Posture used by anaesthetists during laryngoscopy.
BACKGROUND
There is little advice on the posture to be used when intubating the trachea. Does the stance used depend on experience?


METHODS
Twenty-six subjects with varying experience of intubation were photographed during laryngoscopy of an intubation training mannequin. Posture was measured from the photographs and the data were analysed with the Mann-Whitney U-test.


RESULTS
The less experienced group had shallower lines of sight, levered more, and stood with their face closer to the mannequin (P=0.037, 0.018 and 0.06 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Novice anaesthetists should be given explicit instructions on correct trolley height and should be taught to intubate with a straight back.
Walker
J D
JD
Department of Anaesthesia, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor LL57 2PW, UK.
D000776:Anesthesiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture