Infrared Red Intubation System (IRRIS) guided flexile videoscope assisted difficult airway management

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Medical Devices
• Airway Management

Background:

• Tracheal intubation using flexible scopes is crucial for difficult airways but can fail.
• The Infrared Red Intubation System (IRRIS) is a novel technique to aid glottis identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the IRRIS technique for difficult airway management.
• To report the initial clinical experience with IRRIS in ten patients.

Main Methods:

• The IRRIS device emits blinking infrared light through the cricothyroid membrane.
• A flexible videoscope detects this light as a blinking white spot for retrograde transillumination.
• The technique was used as an adjunct in managing ten patients with difficult airways.

Main Results:

• All ten patients had complex airway issues, including radiation therapy, difficult intubation predictors, or obesity.
• IRRIS provided clear, unambiguous glottis visualization via retrograde transillumination.
• The blinking light effectively distinguished the target from mucosal reflections.

Conclusions:

• IRRIS appears to facilitate glottis identification during flexible videoscope intubation.
• This technique may simplify the management of extremely difficult airways.
• IRRIS could be particularly beneficial for clinicians with less frequent flexible scope experience.