Validation of the Clinical Usefulness of an Articulated Orotracheal Catheter in the Operating Room and Intensive Care

Abstract

Objective. To assess the clinical usefulness of the articulated orotracheal catheter (AOC).

Clinical scenario. Operating rooms of Clínica San Pedro Claver de Bogotá, between February and August 2007, operating rooms of Hospital Universitario Mayor de Bogotá, between September 2007 and July 2008, intensive care unit of Clínica Especializada de los Andes in Tunja, between September 2008 and April 2010.

Materials and methods. After designing a cross-sectional descriptive study, information of 71 patients was collected. Anesthesiologists filled 22 forms (30 %) and anesthesia residents filled 49 (70 %) of the forms, when using the articulated orotracheal catheter. AOC was included in the algorithm for airway management in both institutions. Afterwards a clinical analysis of its usefulness was performed.

Results. The orotracheal articulated catheter was successfully inserted in the trachea on the first attempt by the first physician in 70 of 71 patients (98.6 %). In only one case (1.4 %) was it impossible to introduce the catheter, and in another one the catheter was introduced but the orotracheal tube could not be slid into the trachea on the first attempt.

The success rate of the first physician was strongly influenced by the degree of difficulty of the direct laryngoscopy. On the first attempt of the second physician, both patients were successfully intubated.

In four patients (5.6 %), airway trauma was detected because of aspiration of bloody secretions from the orotracheal tube.

Conclusions. The articulated orotracheal catheter is highly effective to achieve orotracheal intubation, but it can produce minor airway trauma.