Methods: 60 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation were randomly assigned into two groups. Direct laryngoscopy group and Air-Q group. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before, after induction, immediately after intubation and every minute for 4 min after intubation. The intubation time was recorded. Upon removal of the Air-Q, trauma to the upper airway was reported.
Results: The intubation time was shorter in the DLS group compared with the Air-Q group (P value < 0.05). A significant reduction in BP was evident after the induction of anesthesia in both groups. Immediately after intubation, there was a significant increase in BP compared with the preintubation values. A decline was inspected between 1 and 4 min postintubation in both groups with significant difference immediately, at 1 and 2 min postintubation between the two groups. There were significant increase in HR immediately, at 1 and 2 min postintubation compared with the preintubation values, but there was no significant difference at each time point between two groups. Sore throat was more in the Air-Q group (P value <0.05).
Conclusion: The hemodynamic stress response to intubation by Air-Q is less than that of DLS despite the longer duration of the former.