A modified nasal trumpet to facilitate fibreoptic intubation.

Abstract

The modified nasal trumpet (MNT) is a standard nasopharyngeal airway with an added distal fenestration and fitted with a 15 mm adaptor to permit connection to an anaesthesia circuit. Based on its successful use as an emergency device in the 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' scenario, we considered that the MNT would aid fibreoptic intubation by providing a patent airway, spontaneous ventilation, and inhalation anaesthesia during the procedure. We report use of the MNT for this purpose seven times in six patients with difficult airways. In each case, the MNT allowed oxygenation and general anaesthesia while maintaining spontaneous ventilation when awake intubation was unsuccessful or not possible. The MNT has a place in the operating room suites as a useful airway management device.