Comparison of BlockBuster laryngeal mask with Air‐Q intubating laryngeal airway as a conduit for fiber‐optic guided intubation in children: A prospective randomized controlled study
Lipika Soni, Kanil Ranjith Kumar, Renu Sinha, Arshad Ayub, Nishant Patel Abstract
Background
The pediatric sizes of BlockBuster supraglottic airway (SGA) have been introduced recently. Its efficacy as a conduit for endotracheal intubation in children has not been assessed. Newer devices are often compared with Air‐Q SGA to assess their intubating capability.
Aims
The primary objective was to compare the time taken for fiber‐optic‐guided intubation through the BlockBuster and the Air‐Q SGAs.
Methods
Sixty children aged 6 months to 12 years with normal airways were randomized into two groups: Air‐Q SGA (Group A) and Blockbuster SGA (Group B). After administration of general anesthesia, an appropriately sized SGA was inserted. The time taken for fiber‐optic‐guided intubation through the SGA, success, ease, and time for SGA insertion and removal were noted. The glottic view was graded by fiber‐optic bronchoscopy.
Results
Demographic parameters were comparable. The time to intubate with the BlockBuster 62.40 ± 17.2 s was comparable to the Air‐Q 60.8 ± 18.5 s (mean difference 1.6 s, 95% CI −7.65 to10.85; p = .73). The average time for SGA insertion in BlockBuster and Air‐Q was 14.57 ± 3.2 s and 16.67 ± 5.39 s, respectively (mean difference −2.1, 95% CI −4.39 to 0.19 s; p = .07). The first‐attempt intubation success and overall intubation success rates were comparable in both groups, 96.7% and 100%, respectively. In Group B, 25/3/1/1/0 cases had a glottic view grade of 1/2/3/4/5, respectively. In Group A, 23/3/2/2/0 cases had grade of 1/2/3/4/5 glottic views respectively. The average time to SGA removal was comparable between the BlockBuster (20.17 ± 5.8 s) and the Air‐Q (22.5 ± 12.8 s) groups (mean difference −2.3 s, 95% CI −7.5 to 2.82 s; p = .37). None of the children had any perioperative complications.
Conclusion
BlockBuster SGA may be a useful alternative to Air‐Q for SGA‐assisted, fiber‐optic‐guided tracheal intubation in children.