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. 2014 Oct;30(4):526-32.
doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.142849.

Comparison of combitube, easy tube and tracheal tube for general anesthesia

Ashok Kumar Sethi  1 , Manisha Desai  1 , Asha Tyagi  1 , Surendra Kumar  1
Affiliations

Comparison of combitube, easy tube and tracheal tube for general anesthesia

Ashok Kumar Sethi et al. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

Background & aims: The Combitube(®) and EasyTube™ enable effective ventilation whether placed in the trachea or esophagus and can be used in prehospital settings, as well as in "Cannot Ventilate Cannot Intubate" situations in the operating room. Whether they can be continued to provide general anesthesia, if required, is not established. Thus the efficacy of Combitube and EasyTube was evaluated and compared with the tracheal tube for general anesthesia using controlled ventilation.

Materials and methods: Combitube, EasyTube and tracheal tubes were used in 30 patients each to secure the airway in a randomized controlled manner. Ventilatory parameters were measured along with hemodynamic variables, and characteristics related to device placement.

Results: There was no significant difference in the various ventilatory parameters including minute ventilation requirement to maintain eucapnia amongst the three groups at any time point. There was no hypoxia or hypercarbia in any patient at any time. Placement of EasyTube was more difficult (P = 0.01) as compared with both Combitube and tracheal tube. EasyTube and Combitube resulted in higher incidence of minor trauma than with a tracheal tube (P = 0.00).

Conclusion: Combitube and EasyTube may be continued for general anesthesia in patients undergoing elective nonlaparoscopic surgeries of moderate duration, if placed for airway maintenance. Given the secondary observations regarding placement characteristics of the airway devices, it, however cannot be concluded that the devices are a substitute for endotracheal tube for airway maintenance per se, unless specifically indicated.

Keywords: Combitube; EasyTube; general anesthesia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of heart rate at different times with use of Combitube, EasyTube and tracheal tube. Group C: Combitube; Group E: EasyTube; Group T: Endotracheal tube. (0): Baseline values following induction; (1): Immediately after intubation; (2): 1 min after intubation; (3): 3 min after intubation; (4): 5 min after intubation. P < 0.05 as compared to baseline (time 0) within group for †Group C; #Group E; *Group T. No significant difference between the groups
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of mean arterial pressure at different times with use of Combitube, EasyTube and tracheal tube. Group T: Endotracheal tube; Group E: EasyTube; Group C: Combitube; (0): Baseline values following induction; (1): Immediately after intubation; (2): 1 min after intubation; (3): 3 min after intubation; (4): 5 min after intubation. P < 0.05 as compared to baseline (time 0) within group for †Group C; #Group E; *Group T. No significant difference between the groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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