A simple new technique of tracheal intubation for bronchography

Ha, S W; Han, M C; Kim, K S

Abstract

We introduce a simple new technique of peroral transglottic intubation of bronchographic catheter withfluoroscopy. The majority of disadvantages of the tansglottic method can be overcome with this technique and ofcourse, the advantages of tansglottic procedure are exaggerated. And one of the most important development is thatthe neck might not be fully extended as has ben mandatory in previous procedures, transglottic or percutaneous.This fact is important because many patients, especially old age, have pathology of the cervical spine and fullextension of neck is impossible or greatly discompfortable. and stout, short necked patients have given difficultyfor the raidologists. These problems can be easily solved with this technique. This technique can be summarized asfollow. 1. The oral cavity, pharynx and larynx are anesthetized with spray of 2% lidocaine. 2. Then 1to 2%lidocaine is dripped over the larynx through a curved cannula, with or without fluoroscopy. 3. Under fluoroscopiccontrol, Metras' catheter is introduced over a wire mandarin to the upper larynx and, during inspiration, thecatheter is advanced into the trachea through the glottis. This technique is a modification of Metra's method.With fluoroscopy, the bronchographic catheter can be intubated into the trachea more easily and with lessdiscomfort to the patients. A total of 90 bronchographies were carried out using this technique and average timeconsumption was 10 minutes. We conclude that, with this new technique, bronchography can be performed moreconveniently not only to the patients but also to the radiologists.