EVALUATION OF NASOTRACHEAL INTUBATION WITH VIDEOLARYNGOSCOPE (TUORENTM) AND MACINTOSH DIRECT LARYNGOSCOPE – A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background: Nasotracheal intubation (NTI) is a common method for securing the airway during head and neck surgeries. This study was undertaken to compare NTI with videolaryngoscope (TuorenTM) and Macintosh direct laryngoscope in patients undergoing elective surgeries under general anaesthesia (GA) with NTI. Method: Exclusion criteria were difficult mask ventilation or tracheal intubation, history of respiratory insufficiency and nasal pathology. Taking minimum required sample size for 80% power of study and 5% level of significance, 25 patients were included in each study group : Group D (Macintosh direct laryngoscope) or Group V (Videolaryngoscope). Formula used for comparing mean of two groups was: N >= 2(standard deviation) 2X (Zα+Zβ)2 (mean difference)2 N>=2(standard deviation)2X(Zα + Zβ)2 (mean difference)2 (Where Zα is value of Z at two sided alpha error of 5%, Zβ is value of Z at power of 80% and mean difference is difference in mean values of two groups) Time to intubation, number of attempts, ease of insertion of endotracheal tube (ETT), use of Magill’s forceps, any ETT cuff tear and hemodynamic parameters at intubation were compared. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 25.0 was used with Independent t test, Chi-Square and Fisher’s Exact test. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Demographic profile, time to intubation, number of attempts and cuff tear between the groups were comparable. Group V was better regarding ease of insertion, use of Magill’s forceps and hemodynamic response. Conclusion: Videolaryngoscope (TuorenTM) is better than the Macintosh direct laryngoscope for ease of NTI and hemodynamic response during NTI.