Comparison of Shikani optical stylet and Macintosh laryngoscope for double-lumen endotracheal tube intubation

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of Shikani (S)optical stylet and Macintosh(M) laryngoscope for double-lumen endotracheal tube intubation.

Methods: In the study, 60 patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery were randomly allocated to group S(n=30) and group M (n=30). After general anesthesia induction, the patients in group S and group M were intubated double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) by Shikani optical stylet (SOS) and macintosh laryngoscope respectively. Intubation time, intubation attempts, cuff broken and oral mucosal or dental injury were recorded; Blood pressure and heart rate at baseline (T0), at the time of intubaiton onset (T1), 1 minute after intubaiton (T2), 3 minutes after intubation (T3) and 5 minutes after intubation (T3) were also recorded; Hoarseness and throat sore of the patients 24 hours after surgery were evaluated.

Results: The intubaiton time with the SOS was faster than with the Macintosh [(37.4±9.7) s vs. (43.9±13.7) s, P=0.039] and the first attempt success rate (87% vs. 80%, P=0.488) did not differ between the groups; No tube cuff broke in both the groups; Group S had fewer patients who suffered oral mucosal or dental injury than group M (8 vs.2, P=0.038); The blood pressure and heart rate at T0,T1,T2,T3 and T4 did not differ between the groups; Throat sore (7 vs.10, P=0.390) and hoarseness (5 vs.7, P=0.519) incidence did not differ between the groups.

Conclusions: By comparison of the Macintosh laryngoscope, the SOS provides faster DLT intubation and causes less oral Mucosal or dental injury.