Usos del videolaringoscopio C-MAC en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Estudio prospectivo, observacional

Objective

To describe the main uses of the C-MAC video laryngoscope (VL) in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during a period of 29 months.

Material and methods

Prospective, observational study during a period of 29 months. All patients admitted to our ICU where the VL C-MAC was used were included. Indications, efficacy, and complications were recorded.

Results

The VL C-MAC has been used 297 times in 250 patients. The mean age of the patients was 68 ± 13 years. The most frequent use of the VL C-MAC was orotracheal intubation (IOT), in 103 (34.7%) cases. 86.4% of the patients were intubated at the first attempt. Intubation with the VL C-MAC accounted for 60.6% (103/170) of all IOTs performed during the study period. The VL C-MAC was used in 76 (25.6%) cases to review the pharynx-larynx area, and in 68 (22.9%) cases to facilitate the introduction of the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe. Other uses were facilitating percutaneous tracheostomy placement (10.1%), nasogastric tube placement (3%), orotracheal tube exchange (3.4%) and Sengstaken balloon placement (0.3%).

Conclusions

The IOT, the review of the pharynx-larynx area and the introduction of the TEE probe were the most frequent uses of the VL C-MAC in our ICU. The use of VL C-MAC in an ICU is broader than tracheal intubation and can facilitate the management of critical patients.