[The Tube-Stat: a useful aid in difficult intubation]

A patient (ASA class I) scheduled for an elective gynecological operation, could not be intubated by conventional means, as no part of the glottis could be seen on direct laryngoscopy. Endotracheal intubation was successful on the first attempt using a lighted intubation stylet (Tube-Stat, Concept Corporation, Clearwater, Florida, USA). Transillumination of the neck tissues acted as a guide for correct placement of the endotracheal tube. Postoperatively, the patient complained of hoarseness and sore throat that cleared up completely within 5 days. Cases of difficult-intubation are often impossible to recognize preoperatively [3]. When problems arise, a difficult-intubation drill should be instituted without delay. The view obtained at laryngoscopy in our patient corresponded to a Grade III case according to the classification of Cormack and Lehane [3]. Our usual routine in such cases calls for blind intubation using a flexible introducer passed posteriorly to the epiglottis or blind nasal intubation. Recent reports testify to the potential dangers of blind procedures [4, 19, 23]. Light-wand-guided intubation has been reported to be an easily learned, atraumatic alternative to laryngoscopic or blind nasal intubation [6, 9]. We employed the Tube-Stat light-wand in a series of routine surgical cases with encouraging results. Our case report documents our first patient intubated with the light-wand after failure of conventional larnygoscopy. The first lighted stylet was described some 30 years ago, and the method of transillumination as an aid in difficult intubation developed over the following years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)