[Use of gum elastic bougie for tracheal intubation: comparison of different tracheal tubes].

Background: Gum elastic bougie (GEB) is one of the most useful devices for patients whose tracheas are difficult to intubate during anesthetic induction. But no previous study has evaluated the effects of the types of the tracheal tube. We hypothesized that wire-reinforced tracheal tubes were superior to standard tracheal tubes in the success rate of tracheal intubation when using GEB. We compared these two different types of tracheal tubes in using GEB.

Methods: Forty patients were subjected and randomly allocated into two groups; patients intubated with standard tracheal tubes (Group , n = 20) and those with wire-reinforced tracheal tubes (Group S, n = 20). Measured variables were intubation time defined as elapsed time from mouth opening to removal of GEB from tracheal tube, heart rate (HR), and systolic blood pressure(SBP). We also compared trial times of intubation and pharyngeal or laryngeal bleeding as a minor side effect.

Results: Trachea was successfully intubated in the frist attempt in 37 patients (92.5%), and the rest of the patients were all intubated at second trial. Intubation times of Group P and Group S were 41.5 +/- 13.9s and 41.3 +/- 11.1s, respectively. There were no significant differences in HR and SBP between the groups.

Conclusions: The type of tracheal tube would not affect the success rate and time of intubation when using gum elastic bougie.