Comparison of Endotracheal Intubation Skills With Video Laryngoscopy and Direct Laryngoscopy in Providing Airway Patency in a Moving Ambulance.

BACKGROUND

Early and successful management of the airway in the prehospital and hospital settings is critical in life-threatening situations.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to perform endotracheal intubation (ETI) by direct laryngoscopy (DL) and video laryngoscopy (VL) on airway manikins on a moving track and to compare the properties of intubation attempts.

METHODS

Overall, 79 participants with no previous VL experience were given 4 h of ETI training with DL and VL using a standard airway manikin. ETI skill was tested inside a moving ambulance. The number of attempts until successful ETI, ETI attempt times, time needed to see the vocal cords, and the degree of convenience of both ETI methods were recorded.

RESULTS

Overall, 22 of 79 individuals were men; mean age was 30.3 ± 4.5 years. No difference was found in the comparison of the two methods (p = 0.708). Time needed to see the vocal cords for those who were successful in their first attempt were between 1 and 8 s in both methods. In the VL method, time needed to see the vocal cords (p = 0.001) and the intubation time (p < 0.001) in the first attempt were shorter than in the DL method. The VL method was easier (p < 0.001). The success rate was 97.5% in DL and 93.7% in VL.

CONCLUSIONS

The VL method is rapid and easier to see the vocal cords and perform successful ETI. Therefore, it might be preferred in out-of-hospital ETI applications.