1887
Volume 2026, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 1999-7086
  • EISSN: 1999-7094

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the Macintosh and Airtraq laryngoscopes in terms of laryngoscopy time, laryngeal view, and soft tissue displacement during laryngoscopy.

Twenty-five adult patients of either sex, aged 18 to 50 years, scheduled for surgery under image control, were enrolled in the study. After administration of General Anaesthesia (GA), laryngoscopy was first performed using a Macintosh laryngoscope and followed by a second laryngoscopy with an Airtraq laryngoscope. Two X-ray images of the lateral cervical spine were taken following each laryngoscopy. During each laryngoscopy, the laryngeal view was graded on modified Cormack-Lehane (CL) grading. Laryngoscopy time in seconds with both laryngoscopes was recorded until the best view of the glottis was seen. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), Heart rate (HR), and Oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded before and after induction and immediately after both laryngoscopies. Soft tissue displacement was also calculated from the radiological image.

Mean laryngoscopy time recorded using Airtraq was 5.04 ± 0.60 seconds as compared to Macintosh (8.14 ± 0.36 seconds; < 0.001). Soft tissue displacement with Macintosh was 4.88 ± 1.03 and with Airtraq was 3.90 ± 1.39 mm ( = 0.064). No significant change in hemodynamic parameters was found after intubation with both laryngoscopes, when compared with baseline values.

We conclude that Airtraq produces a rapid and better laryngoscopic view of the glottis compared to the Macintosh laryngoscope. Less soft tissue displacement can further result in better hemodynamic stability with the use of Airtraq.

© 2026 Kaur, Kumar, Singh, Raja, Vashishth, Anshul, et al, licensee HBKU Press.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2026.1
2026-01-22
2026-01-28

Metrics

Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/jemtac/2026/1/jemtac.2026.1.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2026.1&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Chemsian RV, Bhananker S, Ramaiah R. Videolaryngoscopy. Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2014 Jan; 4:(1):35–41. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-5151.128011
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Bhandari G, Shahi KS, Asad M, Bhakuni R. Airtraq(®) versus Macintosh laryngoscope: a comparative study in tracheal intubation. Anesth Essays Res. 2013 May-Aug; 7:(2):232–6. https://doi.org/10.4103/0259-1162.118971
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Erden İA, Pamuk AG, Uzun S, Geyik S, Çekirge S, Aypar U. Cervical spine movement during intubation using the Airtraq® and direct laryngoscopy. Turk J Med Sci. 2010; 40:(2):299–304. https://doi.org/10.3906/sag-0901-14
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Hasting RH, Christopher VA, Hanna RBS, Yang BY, Sartoris DJ. Cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy with the Bullard, Macintosh, and Miller laryngoscopes. Anesthesiology. 1995 Apr; 82:(4):859–69. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-199504000-00007
     [Google Scholar]
  5. LeGrand SA, Hindman BJ, Dexter F, Weeks JB, Todd MM. Craniocervical motion during direct laryngoscopy and orotracheal intubation with the Macintosh and Miller Blades: an in vivo cinefluoroscopic study. Anesthesiology. 2007 Dec; 107:(6):884–91. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.anes.0000291461.62404.46
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Hirabayashi Y, Fujita A, Seo N, Sugimoto H. Cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy using the Airway scope compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope. Anaesthesia. 2007 Oct; 62:(10):1050–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2007.05188.x
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Hirabayashi Y, Fujita A, Seo N, Sugimoto H. A comparison of cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy using the Airtraq or Macintosh laryngoscopes. Anaesthesia. 2008 Jun; 63:(6):635–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2008.05480.x
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Turkstra TP, Pelz DM, Shaikh AA, Craen RA. Cervical spine motion: a fluoroscopic comparison of Shikani Optical Stylet vs Macintosh laryngoscope. Can J Anaesth. 2007 Jun; 54:(6):441–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03022029
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Tolon MA, Zanaty OM, Shafshak W, Arida EE. Comparative study between the use of Macintosh Laryngoscope and Airtraq in patients with cervical spine immobilization. Alex J Med. 2012 Jun; 48:(2):179–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajme.2012.03.002
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Maharaj CH, O’Croinin D, Curley G, Harte BH, Laffey JG. A comparison of tracheal intubation using the Airtraq or the Macintosh laryngoscope in routine airway management: a randomised, controlled clinical trial. Anaesthesia. 2006 Nov; 61:(11):1093–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2006.04819.x
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Bhardwaj N, Jain K, Rao M, Mandal AK. Assessment of cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy with Macintosh and Truview laryngoscopes. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Jul; 29:(3):308–12. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-9185.117053
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Maruyama K, Yamada T, Kawakami R, Kamata T, Yokochi M, Hara K. Upper cervical spine movement during intubation: fluoroscopic comparison of the AirWay Scope, McCoy laryngoscope, and Macintosh laryngoscope. Br J Anaesth. 2008 Jan; 100:(1):120–4. https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/aem313
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Colak A, Copuroglu E, Yılmaz A, Sahin SH, Turan N. A comparison of the effects of different types of laryngoscopes on the cervical motions: randomized clinical trial. Balkan Med J. 2015 Apr; 32:(2):176–82. https://doi.org/10.5152/balkanmedj.2015.15335
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Mathew N, Gaude YK, Joseph TT, Kini KG. Comparison of haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation using Macintosh and Airtraq® laryngoscope in patients with simulated cervical spine injury. Sri Lankan J Anaesthesiol. 2018 Jul; 26:(2):124–30. https://doi.org/10.4038/slja.v26i2.8331
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Ghandour MA, Elgamal NA, Ammar RA, Elnekiedy AM. Cervical spine motion during intubation: a fluoroscopic comparison between three intubation techniques. Res Opin Anesth Intensive Care. 2018 Apr–Jun; 5:(2):73–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/roaic.roaic_13_17
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Hindman BJ, Santoni BG, Puttlitz CM, From RP, Todd MM. Intubation biomechanics: laryngoscope force and cervical spine motion during intubation with Macintosh and Airtraq laryngoscopes. Anesthesiology. 2014 Aug; 121:(2):260–71. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000000263
     [Google Scholar]
  17. McElwain J, Laffey JG. Comparison of the C-MAC®, Airtraq®, and Macintosh laryngoscopes in patients undergoing tracheal intubation with cervical spine immobilization. Br J Anaesth. 2011 Aug; 107:(2):258–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/bja/aer099
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2026.1
Loading
Evaluation of laryngoscopy time and the soft tissue displacement using Macintosh and Airtraq laryngoscopes
Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care 2026, 1 (2026); https://doi.org/10.5339/jemtac.2026.1
/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2026.1
/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2026.1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Keyword(s): Airtraq laryngoscope, Macintosh laryngoscope, soft tissue neck displacement and videolaryngoscopes

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error