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 Conclusion: The Airtraq optical laryngoscope reduces the time to secure the airway and the incidence of failed tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists.