Comparison of postoperative pharyngeal morbidity using the Macintosh laryngoscope or AirWay Scope after mastectomy.

Abstract

We compared the characteristics of postoperative pharyngeal morbidity in intubation between the AirWay Scope (AWS) and Macintosh laryngoscope in 68 ASA I-II female patients aged 35-77 years in a randomized, double-blinded, controlled fashion. After induction of general anesthesia, the patient's trachea was intubated using the AWS or Macintosh laryngoscope by five anesthesiologists. Before leaving the operating room, postoperative sore throat, hoarseness, and dysphagia were assessed, and oral bleeding was evaluated by observation of the extubated tracheal tube. On the day after surgery, pharyngeal complications were evaluated again, and patients were questioned on delay of oral intake. Incidence of sore throat with the AWS (27.2%) was significantly lower than that with the Macintosh laryngoscope (52.9%) on the day of surgery. Severity of sore throat with the AWS was also significantly less compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope. Incidence of oral bleeding with the AWS (6.1%) was significantly lower than that with the Macintosh laryngoscope (23.5%). Pharyngeal morbidity on the day after surgery did not differ between groups, and no patient complained of delayed oral intake. In female patients, the AWS successfully reduced the incidence and severity of sore throat on the day of surgery in comparison with the Macintosh laryngoscope.