[GlideScope videolaryngoscope: a clinical assessment of its performance in 200 consecutive patients]

Abstract

Background: The GlideScope videolaryngoscope is a new device for endotracheal intubation, which provides a view of the glottis without alignment of the oral pharyngeal and tracheal axes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the GlideScope in patients.

Methods: We evaluated the performance of the GlideScope" in 200 consecutive patients requiring orotracheal intubation for surgery.

Results: In the 200 patients, excellent (Cormack-Lehane [C-L] view 1) or good (C-L 2) laryngeal exposure was obtained in 68% and 31% respectively and successful orotracheal intubation was achieved in all the patients. The mean +/- SD time to intubate was 51 +/- 20 seconds in trainees, 52 +/- 25 seconds in junior anesthesia residents, 48 +/- 18 seconds in senior anesthesia residents, and 50 +/- 18 seconds in staff anesthetists.

Conclusions: The GlideScope was easily handled not only by experienced anesthetists but also by novice personnel. The GlideScope seems to be a novel device in routine and difficult airway management.