The sniffing position facilitated easier light wand guided endotracheal intubation compared with the neutral position with chin-lift

Abstract

Background: Traditionally, the patient's head is placed in a neutral position with a chin-lift to facilitate light-wand-guided endotracheal intubation. However, our study found that the sniffing position was more effective. In this study, we aimed to compare the two positions of light-wand-guided endotracheal intubation.Method: Sixty adult patients were included in the study, after obtaining informed consent, and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control group in a neutral position with a chin-lift (group C, n = 30) and a sniffing position group (group S, n = 30). In group C, the anesthesiologist inserted a light-wand after lifting the patient's mandible using the thumb of their non-dominant hand inside the patient's mouth. In group S, a light-wand was inserted after the patient's head was flexed with the neck extended. We assessed variables such as light-search time, number of intubation attempts, time to achieve intubation, and side effects including blood tinge on the endotracheal tube, hoarseness, sore throat, and anesthesiologist satisfaction.Results: The light-search and intubation times were shorter in group S than in group C. The incidence of blood tinge on the endotracheal tube was higher in group C than in group S. Anesthesiologist satisfaction was higher in group S than in group C.Conclusions: The sniffing position was more effective in facilitating light-wand-guided endotracheal intubation than the neutral position with a chin-lift.