Airtraq® reduces the hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation using single-lumen tubes in adults compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether Airtraq® attenuate the hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation using single-lumen tubes in adults as compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

SETTING

Operating room.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome of this meta-analysis was to determine whether laryngoscopy using the Airtraq® reduced hemodynamic responses-heart rate (HR) and mean blood pressure (MBP)-at 60 s (s) after tracheal intubation compared to laryngoscopy with the Macintosh laryngoscope. Pooled differences in these hemodynamic responses between the two devices were expressed as weighted mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. We then conducted trial sequential analysis (TSA). The secondary outcome was to investigate whether the Airtraq® reduce the hemodynamic response at 120 s, 180 s, and 300 s after tracheal intubation compared to the Macintosh laryngoscope. We also conducted sensitivity analysis of the hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation with the laryngoscopes using a multivariate random effects model accounting for within-study correlation of the longitudinal data.

MAIN RESULTS

From electronic databases, we selected 11 randomized controlled trials for studies that enrolled subjects satisfying our inclusion criteria. Compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope, the Airtraq® significantly reduced both HR and MBP at 60 s after tracheal intubation. In secondary outcome, the Airtraq® significantly reduced both HR and MBP at all measurement points, excluding HR at 300 s after tracheal intubation. TSA showed that total sample size reached the required information size for both HR and MBP. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the Airtraq® reduced both HR and MBP at all measurement points, excluding HR at 300 s after tracheal intubation.

CONCLUSIONS

The Airtraq® attenuates the hemodynamic response at 60 s after tracheal intubation compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope. (GRADE: Low) These results were supported by the sensitivity analysis. TSA suggested that the total sample size was exceeded TSA monitoring boundary both HR and MBP.