McGrathMAC versus ProAct illumination during laryngoscopy in a pre‐hospital patient with maxillofacial trauma

Summary During a case of pre‐hospital anaesthesia, the presence of dried oropharyngeal blood from maxillo‐facial trauma was found to adversely affect illumination when using the McGrath® MAC enhanced direct laryngoscope, using both direct laryngoscopy and video‐laryngoscopy via its LCD screen. A second attempt using direct laryngoscopy with a standard battery handle operated laryngoscope (ProAct®Metal Max 100) was noted to provide far superior light quality, intensity and spread. Subsequent comparison of light under basic test conditions demonstrated lower luminance and spread of light with the McGrath® MAC when compared with the standard ProAct® (both with Macintosh size 4 attachments).