Awake intubation with C-MAC video-stylet versus fibreoptic bronchoscope in predicted difficult airway patients: Comparative randomised study

Abstract

Background: This work was conducted to examine the efficiency of using C-MAC video stylet (VS) in awake intubation by comparing it to the standard method using fibreoptic bronchoscope (FOB). Patients and methodology: Eighty patients were included in this study and divided into two groups according to the device used for awake intubation: VS group and FOB group. Results: The intubation time ranged between 25 and 245 s with median of 45.5 s in VS group, while in the FOB group, it ranged between 36 and 279 s with median of 80 s with P value < 0.001. Successful intubation was done in 36 patients (90%) on the first attempt in VS group versus 29 patients in the FOB group (72.5%) with P value 0.04. As regard SpO2, insignificant difference was found all through measurement times. Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure showed significant increase in FBO group more than in CMAC-VS group at 1 and 5 min after intubation with P value < 0.001. Conclusion: Using the C-MAC VS in awake intubation proved to be easier and more successful than using the FOB.