Airtraq optical laryngoscope: tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the Airtraq optical laryngoscope for tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists, compared with that of the Macintosh laryngoscope. METHODS: Under supervision by staff anaesthetists, non-anaesthesia physicians performed tracheal intubation using either the Airtraq optical laryngoscope (n = 100) or the Macintosh laryngoscope (n = 100). The time required for airway instrumentation, the number of attempts until successful intubation and erroneous oesophageal intubation were investigated. RESULTS: The time to secure the airway was shorter with the Airtraq optical laryngoscope than with the Macintosh laryngoscope (p<0.001). The number of attempts until successful intubation was smaller with the Airtraq optical laryngoscope than with the Macintosh laryngoscope (p<0.001). Erroneous oesophageal intubation was less with the Airtraq optical laryngoscope than with the Macintosh laryngoscope (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The Airtraq optical laryngoscope reduces the time to secure the airway and the incidence of failed tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists.