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Tracheal intubation by novice staff: the direct vision laryngoscope or the lighted stylet (Trachlight)?

Department of Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr C R Soh, Department of Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care, Singapore General Hospital Pte Ltd, Outram Road, Singapore 169608;
rojak{at}bigfoot.com

Objective: To compare the ease of use of the direct vision laryngoscope and the lighted stylet (Trachlight) by novice staff.

Methods: Ten novice medical officers (MOs) performed orotracheal intubations using either the conventional direct vision laryngoscope (DL) or a lighted stylet device (Trachlight). They performed their DL intubations during the first phase of the study, followed by the Trachlight intubations in the subsequent phase.

Results: 51 of 54 (94%) of the DL intubation attempts were successful compared with 36 of 54 (67%) of the Trachlight intubations (p<0.001). The mean (SEM) time for intubation was 44 (7) seconds in the DL group and 66 (13) seconds in the Trachlight group (p=0.004). In addition 45 of 54 (83%) of the DL intubations were successful at the first attempt versus 15 of 54 (28%) in the Trachlight group (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The results show that the use of the conventional direct vision laryngoscope in novices is associated with significantly shorter mean intubation times and higher success rates on the first attempt compared with the Trachlight.

Keywords: orotracheal intubation; light wand; Trachlight

Abbreviations: DL, direct vision laryngoscope; MO, medical officer

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