No abstract

Background: Videolaryngoscopes are now being advocated as the universal device for airway management due to their ability to provide an improved glottic visualisation. Due to their ability to see around the corners, they obviate the need to align the airway axes and thus may lead to less airway stimulation. This may result in less haemodynamic response during laryngoscopy and intubation. The present study was designed to compare the haemodynamic response to intubation with King Vision and C-MAC videolaryngoscopes. Methods: After obtaining informed consent, adults with unanticipated difficult intubation, scheduled to undergo surgery under general anaesthesia were randomised to be intubated with either King Vision (Group K) or C-MAC (Group C) videolaryngoscope. Following a standardised general anaesthesia induction protocol all subjects were intubated with the allocated videolaryngoscope and haemodynamic parameters (heart rate, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and mean arterial pressure) were recorded at specific time points. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS Software (version 18.0). Results: The changes in the heart rate, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and mean arterial pressure following laryngoscopy and intubation with the allocated videolaryngoscope were statistically similar between the two groups at all time points. Conclusion: Haemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and intubation with King Vision and C-MAC videolaryngoscopes were similar.