The C-MAC videolaryngoscope: first experiences with a new device for videolaryngoscopy-guided intubation

Abstract

We studied the efficacy of the C-MAC (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), a new portable videolaryngoscope, in 60 patients during routine induction of anesthesia. It was possible to insert the blade (Size 3) of the C-MAC and to get a view of the glottis on the first attempt in all patients. Tracheal intubation also was successful in all 60 patients; 52 patients were intubated on the first attempt, 6 on the second, and 2 on the third. In 8 patients (13%), a gum elastic bougie guide was required. A Cormack-Lehane Class 1 view of the glottis was seen in 30 patients without external manipulation and in 45 with external manipulation, Class 2a view in 22 without and 12 with, Class 2b in 2 without, and Class 3 in 2 without manipulation. The median time taken for tracheal intubation was 16 s (range, 6-58 s). In addition, we describe our experience with 3 patients in whom we had unexpected difficulty with direct laryngoscopy with a conventional Macintosh laryngoscope (Cormack-Lehane Class 3, 4, and 4, respectively). These patients' airways were successfully managed on the first attempt when using the C-MAC Size 4 blade (improvement to Cormack-Lehane Class 1, 2a, and 2b, respectively) in a modified manner by uploading the epiglottis, which is known as "straight blade technique."