Comparison of haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation using the Airway Scope® and Macintosh laryngoscope in normotensive and hypertensive patients

Abstract

We compared the effects of the Airway Scope® on haemodynamic responses during tracheal intubation with those of direct laryngoscopy in normotensive and hypertensive patients. The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressures and heart rate were recorded: (a) before anaesthesia; (b) immediately before intubation; (c) at intubation; and (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min after intubation. In normotensive patients, the increase in blood pressure and heart rate over time were significantly lower with the Airway Scope than with the Macintosh laryngoscope (p < 0.003). In hypertensive patients, however, there was no difference in the changes over time in any of these haemodynamic measures between the two devices (p > 0.05). We conclude that the Airway Scope attenuates haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation in comparison with the laryngoscope in normotensive but not in hypertensive patients. © 2011 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.