J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2009 Dec;20(6):604-608.

Comparison of the Macintosh Laryngoscope and the GlideScope(R) Video Laryngoscope in Easy and Simulated Difficult Airway Scenarios: A Manikin Study

• Si JW
• Lee SB
• Do BS

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the usefulness of Macintosh laryngoscope with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope in five airway scenarios on Simman(R) manikin.
METHODS
Forty medical students, 20 males and 20 females, were enrolled and performed endotracheal intubation with Macintosh laryngoscope and GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope in five airway scenarios: normal airway, cervical rigidity, tongue edema, pharyngeal obstruction and combined tongue edema with pharyngeal obstruction. We studied the laryngeal view, ease of intubation, time for intubation, success rate and number of attempts in the five airway scenarios.
RESULTS
VAS for the ease of intubation showed that intubation with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope was easier than intubation with Macintosh laryngoscope in each scenario except the cervical rigidity scenario (p<0.05). The laryngeal view with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope was better than that with Macintosh laryngoscope in each scenario except the pharyngeal obstruction scenario (p<0.05). The time for visualizing epiglottis with Macintosh laryngoscope was shorter than with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope except the tongue edema and pharyngeal obstruction scenario (p<0.05). The time from visualizing epiglottis to insertion of endotracheal tube with Macintosh laryngoscope was shorter than with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope except the tongue edema and combined scenario (p<0.05). The total time for endotracheal intubation with Macintosh laryngoscope was shorter than with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope except the tongue edema scenario (p<0.05). The success rate with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope was higher than with Macintosh laryngoscope in the tongue edema and combined scenario (p<0.05). There was no statistical significance for the number of attempts between GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope and Macintosh laryngoscope.
CONCLUSION
Endotracheal intubation with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope had better results than with Macintosh laryngoscope in most scenarios. Endotracheal intubation with GlideScope(R) video laryngoscope promises to be a useful device for non-skilled personnel.

Keyword

Endotracheal intubation; Manikin; Laryngoscope

MeSH Terms

Edema
Epiglottis
Female
Humans
Intubation
Intubation, Intratracheal
Laryngoscopes
Male
Manikins
Students, Medical
Tongue