Adding a conduit to GlideScope blade facilitates tracheal intubation. Prospective randomized study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of modifying the GlideScope (GVL) blade on the intubation time.

METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at the Department of Anesthesia, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between June 2011 and October 2011. Sixty patients requiring endotracheal tube (ETT) intubation for elective surgery in whom airway was anticipated normal were randomly allocated to one of 2 groups. Group M (n=30): intubated via a modified GVL blade in which a tube conduit along the side of the GVL blade was created to allow the passage of ETT through the cords. Group C (n=30): intubated with the conventional GVL blade and rigid intubating stylet.

RESULTS: Time to successful tracheal intubation (TTI) was 39.6±2.1 seconds in Group M versus 66.4±8.3 seconds in Group C (p=0.0001), tracheal intubation was deemed more easily in Group M than in Group C (VAS 2±1 versus 6±1, p=0.0001), and all patients in Group M were successfully intubated on the first attempt when compared with 90% in Group C (p=0.009).

CONCLUSION: The addition of a conduit to the GVL blade made the passage of the ETT easier and TTI shorter without increasing adverse events or intubation failure.