McGrath MAC Versus Three-Dimensional Printed Video Laryngoscopes: A Randomized, Manikin-Simulated Noninferiority Controlled Study with Medical Students.

BACKGROUND

Proficiency in endotracheal intubation (ETI) is essential for medical professionals and its training should start at medical schools; however, large caseload may be required before achieving an acceptable success rate with direct laryngoscopy. Video laryngoscopy has proven to be an easier alternative for intubation with a faster learning curve, but its availability in medical training may be an issue due to its high market prices. We devised a low-cost 3-dimensionally printed video laryngoscope (3DVL) and performed a randomized trial to evaluate if the intubation success rate on the first attempt with this device is noninferior to a standard commercially available video laryngoscope (STVL).

METHODS

Two hundred and nine medical students from 5 medical schools were enrolled and randomized to start with the STVL (McGrath MAC) or the 3DVL. Four stations (standard airway using the STVL/3DVL and difficult airway using the STVL/3DVL) were set to simulate ETI with standard Airway Management Trainer manikins (Laerdal Medical Ltd.). The noninferiority margin of 7.5% was defined for the success rate on the first attempt, considering the difference in proportions between the STVL (expected to be higher) and 3DVL groups.

RESULTS

Regarding the standard airway station, 60.7% (n = 65) of the students successfully performed TI on the first attempt with the STVL within the established timeframe, compared to 36.3% (n = 37) of the students using the 3DVL. This represented a difference of 24.4% (95% confidence interval, 17.5%-31.3%). Considering the difficult airway station, the success rates on the first intubation attempt with the 2 VLs did not differ.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3DVL was inferior in achieving first-attempt intubation when compared with the STVL with a difference in success rate >7.5% margin in simulated scenarios with medical students. Tracheal intubation might require a set of psychomotor skills for which the McGrath MAC device is superior to the low-cost alternative.