Use of bullard laryngoscope in anesthesia for cervical spine surgery: Our experience in Qatar

Abstract

There is great concern about the risks inflicted by intubation of patients with a potential instability of the cervical spine, as in trauma cases and in patients scheduled for elective cervical spine surgery. Some of these patients may have neurological manifestations of cord compression and limited neck movement, which can range from severe to mild. Intubation requires flexion and extension of the head and neck “Sniffing Position” to achieve optimum visualization of the vocal cords. In our institute the care given to ensure the stability of the cervical spine during intubation is either by Manual In-Line Axial Stabilization (MIAS) or by the use of Intubating-Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) or Bullard Laryngoscope or awke intubationin the operating theatre. All of these techniques put a minimal burden on the cervical spine and reduce the chances of neurological deficits or aggravation of an existing one. In this study we relate our experience with the Bullard Laryngoscope in these cases.