Usefulness of the Universal Adapter for Smartphones^® in a Mannequin Study

Because of the shape of a double-lumen tube (DLT), it is more difficult to use for intubation than an ordinary endotracheal tube. We prospectively investigated the usefulness of the Airtraq DL^® attached to the Universal Adapter for Smartphones^® for DLT intubation.

At Tokai University Hachioji Hospital, anesthesiologists with ≥ 5 years' clinical experience intubated a tracheal intubation training mannequin with DLTs using the Airtraq DL^® (Airtraq-alone phase) and the Airtraq DL^® attached to the Universal Adapter for Smartphones^® (adapter phase), and the time required was measured.

The mean time required for intubation was shorter in the adapter phase than in the Airtraq-alone phase for all anesthesiologists (adapter phase, 9.05±2.48 seconds; Airtraq-alone phase, 10.67±2.19 seconds).

The use of Airtraq DL^® a ttached to t he Universal Adapter for Smartphones^® significantly reduced the time required for DLT intubation. Furthermore, the combination of these devices was found to be useful and safe for DLT intubation because they provide a significant amount of information on the area from the oral cavity to the opening of the trachea and have high educational value because their combined use allows several physicians to share imaging information.