Comparison of success rate of BlockBuster ® versus Fastrach ® LMA as conduit for blind endotracheal intubation: A prospective randomised trial.

Background and Aims: BlockBuster® Laryngeal Mask Airway, a newer supraglottic airway device, is claimed to be an efficient conduit for endotracheal intubation. Intubating laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is an established device for the same. This randomised study was undertaken to evaluate the success rate of blind intubation using either of these LMAs.

Methods: Sixty patients of age group 20-60 years undergoing general anaesthesia were randomised in 2 groups, of 30 patients each, for tracheal intubation using either BlockBuster® LMA (Group B) or the Intubating LMA Fastrach® (Group F). After induction of anaesthesia, LMAs were inserted and on achieving adequate ventilation with the device, fibreoptic scopy was performed to assess the glottis visualisation score. Blind intubation was attempted through the supraglottic airway devices (SAD). The primary objective was first pass successful intubation and secondary outcomes were ease, time for LMA insertion, oropharyngeal seal pressure (OSP), LMA removal time, fibreoptic scoring and complications. Data was analysed using SPSS V22 software.

Results: The first-attempt success rate of tracheal intubation was 90% in Group B and 66.6% in Group F ( P = 0.028), while the overall success rate of intubation was 96.6% in Group B and 89.9% in Group F ( P = 0.3). The OSP in Group B was 33.7 ± 1.8 and 22.7 ± 1.5 cm H2 O in Group F ( P = 0.001). Complications such as sore throat and blood stain were reduced with BlockBuster® LMA.

Conclusion: BlockBuster® LMA provides higher first pass success rate of blind tracheal intubation with less complications like sore throat and blood staining.