[Tracheal intubation with Trachlight: clinical assessment in one hundred patients].

BACKGROUND: The lightwand device (Trachligh) is effective and safe for difficult tracheal intubation. We recorded the process of acquiring the intubation technique with Trachlight and evaluated the usefulness of Trachlight for tracheal intubation. METHODS: Tracheal intubation with Trachlight was performed by inexperienced anesthesiologists in one hundred patients undergoing general anesthesia. The time to tracheal intubation was recorded. RESULTS: Tracheal intubation with Trachlight was successful in 92 (92%) of 100 patients. As the experience of anesthesiologists increased, both the time to tracheal intubation and the success rate improved. There were no significant correlations between the time to tracheal intubation and any of the airway parameters for Trachlight intubation. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the experience of at least 30 cases is necessary to learn the intubation technique with Trachlight.