Clinical Profile of the Patients Undergoing Awake Fiberoptic Intubation Along with Airway Blocks in Cervical Discectomy Patients

Airway Blocks in Cervical Discectomy

Abstract

Background: The optical characteristics of fine glass strands are what make fiberoptic technology possible. When glass rods are heated and stretched to diameters of 8 to 25, a flexible fiber capable of transmitting light is formed. Light that enters the distal end of the fiber is reflected off the walls until it emerges at the proximal end. To keep a fraction of the light from being lost during transmission, the fiber is clad in a layer of glass that has a different optical density. This process results in total internal reflection of light entering the fiber. The light transmitted along a single fiber emerges uniformly distributed over the cross-sectional area at the end. The resolution of a fiberoptic image is inversely proportional to the diameter of the glass fiber. Subjects and Methods: After overnight fasting, all patients under the study were premedicated with tab ranitidine 150mg orally and tab diazepam 10mg with sips of water 90 mins before shifting to operating theatre. Premedication with glycopyrrolate 0.2mg IM, administered 30-45 minutes prior to application of the local anesthetic. Results: At baseline, SO2 in both the groups were comparable. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to changes in SO2 after bolus infusion, during intubation and after intubation clinically. Conclusion: Patients with study (D) group had a consciousness score of 2 (eyes open on command) in 41 patients out of 50 (82%), where as in control (P) group 17 patients (34%) had score of 2 (eyes open on command). 20 patients (40%) had score of 1 (response to ear pinching),in control (P) group compared to 3 patients in study(D) group.