Comparison of macintosh blade and mccoy blade for glottic exposure and ease of intubation

Abstract

BACK GROUND: Laryngoscopes  forms  an  important  part  of  general  anaesthesia  and  endotracheal  intubation. The  aim  of  laryngoscopy  is  to  obtain  good  visualization  of  vocal  cords  to  facilitate  smooth  endotracheal  intubation. The  blades  used  for  laryngoscopy  should  facilitate  good  laryngoscopic  view  for  smooth  endotracheal  intubation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To compare the laryngoscopic view.
2. Ease of intubation using mccoy laryugoscope as compared with conventional macintosh laryngoscope.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: After  institutional  committee  approval  100  adult  patients  in  the  age  group  of  18  to  60   years  and  ASA  status  I  and  II  and  Mallampati  grade  I  and  II  undergoing  elective  surgeries  under  general  anaesthesia  were  included  in  this  study. The  study  population  was  divided  into  2  groups  with  50  patients  in  each  group. Group  I  consists  of  laryngoscopic  view  of  patients  intubated  with  Macintosh  blade. Group  II  consists  of  laryngoscopic  view  of  patients  intubated  with  Mccoy  blade.

RESULTS: Most of the patients in both the groups were in the age group of 20-39years. In Group I 66% patients were in ASA I grading and 34% in ASA II grading .In Group II 68% patients were in ASA I grading and 16 % in ASA II grading. In group I 64%patients had ease of intubation of grade I and 18% with grade II.

CONCLUSION:  Based  on  the  present  prospective  randomized  clinical  comparative  study  the  Mccoy  laryngoscope  with  flexitip  blade  with  its  levering  tip  significantly  improves  the  visualisation  of  larynx  and  ease  of  intubation.

Key words: Flexitip blade, Macintosh laryngoscope, Mccoy laryngoscope, Glottis.