intubation with minimal head manipulation and positioning.
[D. Gravenstein, S. Lampotang]
AIRTRAQ Laryngoscope
''University of Florida Department of Anesthesiology'', 2 July 2011, retrieved 2 July 2013
Description
Airtraq was developed by Pedra A. Gandarias and produced and marketed by Prodol Meditec S.A., Vizcaya, Spain.
The standard Airtraq is a disposable article with an eyepiece optic, while the AirtraqAvant allows re-use of the optical system as well as external video monitoring and recording. The Airtraq blade is anatomically formed, with a battery-powered light source at the tip of the blade. The battery power reserve is sufficient to power the bulb for 90 minutes, according to the product information. The light bulb is designed to reach an
operating temperature of 40 °C in order to suppress fogging of the optical system. The visual image is transmitted from a lens at the distal tip of the blade to the optical eyepiece (or monitor) via a series of prisms and mirrors. Apart from the integrated optical system, the handle and blade of the Airtraq laryngoscope also contain a channel for the placement and insertion of the endotracheal tube.
The Airtraq laryngoscope is available in four sizes ranging from Infant (size 0) to large Adult (size 3). The large adult size requires a minimal mouth opening of 18 mm. Any type of endotracheal tube can be used with the Airtraq. Endotracheal tubes of inner diameter (ID) sizes 7.0 mm to 8.5 mm can be used with the large adult size.
Use and efficacy
The light source of the Airtraq is turned on at least 30 seconds before use to allow the anti-fogging device and lightsource to reach optimal operation temperature. Unlike in direct laryngoscopy, where the laryngoscope blade is inserted into the mouth laterally, the Airtraq is inserted into the mouth in the mid line and passed over the center of the tongue. While some sources state that the use of the Airtaq is easy and can be adequately and quickly learned by novice personnel,
other sources caution that the clinical learning process of the Airtraq laryngoscope is much longer than reported in the literature.
The Airtraq has been found to be advantageous over conventional direct laryngoscopy in situations were the
cervical spine
In tetrapods, cervical vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are the vertebrae of the neck, immediately below the skull. Truncal vertebrae (divided into thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in mammals) lie caudal (toward the tail) of cervical vertebrae. In sau ...
has been immobilized by a
spine board or
cervical collar
A cervical collar, also known as a neck brace, is a medical device used to support and immobilize a person's neck. It is also applied by emergency personnel to those who have had traumatic head or neck injuries, and can be used to treat chronic ...
,
with movement of the cervical spine being reduced by between 44%
and 66%
while using the Airtraq.
See also
*
Laryngeal tube
The laryngeal tube (also known as the King LT)
, ''University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesia'' Website retrieved ...
*
Combitube
The Combitube—also known as the esophageal tracheal airway or esophageal tracheal double-lumen airway—is a blind insertion airway device (BIAD) used in the pre-hospital and emergency setting.Jorge E. Zamora and Tarit K. Saha,Combitube rescue f ...
*
Tracheal tube
A tracheal tube is a catheter that is inserted into the trachea for the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining a patent airway and to ensure the adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Many different types of tracheal tubes are ...
Notes
External links
Airtraq guided video intubationwebsite
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