Comparison of C-shaped with Hockey stick shaped stylet for endotracheal intubation in neonates and infants using miller blade videolaryngoscope

Endotracheal intubation is a pivotal step in securing the airway in paediatric patients. Anatomical and physiological differences render the paediatric airway more challenging compared to adult population. These differences are more pronounced in neonatal age group and infancy. Owing to high oxygen consumption and small functional residual capacity, they are more susceptible to hypoxemia.

Though videolaryngoscopy offers a remarkable glottic view, negotiating the endotracheal tube through the glottis can be arduous. The ETT may repeatedly strike the posterior part of glottis or abut against the anterior tracheal wall causing difficulty in advancing it into the trachea. Optimizing the shape of ETT using a stylet has been shown to improve the success rate of intubation with videolaryngoscopy. Various shapes of the stylet have been utilized for intubation with a videolaryngoscope. Though studies in adult patients suggest the use of hockey stick shaped configuration as the preferable shape, there is a paucity of literature regarding the appropriate stylet shape when used for neonates and infants during videolaryngoscopy.12 Hence, we planned this study comparing C-shaped versus Hockey stick shaped stylet for endotracheal intubation in neonates and infants using Miller blade videolaryngoscope.