Article description

Summary:

• The article aim was to to determine whether use of video laryngoscope (VL) could reduce complications related to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe insertion;
• A multicenter randomized control study;
• The study analyzed 363 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery;
• The patients were randomized into 2 groups the conventional group (n = 177) and the VL group (n = 186) for TEE probe insertion;
• Primary endpoint: the incidence of orophraryngeal injury was higher in conventional group (n = 26; 14.7%) compared to the VL group (n = 14; 7.5%; p = 0.029);
• Secondary endpoint: in VL goup probe was inserted in the first attempt in 95% of patients, whereas in conventional group 87% of patients (p = 0.023);
• The most common relation between the esophageal inlet and the larynx was posterolateral (n = 88; 47%), followed by posterior (n = 77; 41%) and lateral (n = 21;12%);

Conclusions:

• VL was associated with a lesser incidence of injury compared to the conventional technique;
• The VL guidance was associated with fewer attempts for a successful probe placement compared to the conventional technique;