title: Use of the Airtraq laryngoscope in a model of difficult intubation by prehospital providers not previously trained in laryngoscopy.
abstract: This study evaluated the ability of prehospital providers who had no previous training in intubation, to use an Airtraq laryngoscope to intubate a manikin model of a Cormack and Lehane grade III/IV view. Volunteers attending the Australian College of Ambulance Professionals conference, Adelaide, in November 2006 received approximately 5 min of Airtraq training. First-time intubation success rate was 26/33 (79%) (95% CI 61-91%); oesophageal intubation rate was 0/33 (0%) (95% CI 0-11%); median time to intubation was 17 s (IQR 10-25 s (range 5-30 s)); and median subject-rated difficulty of use score was 21 out of a maximum of 100 (IQR 7.5-35.5 (range 1-65)). Pre-hospital providers without previous laryngoscopy training achieved high first-time intubation success rates when managing a model of a grade III/IV difficult intubation with an Airtraq laryngoscope. Users evaluated it as easy to use and achieved intubation within an acceptable breath-to-breath interval.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. Malcolm.woollard@btinternet.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woollard
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mannion
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lighton
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'meara
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000592:standards*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D011446:Prospective Studies