Airtraq vs standard laryngoscopy by student paramedics and experienced prehospital laryngoscopists managing a model of difficult intubation*

Abstract

Two consecutive, randomised, cross-over trials compared intubation success rates in third-year paramedic students and experienced prehospital practitioners using the Airtraq or a Macintosh laryngoscope with flexible stylet in a manikin model of a Cormack and Lehane grade III/IV laryngoscopic view. First-time intubation rates for the Macintosh and Airtraq for students were 0/23 (0%) vs 10/23 (44%) (44% difference, 95% CI 26-63%, p < 0.001) and for experienced laryngoscopists were 14/56 (25%) vs 47/56 (84%) (59% difference, 95% CI 42-72%, p < 0.0001), respectively. First-time oesophageal intubation rates for students were 15/23 (65%) vs 3/23 (13%) (-52% difference, 95% CI -25 to -72%, p < 0.001) and for experienced practitioners 9/56 (16%) vs 0/56 (0%) (-16% difference, 95% CI -9 to -28%, p = 0.0014). Student paramedics and experienced prehospital laryngoscopists managing a manikin model of a grade III/IV view had increased first-time intubation rates and had lower rates of oesophageal intubation with the Airtraq compared with a standard laryngoscope.