Faster intubation with direct laryngoscopy vs handheld videoscope in uncomplicated manikin airways.

OBJECTIVE: To compare average time to successful intubation and success rates using direct laryngoscopy (DL) with those using a battery-operated videoscope (VS) in uncomplicated manikin intubations.

METHODS: Forty-four paramedics and emergency medicine faculty and residents received training with DL and VS. Participants performed 3 timed trials using each device. A single group repeated-measures analysis of variance for average time measurements was performed.

RESULTS: Grouping physicians and paramedics, mean time to successful intubation for DL was 14.6 seconds (SD, 4.3 seconds) and for VS was 25.9 seconds (SD, 9.2 seconds; P < .001). All attempts were successful with both devices. A secondary measure compared intubation times for physicians and paramedics on both devices. For DL, mean time to successful intubation for physicians was 13.2 seconds (SD, 3.8 seconds) and for paramedics, 15.9 seconds (SD, 4.3 seconds; P > .43). For VS, mean time for physicians was 26.0 seconds (SD, 10.0 seconds) and for paramedics, 25.7 seconds (SD, 8.6 seconds; P > .43).

CONCLUSIONS: Intubation with DL in uncomplicated manikin airways was faster than with VS (P < .001). Success rates were equal.