EMERGENCY INTUBATION WITH THE COMBITUBE(TM)IN 2 CASES OF DIFFICULT AIRWAY MANAGEMENT

The airway was managed successfully in two cases of difficult intubati on using the Combitube(TM), a new device for emergency intubation, whi ch combines the functions of an oesophageal obturator airway and a con ventional endotracheal airway. One patient could not be intubated due to lockjaw; in the other patient, the vocal cords could not be seen be cause of continued vomiting. The cases illustrate the benefit of the C ombitube during emergency intubation for different problems and its ef fectiveness as an alternative to traditional intubation techniques.