Visual Versus Conventional Intubation: Comparison of SaCoVLM™ Video Laryngeal Mask and Direct Laryngoscopy : A Prospective Observational Study

Study Design This is a single-center, prospective, observational study conducted at Akdeniz University Hospital after approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee (Approval No: 70904504/139). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment.

Participants Adult patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia between March and June 2024 were screened for inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria Patients were excluded if they were under 18 years of age, pregnant, had known hypersensitivity to anesthetic agents, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or active upper respiratory tract infection.

Group Allocation and Airway Management

Due to the observational design of the study, randomization was not performed. Patients were allocated to groups according to the airway management technique selected by the attending anesthesiologist:

SaCoVLM™ video laryngeal mask group (VLM)

Direct laryngoscopy group (DL)

All airway procedures were performed by anesthesiologists with at least three years of clinical experience and a minimum of 50 prior successful supraglottic airway device and endotracheal intubations.

Devices The SaCoVLM™ is a video-integrated supraglottic airway device with separate channels for ventilation, visualization, and gastric access. Mask size selection was based on patient body weight.

In the DL group, Macintosh laryngoscope blades (sizes 3 or 4) were used according to clinician preference.

Preoperative Assessment Pre-induction airway evaluation included Mallampati score, upper lip bite test, neck circumference, thyromental distance, sternomental distance, and interincisor gap. The STOP-Bang questionnaire was completed preoperatively.

Anesthesia Protocol All patients fasted for at least 8 hours for solids and 6 hours for liquids. Standard monitoring included ECG, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, bispectral index (BIS), and capnography.

Preoxygenation was performed with 80% oxygen for 2 minutes. Anesthesia induction was achieved using thiopental, fentanyl, lidocaine, and rocuronium. Airway intervention was initiated once BIS values decreased below 50.

Airway Procedure and Measurements In the VLM group, the time from device insertion to visualization of the glottis was recorded. After confirmation of ventilation using capnography, a lubricated endotracheal tube was advanced through the device, and the time from tube insertion to passage through the vocal cords was recorded.

In the DL group, the time from laryngoscope insertion to passage of the endotracheal tube through the vocal cords was recorded.

Glottic visualization was assessed using the SaCoVLM™ visualization scale in the VLM group and the Cormack-Lehane classification in the DL group.

Cuff pressures were maintained below 60 cmH₂O for the laryngeal mask and below 25 cmH₂O for endotracheal tubes.

Hemodynamic Monitoring Hemodynamic parameters including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded at predefined time points: preoperative baseline, post-induction, post-laryngeal mask insertion, and post-endotracheal tube placement.

Maintenance and Emergence Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane titrated to a BIS value of 40-60 and a remifentanil infusion. At the end of surgery, anesthetic agents were discontinued and extubation was performed once patients regained consciousness and responded to verbal commands.

Outcome Measures Primary outcomes included hemodynamic responses to airway management, first-attempt success, airway procedure time, and airway-related complications.

Secondary outcomes included the need for adjunct airway maneuvers, glottic visualization grading, and postoperative airway-related adverse events.

Sample Size Calculation Sample size estimation was based on prior literature using an effect size of 1.68, an alpha level of 0.05, and a statistical power of 95%, resulting in a minimum required sample size of 22 patients per group.

Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis was planned using appropriate parametric methods following assessment of data distribution. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.