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BMC Emergency Medicine
Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research article

Comparison of the Airtraq® and Truview®laryngoscopes to the Macintosh laryngoscope for use by Advanced Paramedics in easy and simulated difficult intubation in manikins

Authors: Sajid Nasim, Chrisen H Maharaj, Ihsan Butt, Muhammad A Malik, John O' Donnell, Brendan D Higgins, Brian H Harte, John G Laffey

Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

Paramedics are frequently required to perform tracheal intubation, a potentially life-saving manoeuvre in severely ill patients, in the prehospital setting. However, direct laryngoscopy is often more difficult in this environment, and failed tracheal intubation constitutes an important cause of morbidity. Novel indirect laryngoscopes, such as the Airtraq® and Truview® laryngoscopes may reduce this risk.

Methods

We compared the efficacy of these devices to the Macintosh laryngoscope when used by 21 Paramedics proficient in direct laryngoscopy, in a randomized, controlled, manikin study. Following brief didactic instruction with the Airtraq® and Truview® laryngoscopes, each participant took turns performing laryngoscopy and intubation with each device, in an easy intubation scenario and following placement of a hard cervical collar, in a SimMan® manikin.

Results

The Airtraq® reduced the number of optimization manoeuvres and reduced the potential for dental trauma when compared to the Macintosh, in both the normal and simulated difficult intubation scenarios. In contrast, the Truview® increased the duration of intubation attempts, and required a greater number of optimization manoeuvres, compared to both the Macintosh and Airtraq® devices.

Conclusion

The Airtraq® laryngoscope performed more favourably than the Macintosh and Truview® devices when used by Paramedics in this manikin study. Further studies are required to extend these findings to the clinical setting.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Comparison of the Airtraq® and Truview®laryngoscopes to the Macintosh laryngoscope for use by Advanced Paramedics in easy and simulated difficult intubation in manikins
Authors
Sajid Nasim
Chrisen H Maharaj
Ihsan Butt
Muhammad A Malik
John O' Donnell
Brendan D Higgins
Brian H Harte
John G Laffey
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Emergency Medicine / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1471-227X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-227X-9-2

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