Background: In a cannot-ventilate-cannot-intubate situation, careful preoxygenation with high FiO2 allowing subsequent apneic oxygenation can be life-saving. The best position for an oxygen supply line within the human airway at which oxygen insufflation is more effective than standard preoxygenation with a face mask is unknown. Methods: In this experimental study, we compared the effectiveness of preoxygenation by placing an oxygen cannula at the nose entrance, through the nose at the soft palatine, or at the base of the tongue; as a control we used ambient air. We connected a fully preoxygenated test lung on one side to an oximeter with a flow rate of 200 mL/min simulating the oxygen consumption of a normal adult on the other side of the trachea of an anatomically correctly shaped airway manikin over a 20 min observation period five times for each cannula placement in a random order. Results: The oxygen percentage in the test lung dropped from 100% in all groups to 53 ± 1% in the ambient air control group, to 87 ± 2% in the nasal cannula group, and to 96 ± 2% in the soft palatine group; it remained at 99 ± 1% in the base of the tongue group (p = 0.003 for the soft palatine vs. base of the tongue and p < 0.001 for all other groups). Conclusions: When simulating apneic oxygenation in a preoxygenated manikin, oxygen insufflation at the base of the tongue kept the oxygen percentage at baseline values of 99%, demonstrating a complete block of ambient air flowing into the airway of the manikin. Oxygen insufflation at the soft palatine or insufflation via a nasal cannula were less effective regarding this effect.

Background. In a cannot ventilate cannot intubate situation, careful preoxygenation with high FiO2 allowing subsequent apneic oxygenation can be life-saving. The best position for an oxygen supply line within the human airway at which oxygen insufflation is more effective than standard preoxygenation with a face mask, or comparably effective as intratracheal insufflation, is unknown. Methods. In this experimental study, we compared effectiveness of preoxygenation by placing an oxygen cannula at the nose entrance, through the nose at the soft palatine, or at the base of tongue; as control we used ambient air. We connected a fully preoxygenated test lung on one side to an oximeter with a flow rate of 200ml/min simulating oxygen consumption of a normal adult, and on the other side to the trachea of an anatomically correctly shaped airway manikin over a 20 min observation period five times for each cannula placement in random order. Results. Oxygen percentage in the test lung dropped from 100% in all groups to 53&plusmn;1% in the ambient air control group, to 87&plusmn;2% in the nasal cannula group, to 96&plusmn;2% in the soft palatine group, while it remained at 99&plusmn;1% in the base of tongue group (p=0.003 for soft palatine vs base of tongue; and p&lt;0.001 between all other groups). Conclusions. When simulating apneic oxygenation in a preoxygenated manikin, oxygen insufflation at the base of tongue kept oxygen percentage at baseline values of 99% demonstrating a complete block for ambient air flowing into the manikin&rsquo;s airway. Oxygen insufflation at the soft palatine or insufflation via nasal cannula were less effective in regard of this effect.

Background Recently, a non-commercial oxygenation laryngoscope was able to maintain apneic oxygenation during simulated intubation efforts. Since that prototype was 3 mm wider than a standard Macintosh laryngoscope blade, the intubation performance of this device may differ from standard blades. A new prototype of an oxygenation laryngoscope was developed, consisting of a standard-size Macintosh blade and a fixed oxygen supply line to the side. Actually, it is unclear at which point of this blade the oxygen supply line should end to facilitate the best possible oxygen supply for apneic oxygenation. Methods In this simulation study using a standardized human airway manikin, the efficacy of apneic oxygenation by oxygen insufflation using standard and modified Macintosh blades was compared: a standard Macintosh blade without oxygen supply line as control, one with an additional oxygen supply line ending proximal near the handle, one with the line ending at the middle of the blade, and one with the line ending near the tip. A preoxygenated test lung was connected to an oximeter with a flow rate of 200ml/min, simulating oxygen consumption of a male adult, and to the trachea of an anatomically correctly shaped airway manikin. Apneic oxygenation was performed and oxygen content was measured over a 20-minutes observation period. Experiments were repeated five times for each laryngoscope blade. Results Oxygen percentage in the test lung dropped from 100 ± 0% at the start of the experiment to 53 ± 1.5% in the room air control group (p < 0.001 compared to all other groups), and to 74 ± 2.5% in the proximal oxygen line group, whereas oxygen percentage remained at 100% in both the medium and distal oxygen line groups (p = 1 between these groups; p < 0.001 between all other groups). Conclusions In this simulation study with a preoxygenated airway manikin, the use of a modified Macintosh laryngoscope blade with oxygen line attached at the tip or at the middle were able to maintain apneic oxygenation without measurable drop of oxygen content over 20 min. Proximal placement of the oxygen supply line still showed an advantage against room air, however it did not completely prevent room air from entering the airway. Trial registration Not applicable.