Background: Laryngoscopy is the most important step in the process of endotracheal intubation for administration of general anaesthesia. Airtraq optical laryngoscope is a new rigid indirect optical device with exaggerated curvature of the blade and an internal arrangement of optical components, a view of the glottis is provided without alignment of oral, pharyngeal and tracheal axes. Objective: To compare the efficacy of laryngoscopy and the haemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation between Airtraq and Macintosh laryngoscopes. Methods: One hundred patients of either sex in the age of 20–60 years under ASA grade I and II with Mallampati grading I and II posted for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were selected for the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 50). Induction of anaesthesia was standardized. The efficacy of laryngoscopy was compared according to Cormack and Lehane grading and haemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation were compared. Results: In group A (Airtraq), all 50 (100%) patients had Cormack and Lehane grading I and in group M (Macintosh), 33 (66%) patients had Cormack and Lehane grading I and 17 (36%) patients had Cormack and Lehane grading II ( p = 0.000). In x Group A, mean heart rate increased from 83.54±10.19 bpm prior to intubation to 90.08±9.98 bpm after intubation and mean arterial pressure increased from 91.06±8.16 mmHg prior to intubation to 95.30±8.40 mmHg after intubation. In Group M, mean heart rate increased from 80.94±6.71 bpm prior to intubation to 103.30±7.86 bpm after intubation and mean arterial pressure increased from 91.80±7.70 mmHg prior to intubation to 114.20±6.69 mmHg after intubation (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Airtraq optical laryngoscope provides a better exposure of the glottis when compared to Macintosh laryngoscope while triggering minimum haemodynamic response to endotracheal intubation.

Keywords: Laryngoscopy; Hemodynamics; Airtraq; Macintosh.