Use of the Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway for Blind Endotracheal Intubation in Patients with Difficult Airways

The intubating laryngeal mask airway has beets served as the alternative management for the endotracheal intubation in patients with difficult airways. Seventeen patients with laryngoscopir view classification IV were encountered during routine anesthetic practice from August 1999 to February 2000. Intubating laryngeal mask airway was used to facilitate blind endotracheal intubation in each of the patients. The overall successful rate of blind endotracheal intubation was 88.2%; 58.8% of them were completed only in a single attempt; 17.6% required tine adjustment of ILMA; 11.8% required more than one adjustment. The two cases (11.8%) that we failed to intubate were managed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy guided intubation via the intubating laryngeal mask airway as a conduit. In conclusion, the intubating laryngeal mask airway could he used successfully fur blind intubation in patients with predicted difficult intubation.