Routine Use of Glidescope and Macintosh Laryngoscope by Trainee Anesthetists

Abstract

Objective: To compare intubating conditions, success rate, and ease of intubation by anesthesia trainees using Glidescope Videolaryngoscope (GVL) compared to Macintosh laryngoscope (MCL).

Study design: Comparative study.

Place and duration of study: King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2012 to February 2015.

Methodology: Eighty adult patients ASAI and II with normal airway, scheduled to undergo elective surgery requiring endotracheal (ET) intubation were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: GVL and MCL. All intubations were performed by trainee residents having experience of more than 1 year and who had successfully performed more than 50 tracheal intubations with each device. Glottic view based on Cormack and Lehane's (C&L's) score and percentage of glottis opening (POGO) score, time to successful intubation, need of external pressure, and overall difficulty scores were compared using either GVL or MCL.

Results: View of glottis based on C&L's classification was better (p < 0.001) and POGO score was higher (88.25 ±22.06 vs. 57.25 ±29.26, p < 0.001) with GVL compared to MCL. Time to intubate in seconds was (32.90 ±8.69 vs. 41.33 ±15.29, p = 0.004) and overall difficulty score was less 2.78 ±1.39 vs. 4.85 ±1.75 (p < 0.001) using GVL compared to MCL.

Conclusion: Residents found ET intubation to be faster and easier with superior glottic view using GVL compared to MCL in patients with normal airway.