Abstract

RIVEROS, Efraín et al. Nuevo dispositivo para el manejo de la vía aérea y entubación difícil: catéter orotraqueal articulado. Rev. colomb. anestesiol. [online]. 2007, vol.35, n.3, pp.221-226. ISSN 0120-3347.

Objective: To introduce a new device for management of difficult airway/tracheal intubation. Materials and methods: Case presentation of a difficult airway/intubation patient, and the technique for the use of the orotracheal articulated catheter, a new device made up of polyvinylchloride consisting of two pieces, a distal (tracheal) and a proximal component, attached to each other in a loose fashion. The distal component, with a stylet passing through it, is inserted into the trachea by means of direct laringoscopy, following the posterior aspect of the epiglottis. Once the catheter is presumptively located in the trachea, the stylet is removed, and the patient is ventilated by menas of an adapter and the breathing circuit, until capnography wave is seen in the monitor and oxygenation is stable. Then, the adapter is removed, and the two components of the catheter are aligned, so that the orotracheal tube can be threaded through the whole catheter. The catheter is removed once the tube is inside the trachea, as evidenced by a positive CO₂ signal. Conclussions: The orotracheal articulated catheter is a useful tool in difficult airway management, due to its simplicity, relatively low resistance to flow and low cost. It is a good alternative to be included in the difficult airway algorithms, used in the prehospital setting as well as in critical areas of the hospital such as operating rooms, emergency rooms and critical care units.

Keywords : Difficult airway; endotracheal entubation; endotracheal entubation articulated catheter.

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