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Use of the Airtraq laryngoscope in a model of difficult intubation by prehospital providers not previously trained in laryngoscopy
Author(s) -
Woollard M.,
Mannion W.,
Lighton D.,
Johns I.,
O'Meara P.,
Cotton C.,
Smyth M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2007.05215.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intubation , laryngoscopy , anesthesia , tracheal intubation , laryngoscopes , airway management , emergency medicine
Summary This study evaluated the ability of prehospital providers who had no previous training in intubation, to use an Airtraq laryngoscope to intubate a manikin model of a Cormack and Lehane grade III/IV view. Volunteers attending the Australian College of Ambulance Professionals conference, Adelaide, in November 2006 received approximately 5 min of Airtraq training. First‐time intubation success rate was 26/33 (79%) (95% CI 61–91%); oesophageal intubation rate was 0/33 (0%) (95% CI 0–11%); median time to intubation was 17 s (IQR 10–25 s (range 5–30 s)); and median subject‐rated difficulty of use score was 21 out of a maximum of 100 (IQR 7.5–35.5 (range 1–65)). Pre‐hospital providers without previous laryngoscopy training achieved high first‐time intubation success rates when managing a model of a grade III/IV difficult intubation with an Airtraq laryngoscope. Users evaluated it as easy to use and achieved intubation within an acceptable breath‐to‐breath interval.