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A modified nasal trumpet to facilitate fibreoptic intubation
1Anesthesia Service, MCP Hospital, 3300 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19129-1191, USA. samuel.metz@drexel.edu
Background:
The modified nasal trumpet (MNT) is a standard nasopharyngeal airway with an added distal fenestration and fitted with a 15 mm adaptor to permit connection to an anaesthesia circuit.
Methods:
Based on its successful use as an emergency device in the 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' scenario, we considered that the MNT would aid fibreoptic intubation by providing a patent airway, spontaneous ventilation, and inhalation anaesthesia during the procedure. We report use of the MNT for this purpose seven times in six patients with difficult airways.
Results:
In each case, the MNT allowed oxygenation and general anaesthesia while maintaining spontaneous ventilation when awake intubation was unsuccessful or not possible.
Conclusion:
The MNT has a place in the operating room suites as a useful airway management device.