Teaching and supervising tracheal intubation in paediatric patients using videolaryngoscopy

Abstract

In 85 patients (mean age 4.6 +/- 3.1 years, range 0-10 years), a prototype of a new videolaryngoscope was used to provide a display of the intubation procedure in a paediatric anaesthesia teaching unit. The device provided important information to the teacher about the trainee's problems related to direct laryngoscopy, difficulties with tube insertion into the larynx as well as the need and extent for anterior laryngeal pressure. Because the videolaryngoscope did not impair the normal intubation procedure, it seems to be a safe and a benefical tool for teaching and supervising tracheal intubation in children. In addition, it provides a potentially useful aid during difficult laryngoscopy, since the monitor view of the vocal cords was significantly better compared with a direct laryngoscopic view (P < 0.001).