title: Comparison of malleable stylet and reusable and disposable bougies by paramedics in a simulated difficult intubation.
abstract: In a randomised crossover study, 60 ambulance paramedics attempted tracheal intubation of a manikin model of a Cormack and Lehane grade 3/4 view using a Portex stylet, Portex and Frova single-use bougies, and a Portex reusable bougie. Tracheal intubation within 30 s was achieved by 34/60 (57%) using the stylet, 18/60 (30%) using a Portex single-use bougie, 16/60 (27%) using a Frova single-use bougie and 5/60 (8%) using a Portex reusable bougie. The proportion intubating within 30 s was significantly higher with the stylet compared with any bougie (p < 0.001), but significantly lower with a Portex reusable bougie than any other device (p < 0.004). Participants rated the Portex reusable bougie as significantly more difficult to use than the other devices (p < 0.001). There was no evidence of a relationship between previous experience and success rate for any device.
authors.affiliation: Coventry University, Coventry, UK. p.gregory@coventry.ac.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woollard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lighton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Meara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins